Karl's Dad

Karl's Dad has been a regular source of material on the show, and is seen by Ricky and Steve to explain a lot of why Karl is who he is. Stories include:

• The famous Forrest Gump In A Wheelie Bin story, where he was driving some people including a mentally disabled kid who was annoying him so he stuck the kid in a wheelie bin, and only removed him on the way back.
• Similarly, when driving a load of old ladies home one night, their moaning annoyed him so much that he told them all to "get out". They all ordered taxis and billed them to the company, so Karl's dad was fired.
• The Little Donkey incident, in which he found out Karl was in a Christmas play and said to his mate who was videotaping: "Try to avoid the twat in the hat", about Karl, when Karl was playing the drums. (23 February 2002)
• Working as a fireman on a locomotive, he was left alone while the driver went off for a drink, and he had to drive the train, his inexperience causing it to crash into Manchester Central station. Despite the millions of pounds (in today's terms) worth of damage resulted, he was able to take 3 weeks work off on full-pay because he injured his wrist.
• Karl used to ride along with his dad in his taxi. His father felt it necessary to warn his not to laugh at a woman passenger who had a head like a sack of potatoes.
• When he and Mrs P moved into a smaller house in Wales, he sawed eight inches off a bed so that it would fit between two dressers they were keeping in a bedroom. (11 January 2003)
• Had a compilation of novelty songs from the '50s and '60s in the car when Karl was a kid. (18 January 2003)
• Called the doctor after Karl's mam let him leave after he told her her Karl didn't have long left to live without explaining further. (18 January 2003).
• He hates being ripped off, and refused to go on the London Eye because he could see the same buildings on the ground for free. Also when the payment plan he'd sorted on a new bed didn't come through, he told the company not to send him their catalogue anymore. When another one did arrive, he noticed it said it was the property of the company, so he called them up and said he'd be charging them 26p per day to store their item. (25 January 2003).
• Now retired and living in a village in Wales, the local shop is not open all day, and so leaves groceries for the villagers in a nearby phone box, which Karl's dad apparently steals. (04 June 2005)
• He posed as a police officer with a mate of his, to scare the woman who rode a three-wheeled bike with her husband in the basket, because she would often verbally abuse her husband at the pub. In addition, Karl said that his father and his friends used to do lots of vigilante work and scams. (18 June 2005)
• When Karl was a kid and got a bike for a gift, Mr P called him over and told him to take off his cycling helmet. "I never want to see you wearing that again. You look ridiculous". (BBC Radio 2 Show - 31 December 2005)

Misc. Mr Pilkington Info

• 24 November 2001 - Karl talks about how his Mam has the same birthday as his Dad. Curiously, they also have the same wedding anniversary.
• 23 November 2002 - Karl brings up his Dad listening for the first time and having Karl's Mam make him not listen any more