Cunk on Britain
{{Short description|2018 British mockumentary television series}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| image_alt =
| genre = {{Plainlist|
}}
| creator = Charlie Brooker
| director = Lorry Powles
| writer = {{Plainlist|
- Charlie Brooker
- Jason Hazeley
- Joel Morris
- Ben Caudell
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 5
| executive_producer = {{plainlist|
- Annabel Jones
- Alex Moody
- Charlie Brooker
}}
| producer = Matt Hulme
| editor = Damon Tai
| location =
| cinematography = Jon Kassell
| company = House of Tomorrow
| network = BBC Two
| first_aired = {{Start date|2018|04|3|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2018|05|1|df=yes}}
| related =
}}
Cunk on Britain is a British mockumentary television series created by Charlie Brooker starring Diane Morgan as the title character Philomena Cunk, an ill-informed investigative reporter, who originated on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe including the 2016 specials Cunk on Shakespeare and Cunk on Christmas.{{cite web |work=The Standard |first=Alastair |last=McKay |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/cunk-on-britain-review-watch-this-and-you-won-t-be-able-to-take-civilisations-seriously-again-a3804986.html |title=Cunk on Britain review |date=3 April 2018 |access-date=31 January 2023 }} It premiered on BBC Two on 3 April 2018, and concluded on 1 May 2018, after one season of five episodes. It was followed up in 2022 by a similar series, Cunk on Earth.
Plot
Philomena Cunk, an ill-informed investigative reporter, retells British history through a series of montages and interviews with experts which feature odd or ridiculous questions. The show featured guest appearances from real-life experts, including Robert Peston, Neil Oliver, Howard Goodall, Tom Holland and Ronald Hutton.
Episodes
{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#989A9B |overall= |title= |airdate= |released=y|episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Beginnings
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|4|3|df=y}}
|ShortSummary
|LineColor = 989A9B
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = The Empire Strikes Back
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|4|10|df=y}}
|ShortSummary
|LineColor = 989A9B
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = The Third Episode
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|4|17|df=y}}
|ShortSummary
|LineColor = 989A9B
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Twentieth Century Shocks
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|4|24|df=y}}
|ShortSummary
|LineColor = 989A9B
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = The Arse End of History
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|5|1|df=y}}
|ShortSummary
|LineColor = 989A9B
}}
}}
Cast and characters
=Main=
- Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk
Filming
Filming took place in September and October 2017 in Britain and began airing on 3 April 2018.
Reception
The Guardian{{'}}s Rebecca Nicholson notes, "It’s Cunk’s interviewing style that is the highlight and potentially one of its weaknesses. Chucking questions that make no sense at experts was a success on Screenwipe, and it works particularly well with British history academics, whose politeness and patience only exacerbates the absurdity."{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/apr/04/cunk-on-britain-review-look-out-philomenas-about|title=Cunk on Britain review – look out, Philomena's about|website=The Guardian|last=Nicholson|first=Rebecca|date=4 April 2018|access-date=17 January 2023|language=en}} New Statesman{{'}}s Anna Leszkiewicz states, "The success of Cunk as a character is not thanks to her general persona as an ill-informed pundit, but her bizarre turns of phrase."{{Cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/tv-radio/2018/03/philomena-cunk-now-stars-her-own-parody-history-cunk-britain|title=Philomena Cunk now stars in her own parody history: Cunk on Britain|website=New Statesman|last=Leszkiewicz|first=Anna|date=23 March 2018|access-date=17 January 2023|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title}}
{{Charlie Brooker}}
Category:2018 British television series debuts
Category:2018 British television series endings
Category:BBC television comedy
Category:2010s British comedy television series
Category:Television series created by Charlie Brooker