--- title: "Philomena Cunk Returns in New Series on Netflix and BBC" url: https://noti.group/philomena-cunk-returns-in-new-series-on-netflix-and-bbc/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Entertainment" published: 2026-11-14T20:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-11-14T20:42:34.130Z id: 1f7fba02-0e80-4423-8452-c2ef42a98a54 source: "The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/cunk-on-cinema-diane-morgan-charlie-brooker-interview-1236755262/" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/philomena-cunk-returns-in-new-series-on-netflix-and-bbc/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Philomena Cunk Returns in New Series on Netflix and BBC A new series of Philomena Cunk's comedy persona premieres November 15 on Netflix and the BBC in the U.K. and Ireland. Philomena Cunk's comedic persona, played by Diane Morgan, has been a staple on various BBC programs for over a decade. Her confidently clueless demeanor has become a hallmark of her character, leaving viewers wondering why interviewees still fall prey to her antics. The people behind Cunk have never shied away from revealing the joke. In fact, Charlie Brooker, creator of the character in his 2010s BBC show Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, has consistently been upfront about the humor. He claims they've never pranked experts, but rather always made it clear that this was a comedy. Brooker's statements are backed up by the approach taken with Cunk on Cinema, where subjects enter interviews knowing they're in for a comedic ride. Despite this, many still seem caught off guard by Philomena's inane questions and malapropisms. Morgan's ability to maintain her deadpan demeanor even when delivering joke-dense narration is a key aspect of the character's charm. This skill is on full display in Cunk on Cinema, where she takes viewers through a history of film with interviews featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Bay, and other notable figures. The new series premieres November 15 on Netflix and the BBC in the U.K. and Ireland. It follows previous shows Cunk on Earth and Cunk on Life, solidifying Philomena's status as a comedic icon. Morgan and Brooker recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the character's origins and their decision to tackle film history next. According to them, choosing this subject was a deliberate move to keep the series fresh. Brooker, known for his work on Black Mirror in the U.S., has been instrumental in developing Philomena's comedic style. His involvement has helped shape the character into what she is today, a lovable, yet infuriatingly clueless presence. The Cunk franchise has become synonymous with humor and satire, often using music to great effect. One track that holds a special place in the series' canon is Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam, which has been cleverly woven into various episodes. The unorthodox approach of creating a satirical character has proven to be an effective way to poke fun at serious topics, as evidenced by Philomena Cunk's rise to fame in the UK. Diane Morgan, the comedian behind the character, acknowledges that her ability to elicit genuine reactions from interviewees is remarkable, considering they know she's playing a role. Morgan attributes this phenomenon to the tense atmosphere she creates during interviews, deliberately making her guests feel uncomfortable and on edge. The crew's efforts to suppress laughter also contribute to the sense of unease. The result is an awkward dynamic where even humorously intended comments may go unnoticed by the interviewees in the moment, leading them to panic about the perceived failure of the segment. However, Morgan notes that there are instances where the comedic aspect does resonate with the guests. Charlie Brooker, co-creator of the character and strand Moments of Wonder, explains their approach to using Philomena Cunk as a satirical device. They've always been upfront about the fact that this is a comedy series, never attempting to prank or deceive their experts. Brooker highlights an early episode where he personally directed a segment featuring a scientist explaining time scientifically, while Morgan's character reacted with disdain and disinterest. To achieve this effect, they informed the guest in advance of what was about to happen, essentially priming him for the comedic twist. The show's creators claim that their intention is not to expose or mock the experts but rather to celebrate them through satire. In contrast to other formats like Borat, which uses pranksterism to reveal underlying truths, Philomena Cunk's humor arises from its own absurdity and exaggeration. Morgan expands on the character's origins, revealing that she has appeared in more projects than some viewers may be aware of outside of the UK. The show's creators experimented with Philomena Cunk initially in short segments on Weekly Wipe. These two-minute reviews were done alongside another character called Barry Shitpeas, played by Al Campbell, and proved to be a hit. However, there was some apprehension about how audiences would react to the new character. One concern was that viewers might prefer Charlie over Philomena, potentially leading to backlash against the show. Fortunately, this didn't happen, and the creators were able to gauge audience response in a relatively low-pressure environment. This allowed them to test out the character without feeling overwhelmed by expectations. One of the benefits of starting with short segments was that it gave the team room to experiment and adjust their approach as needed. They could try new things and see what worked without making a long-term commitment. Philomena's natural comedic talent soon became apparent, and her potential for more substantial storylines began to emerge. The creators started thinking about how they could give her a bigger role in the show. One idea was to create mini-documentary style segments featuring Philomena interviewing real experts on various subjects. Time was chosen as their first topic, which proved to be quite challenging given its broad scope. The segment on time ended up being a parody of physicist Brian Cox's documentary series that had recently been released. The creators felt it was essential to poke fun at established formats and conventions. The show's development continued when the BBC approached the team with an opportunity to create a one-off special about Cunk's take on Shakespeare, coinciding with the anniversary of his death. This project ultimately laid the groundwork for the full-fledged series that followed. The team behind Philomena Cunk's next project weighed their options for her next topic carefully, considering a range of possibilities. They had already tackled Shakespeare, the history of Britain, and the meaning of life in previous episodes, leaving them to wonder what other subject could be explored with the same level of wit and humor. At first, they entertained two competing ideas: embarking on a travelogue across America or delving into the arts, specifically film, music, and art. The team decided against the American adventure, feeling that it would be too saturated with anniversary content already in the works. However, exploring the world of cinema presented an intriguing opportunity to tackle highbrow subjects from a refreshingly irreverent perspective, setting it apart from more traditional documentaries on the same topic. Philomena Cunk's unique deadpan style, which has become a hallmark of her character, raised questions about how much prep work is required to maintain that tone in interviews versus the more straightforward presentation of pieces to camera. Diane Morgan revealed that while she does some preparation for interview sections to anticipate potential questions and catch out her subjects with unexpected queries, the camera-facing aspects have become second nature for her over time. The contrast between Cunk's composed demeanor and the reactions of those being interviewed is often striking, as seen in episodes like Cunk on Cinema. In some cases, even the most seasoned professionals, such as Benedict Cumberbatch, can be caught off guard by Philomena's unorthodox questioning style. Other guests, however, seemed to struggle more with the absurdity of her inquiries, including Steven E. de Souza and Michael Bay, who appeared less prepared for the unexpected twists in conversation that are a hallmark of Cunk's approach. Steven de Souza was one of the first guests to agree to appear on Philomena Cunk's show, and it seems he was a natural fit for the character. As someone familiar with Cunk's world, he seemed genuinely enthusiastic about participating. De Souza described himself as a Cunk head, indicating that he was thoroughly on board with the project. However, not everyone who appeared on the show shared de Souza's ease and familiarity with the format. Michael Bay, for instance, struggled to get his accent right throughout the conversation. Bay's attempts at adopting an American accent were often laughable, adding to the comedic value of the exchange. Cunk's questions frequently left her guests flummoxed, as was the case when she asked de Souza about his trainers. The term trainers is commonly used in the UK to refer to athletic shoes, but Bay seemed unsure what Cunk was getting at. His confusion added a layer of humor to the conversation. Despite the occasional misstep, many guests were able to laugh off their own misunderstandings and engage with Cunk's unique style. However, there were moments when even Cunk herself seemed taken aback by her guests' reactions. Throughout the series, Cunk's show features recurring references to a particular song: Pump Up the Jam. The choice of this song was likely deliberate, but its origins are unclear. According to de Souza, the decision to use Pump Up the Jam may have been made as a replacement for another British sitcom theme. In an earlier series, Cunk on Britain, the show had featured cutaways to Brush Strokes, a 1980s British sitcom with a memorable theme song by Kevin Rowland. However, when working on Cunk on Earth, which was co-produced with Netflix, de Souza and his team realized that not everyone outside of Britain would be familiar with Brush Strokes. As a result, they opted to use Pump Up the Jam as a more universally recognizable alternative. The song's catchy beat and memorable lyrics made it an excellent choice for the show's lighthearted tone. The decision to feature Pump Up the Jam was likely made after some deliberation, with various options being considered before settling on this particular song. Despite its origins being unclear, the song has become a distinctive part of Cunk's brand and is often referenced throughout her shows. The use of captions that get approved by Technotronic adds another layer to Cunk's show, which already features a unique blend of humor, satire, and pop culture references. The creative team behind Cunk on Cinema must have been pleased with the way these elements came together to create something truly original and entertaining. The show's creators must have been aware that their unconventional approach to film criticism would likely raise some eyebrows in Hollywood. As part of a licensing deal, the production team is required to review and approve every aspect of the show before it airs, including the often humorous and satirical content. Morgan's enthusiasm for the Paul character is evident as he laughs at the mention of his name. The character's popularity has sparked speculation about whether he will ever make an appearance in the show. The Paul character's enigmatic nature has become a running joke throughout the series, with fans eagerly anticipating any new anecdotes or stories about his supposed life". --- Source: [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/cunk-on-cinema-diane-morgan-charlie-brooker-interview-1236755262/) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/philomena-cunk-returns-in-new-series-on-netflix-and-bbc/