Taskmaster - C4 Comedy - British Comedy Guide

TV comedy
Channel 4 / U&Dave
2015 - 2025
181 episodes (19 series)

TV format in which Greg Davies and Alex Horne set a group of comedians various outlandish challenges. Also features Romesh Ranganathan, Frank Skinner, Roisin Conaty, Josh Widdicombe, Tim Key and more.

Due to return for Series 20
Catch-up on Series 19, Episode 10
Streaming rank this week: 18

Like this

12th July: Taskmaster's Alex Horne reveals "special guest from somewhere exotic" will appear in Series 21 (Radio Times)
4th July: Lenny Henry to receive Outstanding title at Edinburgh TV Awards 2025
3rd July: Taskmaster Series 20 line-up revealed
3rd June: Alex Horne hosts care home competition (BBC)
28th May: Liza Tarbuck to become Taskmaster when Greg Davies leaves?

Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: Greg Davies, Alex Horne. Copyright: Avalon Television

Genre

Comedy

Broadcast

2015 - 2025

Channels

Channel 4, U&Dave

Episodes

181 (19 series), plus 2 Taskmasterclass episodes

Creator

Alex Horne

Stars

Greg Davies, Alex Horne, Romesh Ranganathan, Frank Skinner, Roisin Conaty, Josh Widdicombe, Tim Key, Jon Richardson and more

Writers

Alex Horne and Tim Key

Directors

Andy Devonshire and Peter Orton

Producers

Andy Cartwright, Alex Horne, Richard Allen-Turner, James Taylor, Jon Thoday, Hilary Rosen, Rob Aslett, Richard Watsham and more

Company

Avalon

Taskmaster sees Greg Davies take the title role of 'The Taskmaster'; setting a group of well-known comedians challenges and then ultimately deciding who wins.

Whether trying to paint the best picture of a horse while riding a horse, filling an egg cup with tears or trying to high-five a 55-year-old, one thing is for sure: Comedians have never been so competitive.

But it's much more than just a test of skill, wit and guile. They're risking more than their reputations, because in order to take part, they must put something personal into the prize pot... anything from valuable art to favourite items of clothing, even a wedding ring is on offer! Not only that, but at the end of each series the person who has scored the most points over the entire run will win the greatest prize in all television: a golden trophy of the Taskmaster's head.

The comedians do these tasks individually, under the careful gaze of (Little) Alex Horne. When they are brought together for the Taskmaster to judge their efforts, none of them know how they've done or, even more crucially, how the others did.

Here they must try and convince the Taskmaster to reward their efforts. The results are sometimes up for debate but the Taskmaster's word is always final. With their personal possessions up for grabs, they have everything to play for - especially their dignity.

Rivalry is encouraged, dodgy tactics rewarded and bribes accepted in what is set to be the most the most dogged, hard-fought and ridiculous comedy show on TV.

Taskmaster started out as a critically acclaimed live show, also devised by Alex Horne, which ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010 and 2011.