Cunk On...
- TV comedy
- BBC Two
- 2016 - 2022
- 18 episodes (2 series)
Spin-off from Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe featuring Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk.
Streaming rank this week: 1,619
Episode menu
2016 Specials - Cunk On Christmas
Further details
Fresh from her in-depth investigation into the life of Shakespeare, Philomena is now on a festive mission to track down the true meaning of Christmas, and find out exactly what it is he wants. It's an insightful documentary which takes her on a journey from pagan winter festivals and the nativity story, via "Sir Charles Dickings" all the way up to today's obsession with Santa.
Along the way Philomena will be grilling a variety of experts, trying to expose the tough truth about Christmas, such as why people still put up with brussels sprouts.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 29th December 2016
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Diane Morgan | Philomena Cunk |
| Ronald Hutton | Self |
| Ann Easter (as Rev. Canon Ann Easter) | Self |
| Kate Williams (as Professor Kate Williams) | Self |
| Jay Rayner | Self |
| Paul Lewis | Self |
| Charlie Brooker | Writer |
| Jason Hazeley | Writer |
| Joel Morris | Writer |
| Matt Hulme | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Lorry Powles | Director |
| Alison Marlow (as Ali Marlow) | Series Producer |
| Annabel Jones | Executive Producer |
| Damon Tai | Editor |
| Jon Kassell | Director of Photography |
Press
Preview - Cunk on Christmas
Following a previous episode where Cunk "examined" the life of Shakespeare, this time around she looks at everything to do with Christmas, from the birth of Jesus and the pagan origins to Santa Claus and "Sir Charles Dickings".
Ian Wolf, On The Box, 29th December 2016Philomena Cunk explains everything about Christmas
"It's illegal to sing carols at any other time of year, so people make the most of it at Christmas by coming round your house and singing at you until you give them stuff"
Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris, Radio Times, 29th December 2016TV preview: Cunk on Christmas, BBC Two
Following a one-off on Shakespeare earlier this year Philomena Cunk returns with a seasonal sequel exploring the meaning and traditions of Christmas. It's an important time of the year, she tells us. In fact as Cunk explains at the start of the programme in her distinctive flat northern tones, "Christmas is such a big deal even Richard Dawkins probably does it."
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 29th December 2016The gormless Cunk gives the viewer a survey of Christmas and tries to work out the meaning of it all. She is ruthless in dismantling the religious aspects of the season. Indeed, when she wants somewhere quiet to film she chooses a church. There's no chance that'll be busy. We also learn about Britain's greatest Prime Minister, "Charles Dickings", and she meets various historians to discuss past Christmas traditions. As ever, they seem sufficiently awkward that we're never sure if they're in on the joke.
Julie McDowall, The National (Scotland), 29th December 2016Philomena Cunk on Christmas food
The other star of Charlie Brooker's 2016 Wipe casts her eye over festive food, from sprouts to rubbish advent calendar chocolate
Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris, The Guardian, 20th December 2016