Starts 10pm Tuesday 28th July, 6 x 60 minute episodes
GREG DAVIES is the Taskmaster, and with the help of his loyal assistant ALEX HORNE he has set out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians: ROISIN CONATY (Man Down Channel 4), Foster’s Comedy Award winner TIM KEY, ROMESH RANGANATHAN (Mock the Week BBC Two), FRANK SKINNER (Room 101 BBC One) and JOSH WIDDICOMBE (The Last Leg Channel 4). With the chance to be crowned Taskmaster champion, and to win each other’s actual belongings, expect cheating. Expect arguments. Expect both cheating AND arguments. .
In his role as Taskmaster, GREG DAVIES will set a series of stupefying tasks to test our group of comedians, before deciding who should be victorious. As the Taskmaster’s assistant, ALEX HORNE will coax the contenders to show their creativity, conniving and competitiveness; rivalry will be encouraged, dodgy tactics rewarded and bribes accepted in what is set to be the most dogged, hard-fought and ridiculous comedy show on TV. Taskmaster started out as a critically acclaimed live show, devised by 2014 Foster’s Comedy Award nominee ALEX HORNE, which ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010 and 2011.
An Avalon Television production, Taskmaster was commissioned by RICHARD WATSHAM, Director of Commissioning at UKTV and ordered by Dave General Manager, STEVE NORTH. The series is directed by ANDY DEVONSHIRE (The Apprentice and The Great British Bake Off) and produced by ALEX HORNE, while the Executive Producers are RICHARD ALLEN-TURNER, JAMES TAYLOR and JON THODAY for Avalon and HILARY ROSEN for UKTV. Avalon Television is currently in production with: season two of hit USA show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO); the second series of GREG DAVIES’ critically acclaimed sitcom, Man Down (Channel 4); Comedy Central’s (USA) breakout hit Workaholics; and series two of Catastrophe, the hit comedy series written by and starring ROB DELANEY and SHARON HORGAN (Channel 4).
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Preview episodes are available to view at: http://pressoffice.uktv.co.uk
For more information please contact:
Lottie Robertshaw at Avalon: 020 7598 7222 or email: Lottier@avalonuk.com
Gemma Pinkney at UKTV: 0203 752 7669 or email: Gemma.Pinkney@UKTV.co.uk
Notes to editors
ALEX HORNE
The creator of Taskmaster, ALEX HORNE was nominated for the 2014 Foster’s Comedy Award with his Edinburgh Festival Fringe show Monsieur Butterfly. Alongside his band The Horne Section, ALEX has hosted Nevermind the Buzzcocks (BBC Two) and three series of the acclaimed Alex Horne Presents: The Horne Section (BBC Radio 4). The band appeared on John Bishop’s Christmas Show (BBC One) and in dictionary corner on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4). ALEX’s other television credits include: Dave’s One Night Stand (Dave), Celebrity Mastermind (BBC1) Drunk History (Comedy Central) and The Games That Time Forgot, a documentary ALEX wrote and presented for BBC Four. ALEX has hosted three series of the iTunes chart-topping, Chortle Award nominated podcast ALEX HORNE BREAKS THE NEWS.
WHAT THE PRESS HAS SAID ABOUT MONSIEUR BUTTERFLY
“Take your kids, take your granddad but get them to wee before they go in because once this show starts you quite simply could not bring yourself to leave” ★★★★ The Scotsman
★★★★★ Metro
“Funny fresh and original” ★★★★ The Times
“A delight of a show” ★★★★ The Independent
★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★ Evening Standard
★★★★ Time Out
★★★★ Mail on Sunday
★★★★ Chortle
★★★★ The List
GREG DAVIES
GREG DAVIES is an acclaimed stand-up comedian and actor; the creator of the hit Channel 4 series Man Down, Mr Gilbert in the TV series and film The Inbetweeners and BAFTA nominated star of Cuckoo (BBC Three).
PRAISE FOR GREG DAVIES
“Davies weaves a magnificent web. Fact or fiction, he sells the whole show, frequently leaving you helpless with laughter.” The Independent ★★★★★
A wonderfully feel good show that demands repeated viewings.” The Sunday Telegraph ★★★★★
“Hilarious” News of the World ★★★★★
“Rip-roaring solo show” Sharon Lougher, Metro ★★★★★
“Plenty of outrageous laughs” ★★★★ Nigel Andrews, Mail, Weekend
★★★★★ Mark Wareham, The Mail on Sunday
★★★★ Boyd Hilton, Heat
★★★★★Time Out
★★★★ TV Times
