Following the worldwide success of Cunk on Earth, pioneering documentarian Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) returns with her most ambitious quest yet: venturing into the universe and all, to examine life itself.

“What’s all this for?” It’s a question that humans have been asking since the dawn of time. But as we cling to our dying planet, working around the clock as we are slowly replaced by machines, now more than ever, people are desperate to find meaning in their lives – before someone does. invents a computer that gives it meaning. them.

This special will see Philomena tackle some of the most complex concepts ever discovered, including quantum physics, existentialism, nihilism, hedonism – and at least four other isms – as well as explore topics ranging from the big bang to biology, through morality. to meditation and art to artificial intelligence.

In her search for answers, she will also examine some of history’s greatest innovative thinkers and creators, from Dostoyevsky to Van Gogh, from Nietzsche to the man who invented those signs in kitchens that say “Live Laugh Love.”

Along the way, she will meet leading experts and academics and won’t let them go until she understands questions like: what is life, why do we bother to find out and when is lunch?

• Watch Cunk on Life on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two on Monday December 30 from 9pm

MJ

Philomena, tell us about your new documentary, Cunk on Life?

The goal of this new documentary was very simple. My previous documentaries, like Cunk On Britain, took me to very interesting but ultimately very cold places, like Britain. With Cunk On Life, I wanted to go somewhere warmer. The series is about what it means to be human – I ask important questions about the meaning of life.

There’s a lot about religion, but also a lot about sex. Partly because without sex there would be no life, but mainly because no one would watch a show about religion at Christmas, so we had to add sex to it to get people into it.

What research did you do when you were searching for the meaning of life?

I thought if I made a show about being human, I wouldn’t need to do any research, because I already knew what it was to be human. Sort of.

But I did a lot of research: I studied the work of all the major motivational fridge magnet manufacturers and mixed it with some Eastern philosophies I had learned through TikTok.

Did anyone or anything inspire you to do this show?

Yes. All humans. One day I was looking at one of them through a window and thinking:

What does it mean to be human? What is human conditioner? Do they sell it at Superdrug? And would humans watch a TV show about all that if we aired it between Christmas and New Years when everyone is bored out of their minds and they could just watch a show that isn’t about dancing? celebrities or how to make the perfect roast potato. ?

If you could interview anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

I think I’ve interviewed everyone I ever wanted to. Because I don’t really want to interview anyone.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a documentary filmmaker?

I don’t want to give any advice to other documentarians because they might end up being better than me. You won’t get any advice from me, I’m moving back up the ladder, buddy.

Has anyone ever given you any good advice for making these shows?

Award-winning documentarian Adam Curtis once gave me some really good advice, but he said it in his doom-laden voice, so I was too scared to remember what it was. Something about “the opposite happening”, I think.

You have traveled to the five corners of the world to make your documentaries, what was the worst place you had to go?

In fact the worst place I’ve been to was Chieveley on the M4 on Boxing Day. It’s one of those terrible ones that fools you because it’s actually a 10 minute drive from the motorway via lots of roundabouts. You should have seen the queue for the ladies.

In addition to being a renowned filmmaker, you have also written two books. Do you prefer writing books or making a TV show?

Both are quite boring but in different ways. Writing books means being bored alone.

Making a TV show is boring but with other people watching their phones near you.

Do you have any resolutions for the new year?

I swear I’ll try to have a Brat Winter. Also, I’m going to have my wisdom teeth removed next year. Have them frozen in case I want them when I’m older.

What’s next for Philomena Cunk?

I’ll probably sit down, eat a Ritz cracker and listen to the ambient noise for a bit until my Ocado shows up. And I’m thinking about going on tour where I lip sync to my audiobooks. Save my voice.