Cunk on Cinema, Philomena Cunk Asks Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Bay About Film History

Cunk on Cinema is a three-part mockumentary comedy in which Diane Morgan’s Philomena Cunk surveys the history of film through characteristically misguided questions. It premieres in the UK on BBC Two

*Cunk on Cinema* is a three-part mockumentary comedy in which Philomena Cunk, played by Diane Morgan, surveys everything from the birth of cinema to today’s filmmaking environment. In the UK, the first episode will air on BBC Two on the evening of November 12, 2026, and all three episodes will be released on BBC iPlayer the same day. Outside the UK and Ireland, Netflix will handle distribution.

From the Invention of the Camera to AI

The new series covers the invention of the camera, the French New Wave of the 1960s, the rise of CGI, and the potential impact of AI on filmmaking. Cunk is less a presenter organizing the course of film history than a figure who punctures experts’ unquestioned assumptions with deadpan questions. The episode centers on addressing major themes—the evolution of film technology and the future of creativity—through the format of a comedic interview.

Interviews with Filmmakers and Critics

Alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Bay, the interviewees include composer Daniel Pemberton, screenwriter Steven E. de Souza, cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, critic Mark Kermode, and filmmaker and writer Mark Cousins. Al Campbell directed the series, which was produced by Pacesetter Productions. Bringing together differing perspectives from art, technology, and criticism creates a structure in which Cunk’s misunderstandings collide with the experts’ explanations.