Taskmaster is a British comedy 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 players in the first series were Roisin Conaty, Tim Key, Romesh Ranganathan, Frank Skinner and Josh Widdicombe. In September 2015, the show was commissioned for two more five-part series, to be broadcast in 2016.[1] The second series, which featured Doc Brown, Richard Osman, Jon Richardson, Katherine Ryan and Joe Wilkinson,[2] premiered on 14 June 2016 on UKTV Play ahead of its transmission on Dave a week later on 21 June.
Series three featured Paul Chowdhry, Dave Gorman, Al Murray, Rob Beckett and Sara Pascoe and aired on 4 October 2016.[3] Two more series, both lasting eight episodes each, have been commissioned.[4] Series four will feature Lolly Adefope, Hugh Dennis, Noel Fielding, Mel Giedroyc and Joe Lycett.[5]
TV format
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.
Episode guide
Series |
Episodes |
Original transmission |
Contestants |
|
1 |
6 |
28 July – 1 September 2015 |
Frank Skinner, Josh Widdicombe, Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan and Tim Key |
|
2 |
5 |
21 June – 19 July 2016 |
Doc Brown, Joe Wilkinson, Jon Richardson, Katherine Ryan and Richard Osman |
|
3 |
5 |
4 October – 1 November 2016 |
Al Murray, Dave Gorman, Paul Chowdhry, Rob Beckett and Sara Pascoe |
|
4 |
8 |
TBC |
Hugh Dennis, Joe Lycett, Lolly Adefope, Mel Giedroyc and Noel Fielding |
|
5 |
8 |
TBC |
TBC |
Series 1
A pilot episode was filmed on 24 February 2015, with the series proper recorded between 23–25 March. These were filmed at the Grand Theatre in Clapham.
Episode 1: Melon Buffet (28 July 2015)
Task |
Description |
Frank |
Josh |
Roisin |
Romesh |
Tim |
1 |
Prize: Most unusual item |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
Eat as much watermelon as possible in one minute |
2 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
Paint a picture of a horse, while riding a horse |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
Empty a bathtub |
4 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
Live: Put on a onesie inside a pop-up tent |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
Tie-break: Find Alex |
✔ |
– |
– |
✘ |
– |
|
Total |
19 |
13 |
7 |
19 |
17 |
Episode 2: The Pie Whisperer (4 August 2015)
Task |
Description |
Frank |
Josh |
Roisin |
Romesh |
Tim |
1 |
Prize: Most impressive item |
4 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
High-five a 55-year-old |
2 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
Identify the contents of pies without breaching the pastry |
1 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
Do something that will look impressive in reverse |
1 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
Live: Crack the code and unshackle yourself |
1 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
|
Total |
9 |
16 |
21 |
14 |
18 |
Episode 3: The Poet and the Egg (11 August 2015)
Task |
Description |
Frank |
Josh |
Roisin |
Romesh |
Tim |
1 |
Prize: Most meaningful item |
4 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
Throw a tea bag into a mug from the furthest distance away |
4 |
DQ |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
Create an image using a GPS device to track your route |
2 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
Buy a gift for the Taskmaster with £20 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
Get an egg as high as possible without breaking it |
0 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
Live: Stand up after 100 seconds |
2 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
Tie-break: What is Frank Skinner's age in minutes? |
– |
✔ |
– |
✘ |
– |
|
Total |
15 |
22 |
9 |
22 |
16 |
Episode 4: Down an Octave (18 August 2015)
Task |
Description |
Frank |
Josh |
Roisin |
Romesh |
Tim |
1 |
Prize: Most beautiful item |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
Make an ice block disappear |
4 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
In a squash court, get to 11 'points' as a team |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
Fill an egg cup with tears |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
Live: Memorise the names of an Australian rules football team |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
Special: Count baked beans, spaghetti hoops and rice grains |
– |
1 |
– |
– |
– |
|
Total |
14 |
16 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
Episode 5: Little Denim Shorts (25 August 2015)
Task |
Description |
Frank |
Josh |
Roisin |
Romesh |
Tim |
1 |
Prize: Most valuable item |
4 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Move a boulder as far as possible |
4 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Grow the longest nail in ten weeks |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
Make a bed as a team while holding hands |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
Make a Swedish person blush |
3 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
Live: Blow up the biggest balloon, while blindfolded |
4 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
DQ |
|
Total |
20 |
18 |
14 |
16 |
10 |
Episode 6: The Last Supper (1 September 2015)
Task |
Description |
Frank |
Josh |
Roisin |
Romesh |
Tim |
1 |
Prize: Most satisfying item |
2 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
Get the lowest mini golf score using eggs |
4 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
Stage a realistic home movie blooper as a team |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
Make a meal with ingredients made from all 26 letters of the alphabet |
5 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
Live: Separate the blue sweets, wearing boxing gloves |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
Total |
16 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
18 |
Series 1 – total scores
Frank |
Josh |
Roisin |
Romesh |
Tim |
93 |
94 |
68 |
93 |
88 |
Series 2
Series 2 was recorded between 3–6 May 2016 at Fountain Studios in Wembley. The players are Jon Richardson, Richard Osman, Joe Wilkinson, Katherine Ryan and Doc Brown.[6] Test episodes for both series two and three were filmed on 14 March 2016.[7]
Episode 1: Fear of Failure (21 June 2016)
Task |
Description |
Doc |
Joe |
Jon |
Katherine |
Richard |
1 |
Prize: Most important document |
4 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
Place three exercise balls on a yoga mat, on top of a hill |
1 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
Throw a potato into a golf hole, without touching the red green |
2 |
DQ |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Get information from a Swedish person, who may not communicate in English |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
Live: Pack for a holiday |
0 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
|
Total |
9 |
8 |
18 |
17 |
20 |
Episode 2: Pork is a Sausage (28 June 2016)
Task |
Description |
Doc |
Joe |
Jon |
Katherine |
Richard |
1 |
Prize: Trendiest item of clothing |
5 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
Eat an egg |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
Create a video for a nursery rhyme |
5 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
Take a photo of an inanimate object that looks like you |
1 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
Order a pizza without using specific words |
2 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
|
Bonus point for making the person on the other end of the line say 'bubbles' |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
Live: Put potatoes into a basket using extra large 'chopsticks' |
0 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
DQ |
|
Total |
18 |
13 |
25 |
19 |
15 |
Episode 3: A Pistachio Éclair (5 July 2016)
Task |
Description |
Doc |
Joe |
Jon |
Katherine |
Richard |
1 |
Prize: Best dinner party guest |
3 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
Impress the mayor of Chesham |
2 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
Make an unexpected silhouette |
1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
Buy a gift for the Taskmaster with £20 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
Retrieve a potato between various teammates who between them cannot see, hear or speak. |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
Live: Throw toy rabbits into a top hat |
12 |
12 |
4 |
15 |
7 |
|
Total |
21 |
25 |
17 |
30 |
27 |
Episode 4: Welcome to Rico Face (12 July 2016)
Task |
Description |
Doc |
Joe |
Jon |
Katherine |
Richard |
1 |
Prize: Coolest blue item |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Rescue a cat |
4 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
Conceal a pineapple on your person |
2 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
Set your own task, to be completed by Jon |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
Construct something for the Taskmaster using flat pack furniture |
4 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
Live: Build the tallest free-standing tower using potato-based products |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
18 |
12 |
17 |
15 |
5 |
Episode 5: There's Strength in Arches (19 July 2016)
Task |
Description |
Doc |
Joe |
Jon |
Katherine |
Richard |
1 |
Prize: Best piece of memorabilia |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
Place supplied items into a shopping trolley on the other side of a stream |
DQ |
5 |
DQ |
3 |
4 |
3 |
As a team, create a stop motion film starring a potato |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Build the highest freestanding bridge to support a potato, using only the materials on the table |
4 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
Live: Put on food handling gloves, eat a banana, put on a tie and clap as many times as possible |
4 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
Total |
12 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
19 |
Series 2 – total scores
Doc |
Joe |
Jon |
Katherine |
Richard |
78 |
69 |
90 |
94 |
86 |
Series 3
Series 3 was recorded between 9–11 May 2016 at Fountain Studios.[8] The players are Paul Chowdhry, Dave Gorman, Al Murray, Rob Beckett and Sara Pascoe. This series started broadcasting on 4 October 2016.
Episode 1: Pea in a Haystack (4 October 2016)
Task |
Description |
Al |
Dave |
Paul |
Rob |
Sara |
1 |
Prize: Most flamboyant clock |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
Get to a microwave in as few steps as possible |
4 |
2 |
DQ |
5 |
3 |
3 |
Propel a pea the furthest distance and land on a red carpet |
5 |
DQ |
2 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
Make the best snowman |
3 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
Live: Balance as many swedes on a Swede as possible |
5 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
Total |
21 |
13 |
8 |
15 |
16 |
Episode 2: The Dong and the Gong (11 October 2016)
Task |
Description |
Al |
Dave |
Paul |
Rob |
Sara |
1 |
Prize: Heaviest item that can fit in a shoebox |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
Surprise Alex when he emerges from the shed after an hour |
4 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
As a team, rescue Alex using clues found around the house |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
Paint an upside down self-portrait using condiments |
5 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
Pop the balloons as quickly as possible |
1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
Live: Fully unravel a roll of sticky tape and place in a lunchbox |
5 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
|
Total |
18 |
17 |
13 |
21 |
16 |
Episode 3: Little Polythene Grief Cave (18 October 2016)
Task |
Description |
Al |
Dave |
Paul |
Rob |
Sara |
1 |
Prize: Best battery powered object |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
Fill an egg cup with sweat |
DQ |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
Create the best 'domino rally' |
1 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
Buy a gift for the Taskmaster with £20 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
Create the best flag meal |
2 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
Live: Anchor as many balloons as possible, using only bread |
1 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
|
Total |
9 |
21 |
22 |
19 |
17 |
Episode 4: A Very Nuanced Character (25 October 2016)
Task |
Description |
Al |
Dave |
Paul |
Rob |
Sara |
1 |
Prize: Best shiny object |
1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
Spread your clothes as far and wide as possible |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
Find out from an old man – who can only reply by nodding false answers – what he used to do for a living |
5 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Create the most impressive special effect |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
Live: Cover your body with as many sticky notes while blindfolded |
2 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
Bonus: Have as much fun on a bouncy castle for one hour |
– |
– |
0 |
– |
– |
|
Total |
16 |
17 |
11 |
15 |
14 |
Episode 5: The F.I.P. (1 November 2016)
Task |
Description |
Al |
Dave |
Paul |
Rob |
Sara |
1 |
Prize: Most attractive relative |
4 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
Transfer water between two buckets without moving the buckets |
5 |
DQ |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
Charades played across a river, with giant foam hands |
5 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Create a film to be played at high speed or slow motion |
2 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Live: Place the lowest unique number of doughnuts on a stick |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Total |
16 |
13 |
12 |
17 |
9 |
Series 3 – total scores
Al |
Dave |
Paul |
Rob |
Sara |
80 |
81 |
66 |
87 |
72 |
Viewing Figures
[9]
Series 1
Episode Title | Airdate | Viewers |
Melon Buffet | 28 July 2015 | 429,000 |
The Pie Whisperer | 4 August 2015 | 367,000 |
The Poet and the Egg | 11 August 2015 | 281,000 |
Down an Octave | 18 August 2015 | 406,000 |
Little Denim Shorts | 25 August 2015 | 460,000 |
The Last Supper | 1 September 2015 | 448,000 |
Series 2
Episode Title | Airdate | Viewers |
Fear of Failure | 21 June 2016 | 552,000 |
Pork is a Sausage | 28 June 2016 | 704,000 |
A Pistachio Éclair | 5 July 2016 | 721,000 |
Welcome to Rico Face | 12 July 2016 | 682,000 |
There's Strength in Arches | 19 July 2016 | 526,000 |
Series 3
Episode Title | Airdate | Viewers |
Pea in a Haystack | 4 October 2016 | 731,000 |
The Dong and the Gong | 11 October 2016 | 810,000 |
Little Polythene Grief Cave | 18 October 2016 | 883,000 |
A Very Nuanced Character | 25 October 2016 | TBA |
The F.I.P. | 1 November 2016 | 913,000 |
References
External links