Liza Tarbuck to become Taskmaster when Greg Davies leaves?
Alex Horne has lined up Greg Davies' replacement if he ever steps down from Taskmaster, nominating former contestant Liza Tarbuck for the title role.
Praising Davies, Horne told The Late Show on the BBC local radio network that he never anticipated personally leading his hit television show, currently airing its 19th series on Channel 4, with Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Mathew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin as the contestants.
"I was always going to be the annoying assistant because I don't have the personality for it" he told presenter Becky Want. "And there was only one person in my mind.
"Greg and I knew each other a bit from the circuit and from Edinburgh. And he's just so perfect. I think he's one of the funniest people I know. So he's not only got the gravitas, he's got the humour and the body and the face for it.
"The only thing I wish was that one of us was a woman because I think two men telling everyone what to do isn't ideal in this day and age. But not a lot we can do about that."
However, Horne then blurted: "Liza Tarbuck! If Greg ever fails, I'll put Tarbuck in there. She was a contestant [in Series 6], she's one of my favourites. I don't think I've ever dared tell her that I think she would make a good Taskmaster because I'm not sure that's a compliment."
As recently as last month, Horne joked that Davies isn't a healthy man and that "he will go eventually". And he told The Kickabout With Toby Tarrant on Radio X that Donald Trump was his "only possible successor".
When Want suggested that Tarbuck now has cause for "bumping off" Davies, Horne acknowledged that "yes, the motive is there if he gets mysteriously seen away".