‘Cunk on Cinema’ to Include Cumberbatch & Cameras
Mockumentarian Philomena Cunk returns to the small screen to be puzzled by the big screen.
Everyone’s favorite clueless documentary presenter – mockumentarian, if you will – Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) is back. After previous failed attempts to understand weighty topics such as Life, Britain, Shakespeare, and Christmas nonewithstanding, Cunk is ready to dive into yet another subject she knows nothing about. Her latest subject will be, naturally, film-making; both the art of acting in front of the camera, and the work that goes into it behind the scenes, with a brand-new mocku-series, Cunk on Cinema.
(We would call it a mockumentary, but it’s a three-parter, so mocku-series it is.)
As is standard by now, Cunk’s latest venture will be studded with a bevy of guest stars, most of whom are in on the joke. (At least, we’re pretty sure they are.) According to the BBC press release that arrived with the new series first image, Cunk will sit down to interview a laundry list of famous Hollywood artists from across the industry. This group of good sports includes (but is not limited to): actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), director Michael Bay (Transformers), stunt performer Jim Dowdall (Star Wars), screenwriter Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard), composer Daniel Pemberton (Project Hail Mary), cinematographer Seamus McGarvey (Atonement), and former Academy president David Rubin.
“There will, unfortunately, be some bits in black and white,” Cunk said in the press release. “But we’ll keep that to the barest minimum.”
Here’s the mocku-series synopsis:
The three-part series will uncover the invention of the camera, to the New Wave filmmakers of the 60s, right up to the entrance of CGI and what the future of AI holds. Cunk will attempt to demystify it all while sitting in lumpy seats with stale popcorn, asking herself where did cinema come from? And why? What does it want? And why can’t it tell us?
Diane Morgan once again stars as the hapless Philomena. Her interview victims subjects include the aforementioned group, plus critics & editors Mark Kermode, Catherine Bray, Mark Cousins, Isabel Stevens, Helen O’Hara, Kaleem Aftab, Sarah Churchwell, and Geoff Andrew; film curators Bryony Dixon, Toni Booth, and Mo Moshaty; and Professors Shelley Cobb, Monica B. Pearl, and Harvey G. Cohen. Also featured are returning interviewees Jim Al-Khalili (Cunk on Life) and Ashley Jackson (Cunk on Earth).
Morgan co-created the character of Philomena Cunk with Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror), originally as one-half of the duo “Cunk & Shitpeas” on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe. Brooker returns as lead writer. Cunk on Life director Al Campbell returns to helm all three installments. Brooker, Morgan, and Sam Ward are executive producers, alongside Jessica Rhoades & Mark Kinsella for Pacesetter Productions.
Cunk on Cinema is expected to debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two before the end of 2026. It will follow on Netflix in the U.S.
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Cunk on Life and Cunk on Earth are both available on Netflix in the U.S. The other Cunk mockumentaries, such as Cunk on Britain, Cunk on Christmas, and Cunk on Shakespeare, are available on YouTube.
