Karl Pilkington

The wonderful thing about Karl Pilkington's idiotic philosophy is that, occasionally, there's a glimmer of logic to it all. For instance, what's the point in going to Covent Garden and taking a picture of all the mime artists, when the static medium of a photograph technically renders them no different to everyone else? He also delves into the realm of psychology of self, as he ponders who he'd actually be if he had his head transplanted on to someone else's body. Something to think about. Sort of.

The animated versions of Ricky Gervais's podcasts, featuring Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, return for a second run. The voice-over describes them as a "series of pointless conversations", which is about right. Still, they're funny men, it's not without charm, and the animations are amusing.

Series two for this Gervais vehicle, which has turned the podcasts Ricky did with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington into a Flintstones-style cartoon. First up, Karl pitches a film where the hero has a brain transplant, and there's more from Monkey News.

Karl Pilkington's star has risen since the first series of this Hanna-Barbera-style animation set to his podcasts with Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais, mostly thanks to his excruciatingly funny Sky1 series An Idiot Abroad. There is an allusion to that new-found fame in this opener, in which Pilkington explains his latest, splendidly baffling film pitch that starts as a Frankenstein thriller and segues into a lesbian drama, and which Gervais and Merchant waste no time picking holes in. A lo-fi treat, as ever.

The Hanna-Barbera-style animated version of Ricky Gervais's podcast returns for a second series. The cartoon conversations focus mainly on Karl Pilkington's childlike ignorance and dopey ideas. As Gervais and Stephen Merchant goad him on, Pilkington lays out his daft theories while the other two shoot him down with the kind of merciless mockery that anywhere else would be considered bullying. It's a ritual that is easy to dislike but it delivers laughs. "It really is the ramblings of a mental case!" Gervais squeals, as Pilkington outlines his idea for a film about brain transplants starring Clive Warren (he means Owen) and Rebecca De Mornay. Odd casting aside, it's not a bad idea.

Ricky Gervais Show Review: The Musings Of a Pilkington

As Ricky Gervais continues his mission to make his best friend Karl Pilkington an A-List celebrity, the second series of The Ricky Gervais Show dances back onto our screens, with more ridiculous animated ponderings than you could shake a Golden Globe at.

The animated version of Ricky Gervais's podcast, which featured Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington and earned a Guinness World Record for the most downloads, returns for a second series. It's the usual banter as Pilkington pitches a peculiar idea for a film and Merchant reads extracts from Pilkington's diary, in which he shares his thoughts about Australia, camping and the in-laws.

I'm a Celebrity want Karl Pilkington

I'm a Celebrity bosses want Ricky Gervais' sidekick Karl Pilkington to appear on the show.

Karl Pilkington: 'I'm not that much of an idiot'

As a new series of the cartoon The Ricky Gervais Show returns to our screens, we catch up with Karl Pilkington to find out more...

Karl Pilkington interview

Bod lookalike Karl Pilkington is the star of the show - and the butt of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's jokes. But who's really having the last laugh? TV Choice chatted to doleful Mancunian Karl to find out...