Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life

Karl sets out to secure a vocation, travelling to Japan where he meets an 85‑year‑old inventor. He then visits South Africa to encounter a self‑made millionaire before concluding his journey by taking part in a fashion show in Los Angeles.

The show Vocation and Money is presented as a single episode within a programme format. It follows a straightforward premise, tracking a young man’s quest to secure a career while navigating a series of unlikely encounters across the globe. At the heart of the episode is Karl, who sets himself the goal of landing a vocation. To achieve this, he embarks on a journey that takes him from the streets of Japan to the business hubs of South Africa, before he finally steps onto the runway at a fashion show in Los Angeles. In Japan, Karl meets an 85‑year‑old inventor whose life‑long experience offers a unique perspective on creativity and perseverance. The encounter serves as an early milestone in Karl’s search for direction, highlighting the value of wisdom that comes with age. His next stop is South Africa, where he sits down with a self‑made millionaire. This meeting provides insight into the entrepreneurial spirit and the possibilities of building wealth from scratch. The episode culminates with Karl taking part in a fashion show in Los Angeles, rounding off his international trek and marking the point at which his ambition begins to materialise.