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Taskmaster

TV SERIES · 2015– · UK

Taskmaster

Created by
Alex Horne
Network
Channel 4, U&Dave
Seasons
22
Episodes
202
Studio
Avalon Television

27 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026

Greg Davies is the Taskmaster, and with the help of his ever-loyal assistant Alex Horne, they will set out to test the wiles, wit, wisdom and skills of five hyper-competitive comedians. Who will be crowned the Taskmaster champion?

  • Taskmaster — production image

27 Interesting Facts About Taskmaster

Interesting Facts (11)

  1. #001

    The series' theme music was written and performed by The Horne Chapter, a jazz group led by Alex Horne.

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  2. #002

    Although Alex Horne plays the role of the sycophantic assistant who hosts Greg Davies, Horne is in fact the show's producer, writer and creator.

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  3. #003

    Contestants sit from left to right in alphabetical order by their names.

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  4. #004

    The Taskmaster House is a former gardener's lodge next to a golf course in the Chiswick area of west London.

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  5. #005

    In an interview, series director Andy Devonshire stated that the Taskmaster field team actually lived in the Taskmaster house during production.

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  6. #006

    Josh Widdicombe had host Greg Davies's name tattooed on his foot in order to win a task.

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  7. #007

    Series 1-9 premiered on Dave between 2015 and 2019. On 22 November 2019, it was confirmed that the series (starting with series 10) had been acquired by Channel 4. Both Dave and Channel 4 air repeats.

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  8. #008

    Taskmaster became so popular that it has versions in many other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden, and an unsuccessful version in the US.

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  9. #009

    Each episode is named after a quote spoken in that episode.

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  10. #010

    In series 19, Jason Mantzoukas became the first contestant from the US-based series to take part.

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  11. #011

    HBO's series Task, starring Mark Ruffalo, is expanding its cast for its second season. It has been announced that new actors are joining the production. Ruffalo, who starred in the first season, is also part of the cast in the second season. No information has yet been shared about the new season's filming schedule or release date. It has also not yet been announced which roles the new additions to the team will play.

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Production Story (13)

  1. #012

    The show's theme music was composed and performed by The Horne Section, a jazz group led by Alex Horne.

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  2. #013

    On the Taskmaster podcast, Alex Horne admitted that he sometimes checked football scores on his iPad during filming.

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  3. #014

    Contestants sit from left to right in alphabetical order of their names.

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  4. #015

    The Taskmaster House is an old gatehouse next to a golf course in the Chiswick area of west London. In an interview with Seth Meyers, Alex Horne revealed that the producers do not actually own the iconic Taskmaster house. They rent it from its owners, and the rent rose as the show became more successful. As of 2025, the rent is a full 1 million pounds per season. In an interview, series director Andy Devonshire stated that the Taskmaster field crew actually lived in the Taskmaster house during production.

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  5. #016

    Host Greg Davies constantly addresses his assistant Alex Horne on the show as "little Alex Horne." Yet Horne, at 1.88 metres tall, is well above the world average, which puts him in the tallest 4% in the world. Davies, with his impressive height of 2.03 metres, is among the tallest 0.02% of adult men in the world.

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  6. #017

    Although Alex Horne plays the role of Greg Davies's sycophantic assistant on screen, he is in fact the show's producer, writer and creator.

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  7. #018

    To win a task, Josh Widdicombe had host Greg Davies's name tattooed on his foot.

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  8. #019

    In season 19, Jason Mantzoukas became the first contestant living in the US to take part in the show.

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  9. #020

    Before it became a television programme, Taskmaster was tested by Alex Horne over the course of a year by emailing monthly tasks to 20 comedians. At the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he presented 'The Taskmaster' show, in which he showed the contestants' attempts at each task and announced the winner. The following year, Horne staged 'Taskmaster II' with ten contestants.

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  10. #021

    As well as appearing as a contestant in the first season, comedian Tim Key helped create the tasks behind the scenes (his show title is Task Consultant).

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  11. #022

    Seasons 1-9 aired on the Dave channel from 2015 to 2019. On 22 November 2019, it was confirmed that the series (from season 10 onwards) had been acquired by Channel 4. Both Dave and Channel 4 air repeats.

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  12. #023

    Taskmaster became so popular that versions were made in many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden, and there is also an unsuccessful US version.

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  13. #024

    Each episode is named after a quote said within that episode.

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Behind the Scenes (2)

  1. #025

    On the Taskmaster podcast, Alex Horne admitted that he sometimes used his iPad to check football scores during filming.

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  2. #026

    As well as appearing as a contestant in the first series, comedian Tim Key worked behind the scenes to help create the tasks (his title is Task Consultant).

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Easter Eggs & References (1)

  1. #027

    Before Taskmaster became a TV series, it was tested over a year as Alex Horne emailed monthly tasks to 20 comedians. In 2010 he hosted "The Taskmaster" show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he revealed the contestants' attempts at each task and announced the winner. The following year Horne hosted "Taskmaster II" with ten contestants.

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb title page (trivia)

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