“Taskmaster” is a British comedy panel show series that combines a game-show structure with unscripted humor and creative problem-solving. Each season features five comedians who compete across a range of bizarre and unexpected challenges or tasks, designed by series creator Alex Horne.
These tasks require contestants to think on their feet, adapt to unusual rules and often interpret instructions in unconventional ways. Some are deceptively simple, and almost all of them have more than one way to be completed.
The performances are then evaluated during the various in-studio segments by the show’s host and Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies, whose subjective scoring system, usually giving the contestants a score of one through five, adds an unpredictable element to the competition.
Horne serves as Davies’ assistant, overseeing tasks, clarifying their rules and presenting footage of each comedian’s attempt.
Each season consists of 10 episodes, with contestants’ scores building throughout the series until a final winner is crowned. Their prize? A golden bust of Greg Davies.
I’ve decided to analyze “Taskmaster,” as it has become somewhat of a comfort show to me in recent months. The series is set apart by several factors and continues to reinvent itself with each new season.
Part of the charm lies in each season’s cast. With the style the series has adopted, it’s not about who you’re watching it for, but rather getting to know the comedians better and rooting for them more as the show goes on.
Speaking from experience, out of the more than one hundred comedians the show has featured so far, I only recognized three prior to appearing on “Taskmaster.” By the end of various seasons, I found myself a genuine fan of many more of these comedians and actors.
The latest season, Season 20, features Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Phil Ellis, Reece Shearsmith and Sanjeev Bhaskar.
Each cast member brings a unique form of comedy to the show. We don’t just see this in their banter with the host, but in their dynamics with their fellow contestants.
Team tasks are sprinkled throughout each season, showing off their wits and collaborative efforts in teams of two or three.
One of my personal favorite team tasks comes from episode eight of Season 20, where the two teams had to participate in a mock heist to steal a statue. This also included Alex acting as the head security guard, trying to stop them.
While “Taskmaster” is built on clever tasks and charismatic comedians, the show’s backbone lies in the editing. The series’ structure relies on hours of raw footage from each challenge, including multiple camera angles, off-the-cuff reactions, and long stretches of trial and error, and presents it into tight, rhythmically paced sequences.
Another powerful tool “Taskmaster” has on its belt is its brilliant production design. Every season’s pre-recorded task (with a handful of exceptions) takes place at the Taskmaster House, a small cottage with variously styled rooms, and the property surrounding it.
Each season sees the house’s interior decorated to match a different theme. A few examples of past themes include the Wild West, 1920s Art Deco and Van Gogh. These creative set designs offer a visually distinct backdrop to the action.
Other small visual touches, like on-screen captions and playful sound effects, further enhance the series’ humor without overwhelming it, while also delivering on making a cohesive brand. “Taskmaster” opts to use typewriter-style fonts that have become synonymous with its identity.
It’s rare to find a show that feels this unpredictable and genuine at the same time. There are no trivia questions and no million-dollar stakes– just pure, unscripted problem-solving and the wonderfully human reactions that follow.
Greg Davies may hold the power as the towering Taskmaster, and Alex Horne may quietly pull the strings, but the real magic lies in watching people think outside the box, fail in heartbreaking ways, surprise themselves and occasionally stumble into brilliance.
If you’re a fan of more character-driven comedy or improv shows, such as “Whose Line is it Anyway?” I believe that “Taskmaster” will be right up your alley.
Every season of the show can be watched for free on YouTube, with the latest episodes going live one hour after their premiere on Channel 4.
At the time of writing, Season 20 has one episode remaining before its finale.