Official poster for Cunk on...

Scripted series · BBC Two

Cunk on...

7.9IMDb143 votesWorth your time
Community0/20 ratingsYour ratingRateSign in to rate
2018 –2 seasons · 10 episodes~30 min per episodeTV-MAReturning series
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Who's in it

Cast

The principal ensemble across the run of the series.

Diane Morgan

Diane Morgan

Philomena Cunk

10 eps

Shini Somara

Shini Somara

Self - Mechanical Engineer

2 eps

Mark Lawson

Mark Lawson

Self - Cultural Commentator

3 eps

Vanessa Harding

Self - London History, University of London

2 eps

Tom Holland

Tom Holland

Self - Historical Writer

1 eps

Ronald Hutton

Ronald Hutton

Self - British History, University of Bristol

2 eps

Jessica Nelson

Self - Head of Medieval Collections, National Archives

1 eps

Neil Oliver

Neil Oliver

Self - Archaeologist and Historian

2 eps

Robert Peston

Robert Peston

Self - Political Editor

3 eps

Francis Pryor

Francis Pryor

Self - Pre-Historic Archaeology

1 eps

Stephen Gunn

Self - Early Modern History, Oxford University

1 eps

Ashley Jackson

Ashley Jackson

Self - Imperial & Military History, Kings College London

5 eps

Kate Williams

Kate Williams

Self - Royal Historian

1 eps

Gregory Dart

Self - English, University, College, London

1 eps

Howard Goodall

Howard Goodall

Self - Composer and Music Historian

3 eps

Emma Griffin

Self - Modern British History, UEA

1 eps

Chris Packham

Chris Packham

Self - Naturalist and Zoologist

1 eps

Laura Ashe

Self - Professor of Medieval Literature, History and Culture

2 eps

Doron Swade

Self - Computer Historian

1 eps

Ruth Adams

Ruth Adams

Self - Cultural & Creative Industries, Kings College, London

4 eps

Jason Farries

Jason Farries

Wilfred Owen (uncredited)

1 eps

Paul Bahn

Self - Archaeologist

1 eps

Jim Al-Khalili

Jim Al-Khalili

Self - Professor of Public Engagement in Science

4 eps

Irving Finkel

Self - Assistant Keeper of Ancient Mesopotamian Script

1 eps

Eleanor Robson

Self - Professor of Ancient Middle Eastern History

1 eps

Joyce Tyldesley

Self - Professor of Egyptology, University of Manchester

1 eps

Lyndsay Coo

Self - Senior Lecturer in Ancient Greek Language and Literature

1 eps

Myrto Hatzimichali

Self - Senior Lecturer in Classics (Ancient Philosophy)

1 eps

Douglas Hedley

Douglas Hedley

Self - Professor of the Philosophy of Religion

3 eps

Nigel Spivey

Self - Senior Lecturer in Classics

2 eps

John Man

Self - Historian / Author, The Mongol Empire

2 eps

Kate Cooper

Self - Professor of History Royal Holloway, University of London

1 eps

Shirley J. Thompson

Shirley J. Thompson

Self - Composer / Professor of Music, University of Westminster

4 eps

Shahjadha Asghar

Jesus Christ

1 eps

Ads Odedra

Crusader / Saracen

1 eps

Deip Patel

Crusader / Saracen

1 eps

Darryl Smith

Crusader / Saracen

1 eps

Adrian Woolmer

Crusader / Saracen

1 eps

Martin Andrews

Self - Printing Historian

1 eps

Martin Kemp

Martin Kemp

Self - Professor Emeritus of the History of Art

1 eps

The Nutevio profile

TV DNA

How Cunk on... actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.

Signature profile

Cunk on... reads strongest on Bingeability, Humour and Character Depth.

BingeabilityStrong6.9

How hard it is to stop after one episode.

HumourStrong6.5

How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.

Character DepthStrong6.0

How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.

SerializedPresent4.5

How much each hour depends on the one before it.

Cliffhanger IntensityPresent4.0

How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.

TensionPresent4.0

The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.

Emotional WeightLight3.9

How much the series is designed to affect you.

SpectacleLight3.5

Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.

World BuildingLight3.5

The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.

The story

What it's about

Landmark mockumentary-maker Philomena Cunk traces the history of Britain and Earth.

The run

Seasons

2 seasons · 10 episodes.

  • Official poster for Britain

    Season 1 · Complete

    Britain

    20185 episodes

    8.4IMDb

    Philomena Cunk takes us through Britain's history, journeying from the Big Bang to Brexit.

    Best episode · S01E03 The Third Episode

  • Official poster for Earth

    Season 2 · Complete

    Earth

    20225 episodes

    7.8IMDb

    In the second series, Philomena Cunk tells the entire story of Human Civilisation from prehistoric times to the present day, covering all the main bits of History, Science, Culture and Religion. So this really is the last documentary you ever need to watch.

    Best episode · S02E03 The Renaissance Will Not Be Televised

Where the series peaks

Best Episodes

The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

Still from The Third Episode

S01E03

The Third Episode

8.6IMDb7 votes

Philomena examines the Victorians and is joined by Chris Packham who tries to shed some light on Darwin's discoveries.

17 Apr 201829 min
Still from Twentieth Century Shocks

S01E04

Twentieth Century Shocks

8.5IMDb6 votes

Philomena and Mark Lawson examine the first half of the 20th century, with two world wars but no world cup.

24 Apr 201829 min
Still from The Empire Strikes Back

S01E02

The Empire Strikes Back

8.4IMDb7 votes

Philomena's odyssey takes her from King Henry VIII to Lord Horatio Nelson.

10 Apr 201829 min
Still from Beginnings

S01E01

Beginnings

8.4IMDb12 votes

Philomena takes us right back to the beginning with the Big Bang and interviews Robert Peston about British politics.

3 Apr 201829 min
Still from The Arse End of History

S01E05

The Arse End of History

8.2IMDb5 votes

In the final episode, Cunk has made it to the 21st century and Brexit.

1 May 201829 min
Still from The Renaissance Will Not Be Televised

S02E03

The Renaissance Will Not Be Televised

7.9IMDb25 votes

Philomena Cunk explores the Renaissance and revolutions, including but not limited to the American one.

4 Oct 202229 min

Recently aired

Latest Episodes

Still from War(s) of the World(s)?

S02E05

War(s) of the World(s)?

7.8IMDb18 votes
18 Oct 202229 min
Still from Rise of the Machines

S02E04

Rise of the Machines

7.8IMDb19 votes
11 Oct 202229 min
Still from The Renaissance Will Not Be Televised

S02E03

The Renaissance Will Not Be Televised

7.9IMDb25 votes
4 Oct 202229 min
Still from Faith/Off

S02E02

Faith/Off

7.8IMDb28 votes
27 Sept 202228 min
Still from In the Beginnings

S02E01

In the Beginnings

7.8IMDb28 votes
20 Sept 202229 min
Still from The Arse End of History

S01E05

The Arse End of History

8.2IMDb5 votes
1 May 201829 min

The craft

Key Crew

Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.

Executive production

Direction

Cinematography

Where to watch

Streaming

Availability verified against regional listings.

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