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 9 - Don't Like Them Go Bang

Taskmaster. Image shows from L to R: Alex Horne, Jo Brand. Copyright: Avalon Television
The five comics go undercover as they try to impress Greg Davies with their attempts at high-level espionage. Results, involving a white van, a newspaper and a paper cup, are mixed. Meanwhile, Greg's simpering secretary Alex Horne observes with barely concealed glee as Ed Gamble shaves his knees and Jo Brand finds an alternative use for her earring.

Preview clips

Prize task: Most desirable smooth thing.

* David Baddiel: A trophy for winning the quiz show Going for Gold, despite the fact he never appeared on it and that the show never gave out trophies. - 5
* Rose Matafeo: A semi-nude picture of herself in a snow globe. - 4
* Jo Brand: Butterscotch Angel Delight concealing Action Man's genitals. - 4
* Katy Wix: A pebble onto which she has put on her bank details. - 4
* Ed Gamble: A voucher for the winner of the show to wax Ed's chest. - 4

Task 1: Give Alex the five-word instruction in the most spy-like way. You must not be seen or heard communicating with Alex in any way. Most subtly but successfully communicated instruction wins. You have 20 minutes, in which Alex must carry out your instruction. Your time starts now.

* David: "Take your trousers down now." - 5
* Jo: "Get me loads of sweets." - 4
* Katy: "Alex, take off your shoes." - 3
* Ed: "Stand up and shout 'loud'." - 2
* Rose: "Life in danger. Run away." - 2

Task 2: Inflate, tie and pop as many balloons as possible in ten minutes. Once you pop your first balloon, you may not inflate any more balloons. If any of your balloons are still inflated after ten minutes you are disqualified. Most popped balloons wins. Also, you may not look at a clock or any sort of timing device at any point. Your time starts now.

* Ed: 41 - 5
* Rose: 17 - 4
* David: 14 - 3
* Jo: Did not pop all of her balloons. - 0
* Katy: Did not start popping balloons until after ten minutes had past. - 0

Task 3: Make either a knee and an elbow, a knee and a knee, or an elbow and an elbow look like a famous couple. You must only use your knees and elbows. Best representation of a famous couple on knees and/or elbows wins. You have 20 minutes. Your time starts now.

* Katy: Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera on both elbows. - 5
* David: The Two Ronnies on both knees. - 3
* Ed: The Mitchell Brothers from EastEnders on both knees. - 3
* Rose: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor on both knees. - 2
* Jo: Henry VIII on a knee and Anne Boleyn on an elbow. - 1

Live task (Team Task): Standing in a queue, draw the most accurate pictures. Alex will show the person at the back of the queue a picture. The person at the back of the queue must draw this picture on the back of the person in front of them. The person at the front of the queue must draw the picture they think has been drawn on their back on their pad. You have one minute per drawing. No-one may communicate with anyone else. The team with the most accurate three drawings wins.

* Jo, Katy and Rose - 5
* David and Ed - 3

Final scores

* David - 19
* Ed - 17
* Katy - 17
* Rose - 17
* Jo - 14

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 30th October 2019
Time
9pm
Channel
Dave
Length
60 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 3rd November 2019 10:40pm Dave
Tuesday 5th November 2019 10:00pm Dave
Thursday 30th January 2020 10:00pm Dave
Thursday 9th July 2020 11:10pm Dave
Friday 10th July 2020 6:00pm Dave
Friday 11th September 2020 7:00pm Dave
Thursday 1st October 2020 6:00pm Dave
Sunday 11th October 2020 5:00pm Dave
Friday 27th November 2020 3:05am Dave
Friday 15th January 2021 11:00pm Dave
Saturday 23rd January 2021 2:55am E4
Friday 12th March 2021 6:00pm Dave
Friday 4th June 2021 6:00pm Dave
Tuesday 5th October 2021 12:00am Dave
Friday 8th April 2022 6:00pm Dave
Thursday 21st July 2022 6:00pm Dave
Friday 22nd July 2022 3:10am Dave
Tuesday 11th October 2022 6:00pm Dave
Monday 27th February 2023 11:00pm Dave
Monday 6th March 2023 5:00pm Dave
Friday 9th June 2023 5:00pm Dave
Thursday 20th July 2023 11:00pm 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
Mark Sangster 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

Give Alex the best instruction as a spy

The contestants have to give Alex the the best instruction in the most spy like way.

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

Make a knee or elbow into a famous couple

The contestants have to make their elbows or knees in to a famous couple.

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

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