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

Taskmaster

  • TV comedy
  • Channel 4 / Dave
  • 2015 - 2024
  • 160 episodes (17 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.

Episode menu

Series 9, Episode 2 - Butter In The Microwave

Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: David Baddiel, Jo Brand. Copyright: Avalon Television
It's still very early days in the marathon battle to claim Taskmaster Greg Davies's bold, gold bonce. Ed Gamble gets reckless with a frying pan, Katy Wix asks for a pencil and Jo Brand shares a leisurely sandwich with David Baddiel. Alex Horne is there to log all the important minutiae, which he later presents to Greg in a special private ceremony that no one has ever witnessed.

Preview clips

Prize task: Best bag.

* Rose Matafeo: A bag she croqueted herself, with the word "Best" croqueted into it. - 5
* Katy Wix: A bagpipe with no pipes. - 4
* Jo Brand: A sanitary towel disposal bag. - 3
* Ed Gamble: A belly bum-bag. - 2
* David Baddiel: A bag of sour sweets. - 1

Task 1: Correctly identify which bin Alex is in. You must adhere to the commandments behind the curtain. [The Seven Commandments: I - You may wheel one bin three metres. II - You may gently shake one bin. III - You may strike one bin with a frying pan. IV - You may push one bin over. V - You may listen to one bin with a stethoscope. VI - You may avert your eyes and drop one thing into one bin. VII - You may phone Alex's phone from the phone in the phone box.] You may only have one guess. No bins are to be opened at any point during the task unless authorised. Fastest correct guess wins. Your time starts now and stops when you have your guess.

* Ed: 3:40 - 5
* David: 6:53 - 4
* Jo, Katy and Rose: Guess incorrectly. - 0

Task 2: Draw a portrait of the Taskmaster using 16 A1 pages. You may not remove the A1 pages from the flipchart during your drawing. After the task, the A1 pages will be laid out in the pattern shown on the front page. You may only draw on the flipchart paper. Best portrait wins. You have 20 minutes. Your time starts now.

* Katy - 5
* Jo - 4
* Ed and Rose - 3
* David - 1

Task 3 (Team Task): Complete this adventure. Unless otherwise stated, you must stick together and only open one task after you have completed the previous one. Fastest wins. Now either look in the toaster or go to the shed. [Bonus rule: Fastest to say the word "demeaning" at any point during the tasks wins.]

* Ed, Katy and Rose: 29:00, with a Task Tally of 24. - 5
* David and Jo: 36:26, with a Task Tally of 9. - 3

Live task: Part 1 - Make a lovely little ball arrangement. You have 100 seconds. Part 2 - [While blindfolded] Flatten all of the yellow balls, throw all of the red balls into the bucket and turn all the blue balls into one big blue ball. Most balls in the right shape and place after 100 seconds wins.

* Jo: Almost 100%, due to her throwing one ball at the audience. - 5
* Ed and Katy: 45% - 4
* Rose: 33% - 2
* David: 12% - 1

Final scores

* Ed - 19
* Katy - 18
* Jo and Rose - 15
* David - 10

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 11th September 2019
Time
9pm
Channel
Dave
Length
60 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 15th September 2019 11:00pm Dave
Tuesday 17th September 2019 10:00pm Dave
Tuesday 21st January 2020 10:00pm Dave
Tuesday 30th June 2020 10:40pm Dave
Wednesday 1st July 2020 6:00pm Dave
Tuesday 22nd September 2020 6:00pm Dave
Saturday 10th October 2020 3:00pm Dave
Friday 20th November 2020 3:05am Dave
Tuesday 5th January 2021 11:00pm Dave
Thursday 14th January 2021 1:00am E4
Wednesday 3rd March 2021 6:00pm Dave
Wednesday 26th May 2021 6:00pm Dave
Friday 24th September 2021 12:00am Dave
Wednesday 30th March 2022 6:00pm Dave
Tuesday 12th July 2022 6:00pm Dave
Wednesday 13th July 2022 3:10am Dave
Thursday 29th September 2022 6:00pm Dave
Wednesday 15th February 2023 11:00pm Dave
Tuesday 28th February 2023 6:00pm Dave
Wednesday 31st May 2023 6:00pm Dave
Thursday 15th June 2023 9:00pm Dave

Cast & crew

Cast
Greg Davies Host / Presenter
Alex Horne Host / Presenter
David Baddiel Self
Ed Gamble Self
Jo Brand Self
Katy Wix Self
Rose Matafeo Self
Writing team
Alex Horne Writer
Tim Key Task Consultant
Production team
Andy Devonshire Series Director
Andy Cartwright Series Producer
Richard Allen-Turner Executive Producer
James Taylor Executive Producer
Jon Thoday Executive Producer
Hilary Rosen Executive Producer
Rob Aslett Executive Producer
Andy Devonshire Executive Producer
Alex Horne Executive Producer
Dan Trelfer Edit Producer
Vicky Winter Line Producer
Thomas Perrett Editor
Rebecca Bowker Editor
James Dillon Production Designer
Sam Montague Director of Photography
Christina Baker (as Chrissie Baker) Make-up Designer
Martin Kempton Lighting Designer
Dru Masters Composer
Tom Howe Composer

Videos

Draw a portrait of Greg

This week the contestants have to draw a portrait of Taskmaster, Greg Davies, across 16 pieces of A3 paper.

Featuring: Alex Horne, David Baddiel, Ed Gamble, Jo Brand, Katy Wix & Rose Matafeo.

Which bin is Alex Horne in?

Contestants must guess which wheelie bin Alex Horne is in whilst also following the Taskmaster commandments.

Featuring: Greg Davies, Alex Horne, David Baddiel, Ed Gamble, Jo Brand, Katy Wix & Rose Matafeo.

Outtake: Greg Davies gets annoyed at Alex Horne

Alex Horne has trouble getting his words out, which annoys Greg Davies.

Featuring: Greg Davies & Alex Horne.

Press

Taskmaster: series 9, episode 2: review

Jo Brand and David Baddiel together make a potent comic force.

Sarah Hughes, i Newspaper, 11th September 2019

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