British humor has a long history of high-caliber jokes. Comedians and comedy troupes such as Monty Python, Tracey Ullman, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and duo Mitchell and Webb have all significantly contributed to comedy discourse in various forms. Another notable superstar comedian to come from Britain goes by the name of Diane Morgan. In her show ‘Cunk On Earth’, she plays a supposed documentary presenter Philomena Cunk as she navigates the history of the Earth through “research” and interviews with experts. This is a role she’s played multiple times before, reprising it from ‘Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe’. In ‘Cunk On Earth’, her character has started to take center stage in creative projects. Affecting a serious tone when in reality anything but, Cunk tries to get to the bottom of various questions that have plagued the human race for hundreds of thousands of years. Did Greek Philosophers think so hard that their heads split open? Did ‘Greensleeves’ just constantly play in the background during the Dark Ages? Were the pyramids built from bottom to top, or the other way around? These are the questions that keep Cunk (and her audience) up at night.
The show made waves in the television comedy world upon its release back in 2022, and for good reason. Morgan’s sense of humor is a very unique brand of silliness. The writer-actress could easily utilize filmic elements such as out-of-place edits or camera tricks to create humor. However, the style of comedy she chooses to pursue is generated entirely from her cerebral writing and endearing performance. The combination gives the show a sort of old-school feeling, relying on the strength of her character and the quality of her humorously misguided thoughts. Its release on Netflix helped widen Morgan’s fan base and helped create an even bigger name for herself.
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Philomena Cunk’s Sense of Humor is Right at Home on Social Media
One obvious reason this show has become such a sensation so quickly is because of its sense of humor. Morgan’s comedy antics seem almost at odds with today’s media landscape upon first glance. The editing isn’t super flashy or in your face, and the direction is very traditional. However, if we take a closer look, we can see that the spirit of ‘Cunk On Earth’s humor actually fits perfectly with today’s audience’s tastes. What’s trending in our current climate falls along the lines of absurdism. Cartoonishness dominates as the most popular form of jokes. Many people appreciate this through low-budget short sketches with outlandish premises. ‘Cunk On Earth’ has this in spades. It’s made in the same vein as lots of other sketch-centric social media content, and could even influence younger comedians to impersonate Morgan or take more cues from her creative output.
Another style choice that ends up making her humor incredibly impactful in such a short amount of time is how Morgan chooses to splice up the different ongoing comedy bits. A lot of the show’s comedy comes from her phrases, comparisons, and punchlines that feel like they come completely out of left field. These longer routines are punctuated by shorter sections where Cunk interviews professors and historians. Her questions are always ridiculous nonstarters, highlighting the adorably obtuse nature of her character. These bits contributed largely to the show’s immediate success outside itself. Her conversations with experts on the show ended up going viral in minute-long YouTube Shorts and TikTok content. The proliferation of her show allows for the integrity of the entire comedy bit to be preserved, while still pushing her comedy out into the world in bite-sized pieces en masse.
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The Children Around the World Continue to Ask the question
Diane Morgan is a Whirlwind of True Talent
Last but not least, the most important ingredient to the show’s success is the incredible comedian herself. Her delivery (and therefore Cunk’s) is quiet and confused, adding a layer to her seemingly sincere misunderstanding of any and all situations. Even with all of that perfected, Morgan still creates a wholly original character full of quirks, and only Morgan herself could make it work. Good comedians are able to craft top-tier jokes that work on their own, but only the greats can combine that with their own idiosyncrasies that are special to them. The ability to harness these two talents into something genuinely funny is incredibly difficult, a feat that shouldn’t be taken lightly when attempted or accomplished. Morgan is an audacious comic for doing both these things.
Diane Morgan has steadily built an impressive career over the years. Having gained recognition with standout roles in Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe and Ricky Gervais’ After Life, she solidified her comedic voice with her own acclaimed series Mandy and the cult hit Cunk On Earth. Recently, Morgan expanded her reach with new projects like the Netflix series The Doll Factory and continued appearances in popular British comedies, showcasing her versatility beyond satire and dark humor. With her distinctive style and rising profile, Diane Morgan is now widely regarded as one of the most compelling comedic talents in the UK, enjoying a peak period marked by critical praise and growing international recognition.
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Morgan Will Influence Everyone After Her
When all of the above is put together, we get the perfect storm for long-lasting creative impact. Her material is hysterical, thoughtful, can survive being chopped up into tiny pieces, and is entirely personal. This could influence younger comedic performers to emphasize what traits make them stand out among their peers, bringing auteur-style performance driven by personality back to the comedy scene. This part of the comedy community has been waiting to be revitalized for a while now, and this might be the push it needed to become a mainstream form of humor again. The burst in popularity from ‘Cunk On Earth’ helped make Morgan a staple in modern comedy, not just in Britain, but in America as well.
Creator: Charlie Brooker
Actors: Diane Morgan
Director: Christian Watt
Writers: Jason Hazeley, Tom Baker, Charlie Brooker, Ben Caudell, Eli Goldstone, Diane Morgan, Joel Morris, Michael Odewale, Sam Ward
By Zachary DePiore
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Zachary DePiore graduated from Ohio University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. He’s loved writing his entire life, from creating picture books when he was seven to learning how to write copy, scripts, audio stories for radio and more in college. The Hollywood Insider’s dedication to combining deft storytelling and positivity made him realize that this had to be his next step forward. Some of his hobbies include traveling, tv shows, and movies. His favorite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender. As of right now, he’s a charity fundraiser in Cincinnati.
Zachary DePiore graduated from Ohio University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. He’s loved writing his entire life, from creating picture books when he was seven to learning how to write copy, scripts, audio stories for radio and more in college. The Hollywood Insider’s dedication to combining deft storytelling and positivity made him realize that this had to be his next step forward. Some of his hobbies include traveling, tv shows, and movies. His favorite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender. As of right now, he’s a charity fundraiser in Cincinnati.
