Who Is Philomena Cunk And How Did She Go Viral?

Have you stumbled upon videos of a British lady interviewing people in a very peculiar manner by asking the dumbest of questions that throw her subjects for a loop? Well, that's Philomena Cunk for you, and she's not real. She's a character masterfully portrayed by British actress Diane Morgan, and she's been around for years before going viral in 2022. Read our explainer to learn more about her story and her rise to the internet memedom.

Who Is Philomena Cunk?

Philomena Cunk is a character created for the British television review program Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, which aired on BBC Two between 2013 and 2015. Portrayed by British actress Diane Morgan, Cunk is a completely inept, dim-witted, ill-informed and yet dedicated and endearing reporter who knows how to ask the wrong questions at the worst possible time.

The character appeared in a multitude of mockumentary series and shorts on BBC, including Cunk on Chrismas (2016), Cunk on Britain (2018, episode shown below, right) and Cunk and Other Humans (2019).

How Did Philomena Cunk Become Viral?

Despite having been around since 2013, the character didn't become viral until September 2022. It was then when BBC launched the new mockumentary series Cunk on Earth, which has Cunk visiting famous places and talking to interesting people in her typical manner. What's even more important, BBC started uploading clips from the show to TikTok and to YouTube as short. With perfect execution of deadpan humor, great acting from Diane Morgan and some amazing writing, it's not surprising that Philomena Cunk quickly rose to the rank of a social media star.

What Accent Does Philomena Cunk Have?

Philomena Cunk has Diane Morgan's natural Bolton accent.

Who Created Philomena Cunk?

Philomena Cunk was conceived by Charlie Brooker, whose show Weekly Wipe aired on BBC between 2013 and 2015. Brooker is now better known as the creator of the Black Mirror science fiction anthology. Brooker and his team have been writing all Cunk on series since. Cunk on Earth has also been co-written by Brooker.

Where Can I Watch Philomena Cunk?

Philomena Cunk has appeared in a number of mockumentary shows and shorts on BBC. You can watch the Cunk on series on the British streaming television service Sky Go.

For the full history of Philomena Cunk be sure to check out our entry for more information.