WTF did I just watch? Cunk on Britain

[TooManyAnimals94]

So wasn't really watching the TV...was scrolling on here but this came on after the Olympics highlights and I liked her in Motherland so left it on.
I don't understand her delivery style at all. I'm all for using comedy to engage people with history (Blackadder, Horrible Histories and others are brilliant) but my jaw actually dropped when she made an awful pun about No Man's land being a place for people called Norman 😑. Also, did they know World War One was the 'start of a franchise' and 'shells don't hurt, I've found little ones at the beach'. It was actually DH who turned it off in disgust and he has a very black sense of humour but we both agreed this was horrendously offensive.

Have I missed something? Was this just a bad episode?

“If it wasn’t for the suffragettes I wouldn’t be standing here now, I’d be in the kitchen, where I belong.”
😂

@ArchbishopOfBanterbury

I quite like Philomena Cunk on lots of topics, but I do think such a tragic and horrendously fatal topic as the world wars, should be treated with a bit more respect. It does feel inappropriate to joke about, for me. But, a lot of people disagree and love that sort of humour (so games like Cards Against Humanity are bestsellers). Not my thing, I do think some topics are off limits for comedy.

I think that’s partly the point though. The same point made in Blackadder goes forth. ‘History’ is often viewed as serious and deliberate and carefully crafted (because of the way it’s written up in history books - and more recently - tv documentaries) but I think both Blackadder and Cunk highlight that society and key historical events are equally silly, bizarre or preposterous when you look at it through a different lens. The First World War was described as ‘The Great War’ as they confidently believed there would never be another…but then there was. Which kind of opens it up to the ‘franchise’ comment. Cunk - and Charlie Brooker also really shine a light on modern ‘formulaic’ TV programme. Such as the setting up shots where she describes ‘starting one sentence in one place…and finishes it shouting in another!’ Working in a media role, it really makes me think again about the way TV and programmes are made. I think it is brilliant to see the real life experts and how they react / interact with Cunk. And finally, I do actually think it makes people engage with history, either inspiring those who might not watch a normal history documentary or for those who do know their history, making you think about what really are the important ‘milestones’ in our country’s history.

She’s no Barry Shitpeas (the famed presenter/Barman/alleged person/cultural commentator) but she’s pretty funny.

“And it was all designed by a man, called Norman Architecture” makes me chuckle.

Plus the dinosaurs - “they were kept in appalling conditions, look at their skeletal state”

I agree that you need to have a good understanding of the history she’s taking the piss out of for it to be funny.

Horses for courses though. I don’t get mrs browns boys and in fact can’t even sit through and episode of it!

But I find Cunk one of the funniest things in years.

Doesn’t work for me, trying too hard.

I loved her on screenwipe. Maybe it needs that context in order to be funny as a whole programme?

And that famous line “we will fight the bitches” love it!
I love Cunk, funny stuff.

I can’t watch Alice Roberts now thanks to Cunk

@Blankspace4

“And it was all designed by a man, called Norman Architecture” makes me chuckle.

Plus the dinosaurs - “they were kept in appalling conditions, look at their skeletal state”

I agree that you need to have a good understanding of the history she’s taking the piss out of for it to be funny.

Horses for courses though. I don’t get mrs browns boys and in fact can’t even sit through and episode of it!

But I find Cunk one of the funniest things in years.

Agreed- reminds me of a modern day version of the brilliant book “1066 and All That”. If you don’t know the period in history, a lot of the jokes won’t make sense.

We love this, teens and adults alike, very funny and very clever and not offensive at all.

However I find Motherland toecurlingly awful and everyone else I know seems to love it, it wouldn't do if we all liked the same things.

Cunk on Britain is very funny.

@weaselwords

That’s just reminded me of her calling the Cerne Abbas giant a decorative pervert and saying it’s the second crudest hill, after Benny 🤣

🤣🤣

It’s satirical comedy not a historical documentary.

Love it.

I loved the contrast with the experts who I thought also did a brilliant job as the straight part of the act, patiently explaining to her the more accurate version without bursting out laughing. Hopefully they don't feel too exposed from it. Haven't watched that episode but there were some classic misperceptions in the others.

World War Two. ‘Things had got shithouse bad.’

Love it

@inthesark

I can’t watch Alice Roberts now thanks to Cunk

Me either! She even dresses like her!

@Miraloma

It's totally subjective, you're right OP. I wouldn't expect anyone to explain what's funny about Miranda or Mrs Browns Boys

I would like someone to explain what's funny about Mrs Brown's Boys. It leaves me cold. Love Miranda though!

@SqueakyPeaks

And not cringing because it was deliberately stupid and offensively dim commentary. More that it was without skill or nuance. I love satire. I love clever comedy. This was neither.

Exactly my thoughts.

I particularly loved the archivist Dr Jessica Nelson talking about the Doomsday Book, I like to think she is here somewhere on Mumsnet chuckling away at it.

@weaselwords

That’s just reminded me of her calling the Cerne Abbas giant a decorative pervert and saying it’s the second crudest hill, after Benny 🤣

🤣🤣🤣

It's not just that she's ignorant, it's her flat disinterest and arrogance. I rewatched last night and couldn't stop laughing.

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch

It's not just that she's ignorant, it's her flat disinterest and arrogance. I rewatched last night and couldn't stop laughing.

Yes I agree that disinterested tone is killer

Her podcast with Adam Buxton is really interesting. She literally couldn't give a shit when she does those interviews 😅

I prefer Barry Shitpeas