PICKLE GOT PICKLED HERE

By Pam Glennie.

Pickle seemed to excel as a character when around the younger players, where he would often sit with them and be at least a reassuring figure. Often his facial expressions would help the team decide on what conclusion to draw from an event.

Of course I am biased, but I believe the contribution Pickle made to Knightmare is immeasurable, and count him as one of the all-time great characters. Because he was an elf this gave his persona some leeway - he could be more excitable or more emotional without being branded an inferior character. Just about all the characters in Knightmare were fearless and hardened to emotion, and it was interesting how Pickle could cross this boundary.  Where a man may be put into question over emotional behaviour, Pickle’s genetics allowed the crossover, making him a unique and popular character.

It was during season six that David Learner moved into the new Broadsword game show, Timebusters. This was a children’s television show much like Knightmare in the children-orientated, role play, past times genre, but it was slightly different in concept and screened on the BBC.  It is a shame that Timebusters is often spoken of with such disregard, and often seen as inferior to Knightmare.  Of course, it would be hard to compare any show to the award-winning formula of Knightmare, but Timebusters’ basic outline worked on a team of children time-travelling on a bus to a certain era to collect knowledge and artefacts to succeed in the game by getting the time capsule away from the villainous Dr. Paradox. One episode usually equalled one adventure. 

No show can ever match the originality of Knightmare, so on this premise I feel Timebusters was unfairly branded.  David acted in this show after he had left Knightmare. At the time Broadsword claimed that if any Knightmare viewer could spot Pickle in Timebusters then they could claim a prize! The plug was later pulled on both Knightmare and Timebusters, for reasons widely debated. (Other Knightmare actors I spotted in Timebusters include Mark ”Lord Fear” Knight, Michael ”Brother Mace” Cule and Samantha ”Malice” Perkins – Jake.)

In 1996, David played Mr. Alfredo the fire-eater in a two-episode special of the Famous Five on CITV.  That year he also was involved in an early RPG game called Realms of the Haunting, where he played Belial, the ultimate bad guy of the game, who was a far cry from Pickle and not quite as stunningly attractive as the elf either, but let’s not go into that.  Realms of the Haunting was a sort of live action game, where the players’ choices lead to different filmed scenarios. Apparently it was one of the first RPG games to have live action footage scenes with actors incorporated into the game play.

Since then David has appeared as a contestant on Supermarket Sweep and done several voiceovers for adverts, but TV appearances have always been much thinner on the ground for David.  These days and generally most of David’s acting life dominates the stage. His theatrical appearance count is something quite impressive like over 80 plays, including award-winning performances.  His most recent appearances on stage are listed on his profile page on the RADA website.

It may seem odd that thousands remember an actor of such calibre for playing an elf in a children’s TV series, but it is clear that David Learner himself acknowledges this in prior interviews and is thankful for the support.  It is no trivial matter if thousands of people can remember and respect a character for their contribution to their life/childhood.  I loved Pickle as a child watching his antics after returning from school, and even as an adult something ignites that illuminates the child inside, plus he isn’t too hard on the eyes!

If you had been wondering about the ambiguous title of this piece, it is a reference to my realisation of the impact Knightmare has had on my life and the people around me. Before entering castles my family will often stop and chant the true or false rhyme.  People understand what I am on about when I tell them my life force energy is critical, and put the kettle on.  When on a day trip with my mother she came across a wipe clean notes board, and immediately scribbled Pickle got pickled here.  It was her graffiti that really made me realise the full extent of the Knightmare acknowledgement.  But it was only when I spoke to other Pickle fans online that I realised the full extent of Pickle’s impact on so many people, inspiring me to write this article.  It is true I write a huge gloating review for the show and David Learner, but I would like to end by saluting David’s portrayal of Pickle, in a show that has left an impact on so many people, a character that brings back the magic of childhood.

An excellent sentiment to end on. Thank you for that, Pam.