BBC Two orders Philomena Cunk series
- BBC Two has ordered five new episodes of Cunk On..., the show starring Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk
- Cunk On Britain will explore "the rich, historical journey that's led our great country to 2017's Brexit Britain"
- BBC Two has also confirmed it will broadcast Charlie Brooker's 2017 Wipe at the end of the year
BBC Two has ordered five new episodes of Cunk On..., the show starring Diane Morgan as clueless documentary reporter Philomena Cunk.
Cunk On Britain will explore "the rich, historical journey that's led our great country to 2017's Brexit Britain."
The producers explain: "From the oldest era imaginable, Cunk's insightful analysis of events and popular culture will tell the story of Britain's battles, Medieval monarchs and the expansion of the Empire, right up through Thatcher, Britpop, the discovery of Nick Clegg and the invention of Brexit.
"She'll be asking probing questions such as: were dinosaurs the first people to discover Britain? When did Britain get officially 'Great'? Where did Robin Hood buy his tights or was that bit just made up? The ultimate guide to our country's past: Cunk On Britain. The rest is history."
Speaking about the new series, Philomena Cunk says: "In 2017, Britain stands at a fork in its crossroads, so what better way to find out where we might be heading than looking behind us, into history (which apparently is a sort of 'rear view mirror' for time).
"I'll be travelling the length and width of the country talking to experts and standing in front of old buildings saying things into the camera, as I try to discover what made Ancient Britain the Modern Britain it is today."
It's also been confirmed today that BBC Two will broadcast Charlie Brooker's 2017 Wipe at the end of the year, the show in which Philomena Cunk also appears.
Charlie Brooker says: "It seems like only yesterday we were making 2016 Wipe, but apparently it wasn't. As ever, 2017 Wipe will compile the best and worst of the year into one easily-digestible jam-packed hour. It's a tradition now. A bit like the Hootenanny, but with less singing and more sarcasm."
The commission is part of a raft of satire shows ordered by BBC Comedy Commissioner Shane Allen. He has also announced Tracey Breaks The News, Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Politics For Bitches and A Year In The Life Of A Year.
Allen says: "This range of shows puts a contemporary spin on the decades' long, rich tradition of satire on the BBC. In a tumultuous political climate, the desire and opportunity for satire is at an all-time high. The fast moving social media age presents a new challenge in a fluid news landscape, so we need to be ever more up to date and reactive. This gathering of idiosyncratic comic minds is a concerted effort to create a satirical hall of mirrors to reflect upon."