Taskmaster (TV series): Difference between revisions

Taskmaster is a British comedy panel game show originally created by British comedian Alex Horne during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010, and transferred to television on Dave in 2015. The TV series stars comedian and actor Greg Davies now in the titular role of the Taskmaster, issuing simple comedic and bizarre tasks to five regular contestants – usually comedians – with Horne acting as Davies' assistant and umpire during the challenges. The show's theme music was written and performed by The Horne Section, a jazz band and another project of Horne's. ^[1]

On 24 September 2015, it was announced that the show had been recommissioned for a second and third series,^[2] and on 3 October 2016, for a fourth and fifth series.^[3]

The game consists of simple and bizarre challenges set by Davies as the Taskmaster, with assistance provided by Horne. These challenges are usually done individually and in isolation, and pre-filmed either in the Taskmaster cottage or on location. The players are encouraged to think laterally and creatively to complete the task.

In the occasional team tasks, the players are split into two teams. In the first series, these teams were grouped by age; with Key and Skinner making up the 'elder' team, and Conaty, Ranganathan and Widdicombe making up the 'younger' team. In the second series, they were split into Richardson and Osman (as Davies referred to them as 'Father and Son') and Ryan, Brown and Wilkinson. In the third series, they were split into 'The Beards' - Gorman, Chowdhry and Murray, and 'The Aryan Twins' - Pascoe and Beckett.

The first task is always the Prize Task, in which each contestant donates a prize to offer up. These have to follow a certain theme – such as the contestant's most unusual item, or their most treasured item – and are all later awarded to the winner of the show.

The following challenges are the pre-filmed tasks. All the tasks are delivered in an envelope with a wax seal, which the player reads aloud and the timer/task is then started. Examples include "Completely empty this bathtub – fastest wins" and "Conceal this pineapple on your person – best concealment wins". In the studio, the players explain their creative methods and argue to Davies – and among themselves – as to why they did best, after which judgement is passed by Davies as to who performed best and awards points accordingly.

The final challenge is performed live in the studio. In the event of a tie, a special tie-breaker task is performed by the remaining contestants, which may either be pre-filmed or in the studio.

At the end of the series, a trophy is presented to the person who has scored the most points over the course of the entire series. As of the second series, the trophy takes the form of a bust of Greg.

• Frank Skinner
• Josh Widdicombe
• Roisin Conaty
• Romesh Ranganathan
• Tim Key

• Doc Brown
• Jon Richardson
• Joe Wilkinson
• Katherine Ryan
• Richard Osman

• Al Murray
• Dave Gorman
• Paul Chowdhry
• Rob Beckett
• Sara Pascoe

• Hugh Dennis
• Joe Lycett
• Lolly Adefope
• Mel Giedroyc
• Noel Fielding

• Official website
• Taskmaster at British Comedy Guide
• Taskmaster at UKGameshows.com