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Line 7: \| caption = Pilkington in 2008 \| birth_date = {{birth date and age\|df=yes\|1972\|9\|23}} \| birth_place = [[Sale, Greater Manchester\|Sale]], [[Cheshire]] (modern day Greater Manchester), England \| occupation = {{hlist\|[[Television presenter\|Presenter]]\|[[comedian]]\|[[actor]]\|[[Voice acting\|voice-artist]]\|[[Radio producer\|producer]]\|[[author]]}} \| years_active = 1998–present Line 19: ==Early life== Pilkington was born on 23 September 1972<ref>{{cite episode \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ncWbyqINcY&t=2538 \|title=The Ricky Gervais Show Series 2 Episode 34 \|access-date=14 October 2019 \|series=The Ricky Gervais Show \|station=XFM \|date=12 April 2003 \|transcript=Transcript \|transcript-url=http://www.pilkipedia.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=12_April_2003/Transcript \|archive-date=15 November 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115064435/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ncWbyqINcY&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999 \|url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Sale, Greater Manchester\|Sale]], [[Cheshire]] (modern day [[Greater Manchester]]).<ref>[https://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/16260756.waynes-world-karl-pilkington-growing-trafford/ Wayne's World: Karl Pilkington on growing up in Trafford] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715121458/https://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/16260756.waynes-world-karl-pilkington-growing-trafford/ \|date=15 July 2021 }}, Wayne Devlin, Messenger, 31 May 2018</ref> He grew up in the Racecourse Estate in Sale, and has an elder sister and brother. He has discussed having a close relationship with his parents, and has shared stories about his mother and father holding multiple jobs. However, he was never close to his siblings, which he attributed to being 10 years younger than them; he once said that it had been "years" since he had last talked to them.<ref>{{Citation\|title=The Complete Karl Pilkington on Family (A Compilation with Ricky Gervais & Steve Merchant)\| date=24 December 2018 \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqZ-mBXqUmI\| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/ZqZ-mBXqUmI\| archive-date=2021-11-17 \| url-status=live\|language=en\|access-date=2021-04-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He attended [[Ashton-on-Mersey School]] in Sale.<ref name="ind">{{cite news \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/karl-pilkington-ricky-gervaiss-extra-pair-of-hands-416309.html \|title=Karl Pilkington: Ricky Gervais's extra pair of hands \|newspaper=The Independent \|date=17 September 2006 \|access-date=1 September 2015 \|archive-date=25 September 2015 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925144602/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/karl-pilkington-ricky-gervaiss-extra-pair-of-hands-416309.html \|url-status=live }}</ref> ~~Karl got a bronze certificate for attending school for the majority of the week.~~ He said that he never liked school and struggled with the system, at some point losing all interest in it. He has said he attended school only to sell items to his schoolmates, usually video games that he had purchased and made copies of. He said, "I wasn't going to school to learn, I was going to earn." At the age of 15, he dropped out of school to work as a cassette and disk printer through a [[Youth Training Scheme]] programme.<ref>{{Citation\|title=#TSP055 - Karl Pilkington Podcast\| date=19 September 2018 \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyBkXnH47sg\|language=en\|access-date=2021-03-25\|archive-date=29 June 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629014506/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyBkXnH47sg\|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Career== ===Early work=== Pilkington moved to [[London]] to work as a producer at [[XFM London\|XFM]], where he was later promoted to head of production.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/tv-radio/article2476500.ece \| title=Tonight's TV: The Ricky Gervais Show (XFM) \| publisher=the times.co.uk \| access-date=17 April 2010 \| archive-date=17 October 2013 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017070525/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/tv-radio/article2476500.ece \| url-status=live }}</ref> While there, he unintentionally caused [[Gail Porter]] to leave the station in tears after only one show; he criticised her performance, which Pilkington defended as an attempt to encourage improvement.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/player/Christian-O-Connell-Breakfast-Show/8302/Karl-Pilkington--Ricky-Gervais-and-Stephen-Merchant-Conned-Me-Into-TV-Show.html \|title=Karl Pilkington: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant Conned Me Into TV Show - On The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show - Video \|publisher=Absolute Radio \|access-date=26 August 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002183231/http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/player/Christian-O-Connell-Breakfast-Show/8302/Karl-Pilkington--Ricky-Gervais-and-Stephen-Merchant-Conned-Me-Into-TV-Show.html \|archive-date= 2 October 2013 }}</ref> After several years, he began work on ''[[The Ricky Gervais Show]]''. Initially, Pilkington was solely the programme's producer and rarely spoke on-air, but as Gervais and Merchant began to frequently invite him to make [[cameo appearance\|cameo appearances]], Pilkington's [[Eccentricity (behavior)\|eccentric]] personality and unconventional views came to prominence and his popularity increased. He was eventually included as a main presenter on the broadcasts, with large amounts of airtime devoted to his controversial opinions on various subjects,: often due to his misunderstanding of the stories. He Pilkington created many features for the broadcasts, including Monkey News, Rockbusters, Educating Ricky and many others.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://scrimpton.com/ep/ep-xfm-S2E45\|title = July 5, 2003 episode transcript\|access-date = 4 April 2023}}</ref> Rockbusters garnered the most attention, with regular emails being sent to the station from listeners in the hopes to win prizes. These prizes were often mundane and low quality and were often referred to as things Pilkington "picked up from around the office". In December 2005, Pilkington stood in on two [[BBC Radio 6 Music]] shows for [[Nemone]], co-presenting with [[Russell Brand]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=BBC 6 Music (2005-12) \|date=December 2005 \|url=https://archive.org/details/RussellBrandRadio2005/}}</ref> ===Celebrity=== Pilkington's presence on ''The Ricky Gervais Show'' podcasts significantly increased his fame. He has often been mentioned in interviews given by Gervais and is often the victim of Gervais's [[practical joke\|pranks]] and insults directed towards the spherical appearance of his bald head, which has often been compared to an [[Orange (fruit)\|orange]]. ~~After~~During the podcast, Pilkington ~~claimed~~would heoften ~~could~~discuss ~~"eat~~his abizarre ~~knob~~upbringing atand ~~night"~~worldview, onalongside ~~the~~absurd ~~podcast~~news ~~(in~~stories. In ~~relation~~describing toa challenge from ''[[I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!\|I'm a Celebrity]]'' in which contestants [[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (UK TV series)#Bushtucker trials\|~~eating~~consumed a kangaroo penis]]), Pilkington claimed the challenge was more difficult than presented due to contestants consuming the kangaroo penis on an empty stomach. Pilkington reasoned that he could perform the challenge should it occur later in the day: surmising "I could eat a knob at night". In response to Pilkington's claim, Gervais encouraged his listeners to sample the humorous sound bite and ~~mix~~remix it into dance music. The phrase spawned several dance music mixes, T-shirts and other merchandise. Many of Pilkington's quotes have since gained publicity, particularly on the Internet. [[Reuters]] described Pilkington as a "phenomenon" who had made "[[Internet meme\|Internet history]]".<ref>{{cite web \|date=August 2004 \|url=http://www.rickygervais.com/karlisacult.php \|title=Ricky Gervais... Obviously \|publisher=Rickygervais.com \|access-date=12 November 2010 \|archive-date=28 January 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128170427/http://www.rickygervais.com/karlisacult.php \|url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 November 2010, while appearing live on [[Richard Bacon (TV presenter)\|Richard Bacon]]'s [[BBC Radio 5 Live\|Radio 5 Live]] afternoon show, Gervais surprised Pilkington with an on-air phone call. This led to a conversation in which Pilkington, who claimed to have been interrupted while [[grout]]ing his kitchen, claimed that he had not yet been paid for his work on ''[[An Idiot Abroad]]'' and concluded the interview with an improvised link into the hourly news.<ref>{{cite news \| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11815230 \| work=BBC News \| title=Ricky Gervais makes a surprise call to Karl Pilkington \| date=22 November 2010 \| access-date=20 June 2018 \| archive-date=7 April 2018 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407042648/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11815230 \| url-status=live }}</ref> Line 33 ⟶ 39: Merchant and Gervais have repeatedly denied claims that Pilkington's persona is their creation. In an on-air response to similar claims made by Chris Campling during a broadcast on Xfm, Merchant stated that he would be "ashamed" if the radio show had been scripted, adding that "I would not have squandered a character that good on this poxy radio station."<ref>Pilkington, K. (Producer) & Merchant, S., Gervais, R. (Presenters). (June 2005)</ref> Gervais concurred, pointing out that writing a single series's worth of six half-hour episodes of shows such as ''[[The Office (UK TV series)\|The Office]]'' and ''[[Extras (TV series)\|Extras]]'' consumed as long as a full year of their time. An interviewer for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' concluded that Pilkington's behaviour is genuine.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3655386/The-idiot-philosopher.html \|title=The idiot philosopher \|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] \|access-date=28 May 2012 \|date=17 September 2006 \|archive-date=18 May 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518060808/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3655386/The-idiot-philosopher.html \|url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, a species of insect from the [[Mutillidae]] family was named [[Traumatomutilla pilkingtoni]] after him.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Bartholomay \|first=Pedro R. \|last2=Williams \|first2=Kevin A. \|last3=Luz \|first3=David R. \|last4=Cambra \|first4=Roberto A. \|last5=Oliveira \|first5=Márcio Luiz de \|date=2019-07-11 \|title=Traumatomutilla André miscellanea: Revision of the bellica, bifurca, diabolica, and vitelligera species groups, and a new group for the new species T. pilkingtoni Bartholomay and Williams (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae: Sphaeropthalminae: Dasymutillini) \|url=https://journals.flvc.org/mundi/article/view/115068 \|journal=Insecta Mundi \|language=en \|pages=35 \|issn=1942-1354 \|quote=This remarkable species, is named in honor of the British philosopher, comedian, radio personality, presenter, author, and actor Karl Pilkington due to its rounded orange head.}}</ref> ===Television and DVD=== Line 52 ⟶ 60: The second series, subtitled ''The Bucket List'', debuted on 23 September 2011 on Sky 1 and features Pilkington partaking in ultimate experiences from a list selected for him.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://sky1.sky.com/an-idiot-abroad/an-idiot-abroad-about \|title=An Idiot Abroad 2: About the Show – Sky1 HD \|publisher=Sky1.sky.com \|access-date=3 April 2012 \|archive-date=2 April 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402151926/http://sky1.sky.com/an-idiot-abroad/an-idiot-abroad-about \|url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2011, he won the Best Presenter award for ''An Idiot Abroad'' at the Factual Entertainment Awards.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://realscreen.com/2011/06/01/deadliest-catch-amazing-race-win-big-at-factual-entertainment-awards/ \|title="Deadliest Catch"," Amazing Race" win big at Factual Entertainment Awards » Realscreen \|first=Adam \|last=Benzine \|access-date=13 June 2011 \|archive-date=9 June 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609020007/http://realscreen.com/2011/06/01/deadliest-catch-amazing-race-win-big-at-factual-entertainment-awards/ \|url-status=live }}</ref> The third series of the show, ''An Idiot Abroad: The Short Way Round'', premiered in November 2012 and showed Pilkington and [[Warwick Davis]] travelling the [[Silk Road\|Marco Polo route]].<ref>{{cite magazine \|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/idiot-abroad-3-in-pre-production/5038753.article \|title=Idiot Abroad 3 in pre-production \|magazine=[[Broadcast (magazine)\|Broadcast]] \|date=2 March 2012 \|access-date=29 September 2013 \|quote=Gervais set up Risk Productions along with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington to make the second series following the success of the first Mentorn Media-produced series. \|archive-date=2 October 2013 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002202705/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/idiot-abroad-3-in-pre-production/5038753.article \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2011/02/02/12680/the_idiot_is_back... \|title=The 'idiot' is back... \|publisher=Chortle \|date=2 February 2011 \|access-date=29 September 2013 \|archive-date=8 November 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108132046/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2011/02/02/12680/the_idiot_is_back... \|url-status=live }}</ref> He made his acting debut on 12 April 2012 in the [[Channel 4]] comedy-drama ''[[Derek (TV series)\|Derek]]'', portraying [[Janitor\|caretaker]] and bus driver Dougie. He left the show after the first episode of the second series. From 2013 to 2015, Pilkington starred in a two-series Sky 1 documentary called ''[[The Moaning of Life]]''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2013/01/17/16971/karls_mid-life_crisis\|title=Karl's mid-life crisis\|access-date=17 January 2013\|archive-date=19 January 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119134611/http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2013/01/17/16971/karls_mid-life_crisis\|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2018 to 2020, he co-wrote and starred in a Sky 1 scripted sitcom called ''[[Sick of It (TV series)\|Sick of It]]''.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Brown\|first=Brigid\|title=WATCH: 'Idiot Abroad' Star Karl Pilkington Writes and Stars in New Sitcom 'Sick of It'\|url=https://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2018/07/watch-idiot-abroad-star-karl-pilkington-writes-and-stars-in-new-sitcom-sick-of-it\|access-date=2021-08-06\|website=BBC America\|language=en-US\|archive-date=6 August 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806091705/https://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2018/07/watch-idiot-abroad-star-karl-pilkington-writes-and-stars-in-new-sitcom-sick-of-it\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\| url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a838668/karl-pilkington-sky-1-sitcom-sick-of-it\| title=Karl Pilkington Sky 1 Sitcom Sick of it\| first=Bea\| last=Mitchell\| date=September 21, 2017\| website=digitalspy.com\| access-date=21 September 2017\| archive-date=22 September 2017\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922013243/http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a838668/karl-pilkington-sky-1-sitcom-sick-of-it/\| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, Pilkington starred in the [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]] drama ''[[The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe]]'' as DC Phil Bayley. Pilkington has also performed [[voice-over]] work for such clients as Sky TV, One Stop Office Shop, [[Freeview (UK)\|FreeView]], [[Vodafone]], [[HMV]], [[Sony PSP]], [[WHSmith]], [[Wickes]], [[Unilever]] and SMARTY. In 2023, Pilkington appeared in the comedy-drama series ''[[Rain Dogs (TV series)\|Rain Dogs]]''. ==Charity work== Line 60 ⟶ 68: Pilkington resides in [[Sandbanks]], [[Dorset]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Dorset neighbourhood sees average house asking price rise by one of the highest in UK \|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/dorset-neighbourhood-sees-average-house-000100158.html \|access-date=2023-01-21 \|website=uk.movies.yahoo.com \|date=6 January 2023 \|language=en}}</ref> He is in a long-term cohabiting relationship with his partner, Suzanne, whom he frequently mentions in his work.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Karl Pilkington claims girlfriend won't be upset at being described as "plump" in new show The Moaning of Life\|publisher=Mirror\|author=James Robertson\|date=19 September 2013\|access-date=5 January 2015\|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/moaning-life-karl-pilkington-claims-2285405\|archive-date=27 December 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227025749/http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/moaning-life-karl-pilkington-claims-2285405\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title='Idiot Abroad' unimpressed by world's wonders\|publisher=CNN\|author=Danielle Paquette\|date=28 January 2011\|access-date=5 January 2015\|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/01/28/idiot.abroad\|archive-date=6 January 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106020801/http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/01/28/idiot.abroad/\|url-status=live}}</ref> Pilkington supported [[Manchester City F.C.\|Manchester City]] as a child, but has supported [[Manchester United F.C.\|Manchester United]] since the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45651999 \|title=Premier League predictions: Lawro v comedian Karl Pilkington \|work=BBC Sport \|date=30 September 2018 \|access-date=27 January 2019 \|archive-date=15 December 2018 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215232253/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45651999 \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2008/May/Famous-fan-Karl-Pilkington.aspx?pageNo=1\|title=Famous fan: Karl Pilkington - Official Manchester United Website\|website=www.manutd.com\|access-date=4 May 2018\|archive-date=21 April 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421202041/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2008/May/Famous-fan-Karl-Pilkington.aspx?pageNo=1\|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2020, he revealed on ''[[Sunday Brunch]]'' that he had been attempting to eat fewer animal products and described himself as a [[Semi-vegetarianism\|flexitarian]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/YmXDcng6JgI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200905231912/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmXDcng6JgI&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web\| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmXDcng6JgI\| title = Karl Pilkington's Best Moanments {{!}} Sunday Brunch \| website=[[YouTube]]\| date = 19 January 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Regarding his experience of other religions during the production of ''An Idiot Abroad'', Pilkington commented that "Religion was never a big part of my life. I wasn't christened."<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Pilkington \|first=Karl \|title=An Idiot Abroad: The Travel Diaries of Karl Pilkington \|publisher=Canongate Books Ltd. \|year=2010 \|isbn=978-1-84767-927-7 \|edition= \|location=Edinburgh \|pages=14 \|language=en}}</ref>