Philomena Cunk

Seven Questions With… Diane Morgan

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© Matt Crockett

Diane Morgan is a face many will recognise, having starred in countless sitcoms such as Phoenix Nights and Uncle, being half of comedy double act Two Episodes of Mash with Joe Wilkinson and also performing stand up. But Diane is perhaps most well known for her hilarious role as Philomena Cunk on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, where she explores various ‘moments of wonder’, such as “what is clocks?” and “where does your lap go when you stand up?” which are valid questions, I’m sure you can agree.
To find out more about the comedian behind the character, I asked Diane these seven questions…

1) Clockwise or anti-clockwise?

Are you asking if I prefer things that go clockwise? Because most things do. I don’t know why. It’s none of my business. Hey, let’s try and get John Cleese to make Anti-Clockwise! (The sequel.)

2) How do you feel about the result of this year’s election?

I found it utterly unfathomable. The Tories are an absolute unmitigated disgrace of a party. An abomination. Deluded. Lacking in empathy and devoid of all humanity. Too much? I don’t think so. If I ever meet Cameron, Osborne or Ian Duncan Smith it will take all my strength not to kick them in the balls repeatedly.

3) Who would you most like to impress?

Peter Cook. Now sadly no longer with us of course but if he was I’d gladly iron his newspapers before he read them, do his shopping and learn to make his favourite dish. I’d basically become his servant. I don’t think I’d impress him. I’d be too eager to please. It would be revolting.

4) Do you waste a lot of time?

The whole of my 20’s were wasted. I sat around staring into space a lot. I had a string of dead-end jobs. I went to drama school so I’m not qualified to do anything useful.

Most people waste their 20’s, it’s tradition. I do wish I could go back in time and shake myself. I didn’t start doing stand up until I was 28, although there was no way I could’ve done it before. Now, I feel sick if I waste a day watching videos on YouTube instead of writing.

5) Would you visit Mars if given the opportunity?

I would not visit Mars. There’s nothing up there! You can see that from down here! I can’t even be bothered to look at pictures of it in a book. Also, it’s asking for trouble. You’d probably need jabs and everything. Holidays are generally quite stressful and disappointing. So no thanks.

6) What is your favourite thing about performing as a comedy character?

It’s like wearing a suit of armour. Not literally of course. I mean you feel protected. You can pretty much say anything you like and get away with it because it isn’t you. It’s very freeing.

7) What stops you from being bored?

I’m never bored. Not now we have the Internet. I also have lots of funny friends and admin, and writing and food. I’m good at doing nothing too! (see question 4.) I can very easily just sit down in an empty room and not be bored. I’d make an excellent prisoner. I’d keep everyone’s morale up.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SHOWS AND FUTURE PROJECTS, VISIT DIANE MORGAN’S WEBSITE

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

TV Review: Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Series 3

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Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe may just be the smoothest comedy programme on television. It is also one of the bleakest satirical programmes I have ever seen, but I am well and truly addicted.

Here we have a programme that makes me hate so many aspects of the world, but then laugh at them and regain control. Charlie Brooker expertly exposes everything that is wrong with humanity but also shows that we’re not the only ones who are disheartened by it all. Stick with it, and you can find the positive message.

With comment on topical media-related things as well as politics, this programme doesn’t spare many people from the mockery. Jake Yapp regularly relays various programmes like The One Show and The Voice in a matter of seconds, flawlessly encapsulating their most irritating elements and imitating an array of presenters and celebrities in the process. Brooker also scrutinises over phenomena like Eastenders, Broadchurch and Fifty Shades of Grey, aided by comments from Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas.

A common downfall that I have found with shows like Weekly Wipe is the quality and originality of the sketches used to break up the larger proportion of denser comedy. However, this programme is truly unique in its creation of innovative and hilarious weekly sketches, from the wonderful Philomena Cunk and her “Moments of Wonder”, to the arrival of Morgana Robinson. Robinson (House of Fools) proved a fantastic addition to the Weekly Wipe team with a scarily faultless YouTuber-parody and humorous impersonations of Russell Brand. Yet again, the great minds behind this show have proven such specific observational skills as well as, in Morgana’s case, a talent for impressions (which was already common knowledge for those who watched Very Important People, I’m sure).

Brooker is undeniably a very intelligent man and has a mysterious ability to articulate what millions of us seem to be feeling, even if we hadn’t realise it yet. Weekly Wipe is a perfect example of a programme taking control over political matters that we can’t seem to change in a valiant attempt to regain power, by laughing at it. And there are many laughs indeed.

SERIES THREE OF CHARLIE BROOKER’S WEEKLY WIPE IS AVAILABLE ON BBC IPLAYER

May: Comedian Of The Month #4, Diane Morgan

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Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

This month’s comedian is Diane Morgan and particularly her alter-ego Philomena Cunk who makes regular appearances on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe. Despite the fact that the show isn’t actually running at the moment, Diane Morgan has been relevant for me this month because I found a bit of her stand up online (although I couldn’t really find a lot).

Philomena Cunk

Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe is very satirically dense and although this is important in comedy, it can often get a little too heavy. This is why characters like Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas are so brilliant for the programme: they bring the silliness to a sometimes very depressing world. Philomena always has the most incredible lines that really catch you off guard, with her little mini-documentaries about The Internet or What Is Time? They are completely stupid, and the things she says aren’t intellectual in anyway; that’s why I love her.

Diane manages to convey a beautiful silliness within five seconds of screen time which is reminiscent of many comic heroes such as Vic & Bob and Harry Hill. This mood can be shown through words, or even just a raise of the eyebrows, which is a skill not many have mastered (think, Paul Foot or Bill Bailey). Here is a clip from the latest series of Weekly Wipe, it is the first episode in the series of Philomena Cunk’s Moments of Wonder (‘Time’).

For more information, visit Diane Morgan’s website and follow her on Twitter.

 APRIL COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH