James R | On 03, Mar 2021

Taskmaster is officially returning to Channel 4 this March for an 11th season of seriously competitive silliness.

The series, for the uninitiated, sees Greg Davies take on the role of the all-powerful Taskmaster, who – alongside Alex Horne as his loyal assistant – sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges. Season 10, its first on Channel 4, featured Daisy May Cooper (This Country), Johnny Vegas (Benidorm), Katherine Parkinson (IT Crowd), Mawaan Rizwan (Live At The Apollo) and Richard Herring (RHLSTP).

Season 11 will welcome into the arena Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts, BBC One), acclaimed stand-up Jamali Maddix (Hate Thy Neighbour, Vice), BAFTA-winning comic Lee Mack (Not Going Out, BBC One), actor, writer, and comedian Mike Wozniak (Man Down, Channel 4), and BAFTA-nominated actor and comedian Sarah Kendall (Frayed, Sky One).

“I couldn’t believe I got asked to do it, I was so chuffed. Especially as I’m not a stand-up, I don’t write anything, so they’re taking a risk and I think they’ll see that they’ve taken a risk now that they’ve seen me in the studio!” says Ritchie.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I come across. The big running theme is – and this is no disservice to them because it’s a really honourable industry and profession – but Greg has called me a children’s TV presenter a lot.”

You can see them all in action from Thursday 18th March, when Season 11 premieres on Channel 4.

 

Channel 4 unveils Taskmaster Season 11 line-up

18th December 2020

Fresh from enjoying its best performance on record in its new Channel 4 home, Taskmaster is already looking to the future with the confirmation of its Season 11 line-up.

The series, for the uninitiated, sees Greg Davies take on the role of the all-powerful Taskmaster, who – alongside Alex Horne as his loyal assistant – sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges. Season 10, its first on Channel 4, featured Daisy May Cooper (This Country), Johnny Vegas (Benidorm), Katherine Parkinson (IT Crowd), Mawaan Rizwan (Live At The Apollo) and Richard Herring (RHLSTP). With the final’s chaotic comedic stylings still ringing in our ears, Channel 4 has announced an equally promising group of competitors to continue the show in the new year.

Season 11 will see actor Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts, BBC One), acclaimed stand-up Jamali Maddix (Hate Thy Neighbour, Vice), BAFTA-winning comic Lee Mack (Not Going Out, BBC One), actor, writer, and comedian Mike Wozniak (Man Down, Channel 4), and BAFTA-nominated actor and comedian Sarah Kendall (Frayed, Sky One) battle it out in a series of stupefying tasks testing their ingenuity and weeding out their stupidity.

2021 will also see Taskmaster uphold tradition and invite the winners of Seasons 6 to 10 to a brand-new Champion of Champions tournament. Liza Tarbuck, Kerry Godliman, Lou Sanders, and Ed Gamble will all have the opportunity to battle it out with the winner of Season 10. Before then, the show will also return for a celebrity New Year’s special.

Not watching Taskmaster? Read why you should catch up here.

 

Watch: Channel 4 drops trailer for new Taskmaster

12th September 2020

It’s not long now until Taskmaster completes its move from Dave to Channel 4, and the broadcaster is making it clear that it’s going to make the most of the opportunity with a new trailer for the new series.

The video begins with Davies mockingly referring to Channel 4’s decision, years ago, not to pick up the show. Since then, the programme that begin as a live show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has run for several seasons on UKTV’s Dave and enjoyed success at the BAFTAs.

The series, for the uninitiated, sees Greg Davies take on the role of the all-powerful Taskmaster, who – alongside Alex Horne as his loyal assistant – sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges. The teaser for the new run gives us an idea of the kind of tasks being mastered, from painting a picture of a horse while riding a horse to destroying a cake with a cricket bat.

All of this is captured in gleamingly high quality video, as the trailer emphasises the step up in budget and production value that comes with the show’s arrival on Channel 4. The line-up of contestants is also promising, with Daisy May Cooper (This Country), Johnny Vegas (Benidorm), Katherine Parkinson (IT Crowd), Mawaan Rizwan (Live At The Apollo) and Richard Herring (RHLSTP) all preparing to go head to head.

All we need now is a confirmed air date. Until then, here’s the trailer:

 

Channel 4 unveils Taskmaster line-up

29th July 2020

Channel 4 has unveiled its line-up for Taskmaster’s new season.

Alex Horne’s International Emmy and triple-BAFTA-nominated show sees five top comedians tackle perplexing and extraordinary challenges in the name of entertainment – judged by Greg Davies, the all-powerful “Taskmaster” and Horne, his faithful sidekick.

It started as a live show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before being developed for television. Now, after nine seasons on UKTV’s Dave, it’s heading to Channel 4.

Hoping to impress the Taskmaster and be crowned the next champion in this tenth run will be: BAFTA winning actress and writer Daisy May Cooper (This Country, BBC Three), comedian, writer and director Johnny Vegas (Benidorm, ITV), BAFTA-winning actress Katherine Parkinson (IT Crowd, Channel 4), comedian and actor Mawaan Rizwan (Live At The Apollo, BBC Two), and comedian, multi-award-winning podcaster and writer Richard Herring (RHLSTP). Wax seals will open, dreams will be made and/or broken, and Little Alex Horne will be wrapped around his master’s little finger providing stats and moral support in the most ridiculous and ferociously fought game show on television.

The new season will air on Channel 4 this autumn.

 

Taskmaster heads to Channel 4

22nd November 2019

Channel 4 will be the new home of Taskmaster.

The irreverent show hosted by Greg Davies as the all-powerful Taskmaster, alongside Alex Horne as his loyal assistant, sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges. It started as a live show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before being developed for television, initially with Channel 4.  It was later commissioned by UKTV for Dave where it has aired for nine very successful seasons.

Now, it’s found a new home, with Channel 4 inking a six-season deal across three years with producers Avalon.

Alex Horne, the show’s creator, says: “We’ve had an amazing nine series on Dave and I’d like to thank UKTV for letting us do such ridiculous things for so long. Greg and I are looking forward to getting started on a new series for Channel 4 from next year. It seems like the right time to move to a channel with a broader audience and I can reassure people who like the show that it won’t be changing one bit and I’ll still be forced to do things no one should ever have to do.”

Davies adds: “For the first time in our working relationship I agree with little Alex Horne. The nine series on UKTV have been a joy and I would echo his thanks to all involved. I do take issue with the notion that the show will remain exactly the same however as I have made it my personal mission to break his spirit. I will remain even-handed with contestants of course, but it really is going to get unpleasant for him. Peace.”

Ian Katz, Channel 4 Director of Programmes, says: “Taskmaster is anarchic, original and a brilliant springboard for new comic talent. It’s everything we look for in a Channel 4 show and like millions of others I’m a massive fan so I’m delighted it will soon be taking its place in our unrivalled slate of scripted and studio comedy.”

Karl Warner, Controller of E4, comments: “Not only is Taskmaster one of the best formats on TV, it’s also one of the best launch pads for new talent. I’m thrilled we’re getting to build on its success across Channel 4 and E4 and can’t wait to start working with Alex, Greg and the team at Avalon.

Produced by Avalon, Executive Producers for the series are Alex Horne, Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, James Taylor, Jon Thoday and Andy Devonshire (The Apprentice and The Great British Bake Off), who also acts as Series Director, while Andy Cartwright will also continue as Series Producer.

Thoday adds: “We are delighted Taskmaster will have a new home at Channel 4.  I would like to thank Steve North, Richard Watsham and Hilary Rosen at UKTV as well as all the other people who have helped make the show such a success.”

New episodes of Taskmaster will be broadcast on Channel 4 and repeated on E4 from late 2020.

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