"Which was more culturally significant: the Renaissance, or Single Ladies by Beyoncé?"

It's a question presenter Philomena Cunk poses to British art historian Martin Kemp during her new series Cunk on Earth — one of the many now-viral moments that are seeing the BBC Two series reach a global audience. 

So who is Philomena Cunk? Do these professors know she's just having a laugh? And what's the 1989 Technotronic hit Pump Up the Jam got to do with it?

What on earth is Cunk on Earth?

Cunk on Earth is a five-part "landmark" mockumentary series starring tour guide slash hapless field reporter Philomena Cunk, who charts the history of civilisation.

Throughout the series, Cunk travels "as far as COVID restrictions and the production budget" allow her, before putting the big questions to historians and experts, including, why pyramids are shaped like that ("is it to stop homeless people sleeping on them?"), and was Jesus the first victim of cancel culture?

The series was created by presenter and satirist Charlie Brooker, and written in collaboration with British comedian Diane Morgan.

Brooker might not be a household name here in Australia, but there's a decent chance you've stumbled upon his other works, like Black Mirror.

Is Philomena Cunk a real person?

No, which is unfortunate as it's a great name. 

Philomena Cunk is a fictional character created by Morgan, who you might recognise from the dark comedy series After Life.

Morgan's been playing Philomena on and off for about a decade.

She first debuted the character on Brooker's Weekly Wipe, and then later on Cunk on Britain, where her ill-equipped alter ego, armed with spotty research and rock-solid obliviousness, explored British history.

If Philomena isn't real, are the experts real?

The interviewees in Cunk on Earth are real, genuine experts. 

Throughout the five episodes, Cunk speaks to British classicist and academic Nigel Spivey, archaeologist Paul Bahn, global politics professor Brian Klaas, and award-winning composer Shirley Thompson, among others.

Klaas and Thompson have even shared their appreciation for being included.

Surely the experts are in on the bit, then?

They are indeed. 

Despite Philomena's baffling line of questioning, the experts take her "silly" queries seriously.

For example, historian Kemp gently begins his answer to the Renaissance versus Beyoncé question with: "They both had their time."

When asked about the experts during a Q&A session with the British Film Institute, Brooker confirmed "they know that it's a comedy show", adding: "They work best when they are very earnest."

"They don't know what I'm going to say," Morgan added, joking that the "real poncey" academics had not seen the series because they were too intellectual to own a television.

OK, but how is Pump Up the Jam involved?

Historical documentaries series don't often feature Eurodance interludes, so that's exactly why Technotronic's Pump Up the Jam plays a part in Cunk on Earth.

Used as a marker for the measurement of time, the "unrelated Belgian techno anthem" grows from being a joke to a running gag that can appear at any moment.

Cunk on Earth's success has rubbed off on the song too, with search interest for Pump Up the Jam spiking since the show was recently released worldwide on Netflix. It was first aired on the BBC last year.

What are critics saying about Cunk?

The Hollywood Reporter describes Cunk on Earth as a "consistently droll, frequently delightful series that mixes high and low comedy at a breakneck pace."

Vulture calls it "so perfectly stupid", saying it subverts its formula by being "deceptively smart", while Rolling Stone describes Philomena as an "irresistible idiot". 

The New York Times notes Cunk "feels somewhat different" to mockumentaries that have come before it, saying the show "isn't necessarily trying to make a specific point about politics, academia or even the documentary form. Its first priority is silliness".

Where can I watch it?

Cunk on Earth is currently streaming on Netflix, which is where you'll also find Brooker's Black Mirror, and where you'll spot Morgan in After Life.

With five half-hour episodes, you'll knock the series over within a couple of hours.