Philomena Cunk is nothing short of a genius, deep down, and there are loads of iconic quotes from her worth pondering before the release of Cunk on Life. Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, who made her debut as the character in the hilarious commentary show Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, which is always a delight to watch. In fact, Philomena's comical segments, one-off specials, and shows like Cunk on Earth are among the best mockumentary TV comedy series ever.
The confused and ill-informed presenter hardly ever knows what she's really talking about, although this is a significant part of the character's appeal. The definition of the Cunk surname is a gag in and of itself, higlightinh one of the reasons she's so funny. Cunk delves into the mysteries of humanity's past and present across several areas, and with Cunk on Life due to air in January 2025, it's worth revisiting some of her most iconic quotes.
10 "The Pressure Rolls The Entire Planet Back And Away From You, Giving You the Impression That You're Moving Forward. Which Incredibly, You Actually Are."
Cunk On Earth Episode 1: "In The Beginnings"
The first episode of Cunk on Earth contains a quote that, upon closer analysis, is actually quite deep. Cunk's explanation of the creation of the wheel isn't exactly as thorough as an engaging docies about an ancient civilization or a complex history lesson. However, her being wildly incorrect about the wheel "roll[ing] the planet back" results in something that pushes viewers to self-reflect.
The 25 Best Historical TV Shows
From Vikings to Spartacus, historical series are always ired. These 25 are the best historical TV shows.
Technically, Earth is "moving forward," as it's rotating. From a different perspective, though, Cunk's remark is about how someone can feel like they're going backward in life, but as long as their wheel is in motion, they're actually making progress, even if it doesn't feel like it. This is just a silly comment, but the humor in it provides layers as well, although it's unlikely that this thought ever crossed the minds of the original cavemen during the invention of the wheel.
9 "Christmas Isn't Just Tinsel And A Long Doctor Who"
Cunk On Christmas
Cunk on Christmas is an underrated Christmas TV special, in which Philomena delves into the meaning of the holiday and its religious connections. Of course, the occasion is linked to Christianity, but over the years, Christmas has transcended its origins because of figures like Santa and the festive season's reputation for bringing families together to celebrate. Cunk makes a good point that "Christmas isn't just tinsel and a long Doctor Who," as many people's Christmases revolve around things like this.
Across the world, but especially in the UK, the airing of a Doctor Who Christmas episode is a prominent event. Interestingly, festive installments of the show are relatively new, as there aren't any Doctor Who Christmas specials from before the 2005 reboot. It's hilarious that Cunk makes this reference, mainly because it's so accurate, but this comment is also very true. Cunk may not seem a like typically Christmas-y person, but she does highlight that the day is so much more than decorations and TV.
8 "One In 20 People Have Been A Victim Of Crime, Which Means That 19 Out Of 20 People Are Criminals. No Wonder We Need Police."
Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe: Season 2, Episode 2
Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker is also behind the creation of the Cunk character, and several of her earliest TV appearances are some of her best. There are plenty of brilliant Philomena Cunk segments in Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, but one of her funniest is when she tackles the topic of crime. Although the statistic "19 out of 20 people are criminals" makes no sense, the way Cunk delivers this line is still hilarious.
What's even funnier, though, is the quick glance over her shoulder as she mutters "No wonder we need the police" to the camera. However, this comical remark does hold some truth to it. The fact that hundreds of millions of people know what it feels like to experience some form of crime is quite ridiculous. Although this statistic constantly varies, just like the population of Earth, it's still incredibly wild to think about.
7 "Can We Talk About Something A Bit More Cheerful? D'you Like ABBA?"
Cunk On Earth, Episode 4: "Rise Of The Machines"
Philomena Cunk says what many often think when discussing a morbid topic in the Cunk on Earth episode "Rise of the Machines." While talking to Professor Ashley Jackson from Kings College London about the harsh realities of nuclear warheads, Cunk starts to get upset and asks to change the subject to a more "cheerful" topic by querying, "D'you like ABBA?" The band is behind multiple feel-good anthems that are close to the hearts of many, and there's no doubt that their songs lift the mood.
Mamma Mia 3: Cast Address Sequel Hopes, Reveal ABBA's Opinion On A New Movie
Mamma Mia's cast excitedly gush about the chances of Mamma Mia 3, but the band on which the music is based, ABBA, is not nearly as thrilled.
It's another ridiculous shift in the conversation, but it's even more amusing that Cunk gets so emotional so quickly. To make things even more comical, Professor Jackson its to liking ABBA, and he looks so uncomfortable as he watches Cunk break down. Like many moviegoers, Cunk is probably hoping for Mamma Mia 3, and although this is a strange time for her to bring ABBA up, it's still hilarious that she uses the group as a distraction.
6 "Early Man Domesticated Dogs For Companionship, And Cats For Whatever We Have Cats For."
Cunk On Earth, Episode 1: "In The Beginnings"
Cunk discussing the things that people did in the early days of humanity also raises a question that has yet to receive a definitive answer: Are cats superior to dogs? Her snarky remark that dogs are "domesticated for companionship" makes complete sense, but her lack of explanation for domesticated cats is both funny and very accurate. Cats are strange and elusive, but that's part of their charm, and why they're loved by many.
Cats are largely no longer needed for their original purpose, which was mainly to catch mice, and so Cunk makes a great point. Just like dogs, cats are fantastic pets, but they don't really have a productive function anymore. Even though this doesn't matter now, and dogs also aren't needed for anything specific anymore, it's still interesting to realize that there isn't a main reason to have a cat other than because they're loveable. It's quite convoluted to dwell on the purpose of pets in general, but not every character needs a reason or function either.
5 "Can We Have A Minute's Silence For Laika?"
Cunk On Earth, Episode 5: "War(s) Of The World(s)?"
Although there are several movies about space exploration, it's surprising that there aren't more that focus on Laika. The notable dog famously died aboard the Sputnik 2 after becoming one of the first animals to go to space, something that Cunk isn't aware of until her interview with Professor Anu Ojha OBE from the UK National Space Academy in the Cunk on Earth episode "War(s) of the World(s)?" More specifically, Cunk is shocked to discover that Laika's remains are still floating in space.
It's a laugh-out-loud moment when Cunk immediately thinks that there's a dead dog in the background of the Star Wars movies. Cunk is stupidly funny for implying that the films are factual, let alone that the Star Wars directors would happily include footage of a dead dog. However, her extreme reaction isn't that over-the-top, and it’s weird to think about Laika's fate. Cunk highlights the feelings of every pet lover across the world when she asks for a "minute's silence" for the dog, and while this scene is very comical, it’s also sad.
4 "Our Planet Is Changing. And Not In A Good Way, Like Into A Butterfly, Or A Giant Magic Shoe."
Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe: Season 3, Episode 4
Another great Cunk remark from Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe is about climate change. Her introduction to the "Moments of Wonder" segment notes that the changes to planet Earth are not positive, like "A butterfly, or a giant magic shoe." This comedic statement is painfully true. Butterflies are famous for blossoming from worm-like insects into beautiful flying creatures, but climate change is causing Earth's picturesque landscapes to be slowly destroyed.
The shoe doesn't initially seem to be a reference to anything, but it could be argued that it's a nod to the nursery rhyme "There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" and how the titular character's many children wouldn't survive in a world destroyed by climate change, although it's unlikely. However, the fact that this makes no sense is also why this Cunk quote is so funny, and Morgan's character never hesitates to push an agenda with illogical and ridiculous comments that also hold some value.
3 "How Important Are The Words In Shakespeare's Plays? Could You Do It Without The Words?"
Cunk On Shakespeare
It's again completely nonsensical and hilarious when Cunk suggests that William Shakespeare's plays could be "Done without the words" in Cunk on Shakespeare. The 2016 special follows Cunk's strange take on the life and works of one of the greatest writers in literary history, but it's no surprise that she ponders whether Shakespeare's words are really as powerful as they are made out to be. There are loads of very obvious and secret Shakespeare movie adaptations, and his plays are so layered that the stories are open to interpretation.
Anyone But You Failed Where This 25-Year-Old Shakespeare Rom-Com With 71% On Rotten Tomatoes Succeeded
Anyone But You was met with harsh criticism upon its 2023 release. This Shakespearian adaptation accomplished the opposite 25 years ago.
It's very funny that Cunk even considers a version of a Shakespeare play without dialogue, but it's even better when she poses this question to legendary stage performer Sir Simon Russell Beale, and his silence at her comment is brilliant. However, considering that the art form of film often mixes things up, a silent version of Romeo and Juliet or The Taming of the Shrew isn't completely impossible, either.
2 "Teenagers Were Creatures That Looked Like Adults, Yet Had The Minds Of Children, Like Professional Footballers Do Today."
Cunk On Britain, Episode 4: "Twentieth Century Shocks"
Cunk comparing teenagers to professional soccer, or football in the UK, players is amazingly accurate in several ways. It's not uncommon for athletes to be recruited at a very young age, mainly because they are at the peak fitness of their lives, and so they technically have "the minds of children" despite "look[ing] like adults." What's so ridiculous about this quote is that it's barely relevant to what Cunk is focusing on.
At the end of "Twentieth Century Shocks," Cunk wraps up the events of the Suez Canal crisis, which she incorrectly reports anyway. However, she uses this comment as a segue to finish her commentary on the 20th century, as if teenagers didn't exist before this point. This is a classic confusing Philomena Cunk quote, and while it's a funny statement, its comedic value increases simply because it's so disconnected from the topic she's covering.
1 "Which Was More Culturally Significant? The Renaissance Or Single Ladies By Beyoncé?"
Cunk On Earth, Episode 3 - "The Renaissance Will Not Be Televised"
In "The Renaissance Will Not Be Televised," Cunk asks an absolutely iconic question, and ponders which is "more culturally significant": Beyoncé's hit "Single Ladies" or the Renaissance period. This quote is not only a viral soundbite, but it's also easily one of the most hilarious things that the character ever says. Of course, there's no way anyone can compare a single pop song from 2008 to a notable era in human history, although both were hugely impactful on society.
Beyoncé's songs are often played in movies and TV shows, and "Single Ladies" is still relevant even years after its release, as it symbolizes many listeners' feelings about relationships. The Renaissance altered culture massively, too, and society is still feeling the effects of it now. Regardless of this, Philomena Cunk's question to Professor Martin Kemp of the University of Oxford is baffling, a standout quote, and by far her funniest line across all of her shows and specials.
-
Cunk on Christmas
- Release Date
- December 29, 2016
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Director
- Lorry Powles
- Writers
- Charlie Brooker, Jason Hazeley
- Producers
- Annabel Jones
Cast
Diane MorganPhilomena Cunk-
Kate WilliamsSelf
-
Jay Rayner
-
Ronald Hutton
Cunk on Christmas is a mockumentary featuring Philomena Cunk's comedic exploration of the origins and traditions of Christmas. Released in 2016, the film humorously delves into history and modern-day customs, with Cunk interviewing experts to uncover the meaning of the festive season.
-
Your comment has not been saved
Cunk on Britain
- Release Date
- 2018 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- BBC Two
- Directors
- Lorry Powles
- Writers
- Ben Caudell, Michael Odewale
Cast
-
Chris PackhamSelf - Naturalist and Zoologist
-
Howard GoodallSelf - Composer and Music Historian
-
Diane MorganPhilomena Cunk
-
Tom HollandSelf - Historical Writer
Philomena Cunk, portrayed by Diane Morgan, humorously explores British history from the Big Bang to Brexit in this mockumentary series. Through interviews with real experts, she offers a satirical and often absurd perspective on the nation's past.
-
Your comment has not been saved
Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe
- Release Date
- 2013 - 2015-00-00
- Network
- BBC Two
- Writers
- Charlie Brooker
Cast
-
Charlie BrookerHimself - Presenter
-
Al CampbellBarry Shitpeas
-
Diane MorganPhilomena Cunk
-
Bob Mortimer
Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe is a satirical review show that features Charlie Brooker and guests examining television, cinema, news, and video games. Released in 2013, the series humorously dissects contemporary media and cultural events, offering commentary and laughter in response to the current state of the world.
-
Your comment has not been saved
Cunk on Shakespeare
- Release Date
- May 11, 2016
- Runtime
- 29 minutes
- Director
- Lorry Powles
- Writers
- Charlie Brooker, Jason Hazeley
- Producers
- Annabel Jones
Cast
-
Simon Russell BealeSelf - Actor
-
Diane MorganPhilomena Cunk
-
Paul TaylorSelf - Head of Collections, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
-
Iqbal KhanSelf - Theatre Director
Cunk on Shakespeare is a 2016 film featuring Philomena Cunk as she explores the life and works of William Shakespeare. Through visits to significant locations and interviews with experts, Cunk humorously delves into the Bard's legacy in her distinctive investigative style.
-
Your comment has not been saved
Your comment has not been saved