Philomena Cunk takes her questions to cinema in a three-part series
Cunk on Cinema begins on 12 November, bringing Diane Morgan’s mock-documentary presenter to filmmakers and actors including Michael Bay and Benedict Cumberbatch. The three-part series follows earlier programmes about Britain, the world and life. Morgan and co-creator Charlie Brooker describe how her unimpressed delivery shaped the character and how interviews become comedy in the editing room.
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Film professionals face Cunk’s questions
Cunk on Cinema, a three-part mock-documentary comedy starring Diane Morgan as presenter Philomena Cunk, begins on BBC Two and the British broadcaster’s iPlayer service on 12 November. All three episodes will be available online that day. Director Michael Bay and actor Benedict Cumberbatch are among the participants. The series follows the character’s earlier programmes about Britain, the world and life, moving her encounters with experts into the history and practice of filmmaking.[1], [2]
Morgan uses her own accent
Morgan and co-creator Charlie Brooker discussed the character’s development in a Guardian interview. Cunk began as a segment on Brooker’s Weekly Wipe 13 years ago. Brooker recalled initially imagining a middle-class lifestyle blogger. At her audition, Morgan asked to use her own accent; he said her flat, unimpressed delivery gave the character its form. Morgan also explained that she sometimes laughs while interviewing experts, with those breaks removed when the footage is edited.[1]
A shoe question confuses Michael Bay
Morgan recalled that the crew admired Bay’s films and were nervous about meeting him, whereas her limited film viewing helped her approach the interview. A question about the price of his trainers was initially mistaken for one about people who trained him. The new episodes also include jokes in which Cunk challenges experts with answers from artificial intelligence. Brooker said he would never use that technology to help write material. Cumberbatch, meanwhile, faces the character’s question about who he is.[1]
