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He's not just a nice guy who does semi-educational comedy shows about mildly eccentric subjects. In his free time, Alex Horne is the Taskmaster.

It all started last August when he was at home, looking after a baby instead of playing at the Festival. Frustrated and desperate for fun, he contacted twenty of his favourite comedians and persuaded them to take part in a covert competition. They didn't know whom they were competing against, what they might win or why they should bother - but they all agreed.

For the next year Alex set these unquestioning comics a series of monthly tasks; some big, some small, some sneaky, some silly. He instructed them to put on weight, predict the future and look after eggs. Some played fair. Some tried to cheat. They all did their best. They all wanted to win.

This underground and increasingly aggressive contest ends with a one-off show at the Edinburgh Festival. With as many of the competitors as possible on stage with him, Alex will tell the tales, question the tactics and relate the results. Photographic and video evidence will be produced and extra tasks will be set. It could get ugly. But eventually a winner will be crowned.

So who will be the Taskmaster's Master of Tasks: Dan Atkinson, Tom Basden, Jarred Christmas, James Dowdeswell, Rick Edwards, Tim Fitzhigham, Stuart Goldsmith, Steve Hall, Tim Key, Lloyd Langford, Josie Long, Guy Morgan, Al Pitcher, Mark Olver, Mark Watson, Henning Wehn, Joe Wilkinson, Lloyd Woolf, Mike Wozniak or Tom Wrigglesworth?