It looks like you’re filling your screen with red and then trying to draw shapes on it with a red pen there - try switching to a different coloured pen before the display.character?
You also only need one display.update to update the screen once you’ve finished drawing objects to the buffer.
I understand but the intial red is not being drawn to screen. I cannot draw anything, only turn the backlight on. I have tried all of the Pimoroni examples (with DISPLAY_PICO_DISPLAY changed to DISPLAY_PICO_DISPLAY_2), and none of them draw to screen either.
Ah OK, in which case can you post a photo showing the soldering on the Pico’s header and how you’ve got it plugged in?
Might be worth double checking you’ve got the pack attached the right way round (the USB markings on the board should be at the same end as the Pico’s USB connector)?
Sounds like you might have faulty hardware then :( If you email support@pimoroni.com with your order number and a link to this thread they should be able to sort you out with a replacement!