Character

Philomena Cunk is back with a spoof documentary series that homes in on the pyramids, the Great Wall and philosophy. It's impeccably surreal and ...

Obviously, Philomena Cunk is a comical work of fiction, but it can provide a pleasant if brief sense of relief just to remind yourself that she’s not real, after all. None of the academics seem to think they are being mocked, nor are they trying to be funny; likewise, it’s so hilarious and well-written that if you can occasionally see the bare bones poking out, it isn’t much of an issue. There is something noble about facing the Cunk inquisition, particularly when she is asking questions such as: “It was so long ago. In the first episode, Cunk tackles the origins and early history of man, or “human man” as she puts it. I am particularly fond of Dr Lyndsay Coo, who discusses ancient tragedies with the passion that can only come from a life dedicated to such a specific niche. It doesn’t linger on anyone for too long, and the academics are all such characters that each interview feels fresh.