He joined an amateur dramatic society, and in a local production there met Mabel Cecilia Myerscough (1906–1989), all of whose family had been connected with the stage.

He was the first newsreader to speak in an accent other than Received Pronunciation, "a deliberate attempt to make it more difficult for Nazis to impersonate BBC broadcasters",[3] and caused some comment by wishing his fellow northerners "Good neet".

[5] Pickles soon became a radio celebrity, and pursued an acting career in London's West End theatre, on television and on film.

He appeared in the show with his wife Mabel, whom he had married at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Ainsdale, Southport on 20 September 1930.

[6] The show was publicized enthusiastically by the BBC: It doesn't matter how old you are, you can still make your own special dream come true if you get in touch with Wilfred Pickles.

Maybe you want to feed a lion or pat a giraffe on the tiny top of his head; or perhaps you'd rather see the lovely lights of London reflected on the Thames, or ride pillion on a motorbike.

He'll try to fix it for you.In 1948, a children's board game entitled Ask Pickles was published by jigsaw puzzle manufacturer Tower Press.