Karl Pilkington is a renowned television personality, best known for starring in the Sky 1 travel documentary series An Idiot Abroad and The Moaning of Life. In addition to his on-screen endeavors, Karl is also a successful author, having written seven Sunday Times best-selling books.
The Moaning of Life, which aired on Sky 1, saw Karl embark on a journey around the world, exploring how different cultures approach life's significant issues, all while contemplating his own future. This program has been hailed as one of the most popular ever on Sky 1, with millions of viewers worldwide tuning in.
An Idiot Abroad, on the other hand, was a travel documentary series that saw Karl being sent on a journey of self-discovery, guided by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. This series has been widely acclaimed, earning nominations for several prestigious awards, including a BAFTA Television Award. The show has also been sold to over 200 territories globally and has spawned a successful DVD and book series.
The accompanying books, published by Canongate, have sold over a million copies in the UK alone, with the first book reaching the Top Ten in hardback and the No. 1 spot on the paperback list. The books have spent a total of 50 weeks in the Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller lists.
Karl's rise to fame began with his involvement in The Ricky Gervais Show, a radio program on London's XFM station. Initially an off-air producer for Ricky and Stephen, Karl's antics and opinions soon made him a vocal part of the show, earning him a cult following among listeners. The program was later adapted into a series of record-breaking podcasts, which became the most downloaded in history, according to Guinness World Records.
Karl's podcasting endeavors with Ricky and Stephen made him a household name worldwide, with the podcasts reaching number 1 in 14 countries, including the US. The podcasts were eventually animated for both HBO in the US and E4 in the UK.
Throughout his career, Karl has written seven books, including The World of Karl Pilkington, Happyslapped by a Jellyfish, Karlology, An Idiot Abroad, The Further Adventures of An Idiot Abroad, The Moaning of Life, and More Moaning.
