Taskmaster’s new order
TASKMASTER
Channel 4, 9pm BRILLIANTLY bonkers and still undiscovered by many, this show will be the most joyous hour of your week.
For the uninitiated, it sees five comedians compete in ridiculous tasks in order to gain praise and points from Taskmaster Greg Davies.
Greg lords it over everyone from his throne, aided by subservient sidekick Alex Horne, who in reality is the creative genius behind the tasks. The ultimate series winner gets to take home a vague representation of Greg’s head, sprayed with gold paint.
This time the contestants are Charlotte Ritchie, Jamali Maddix, Lee Mack, Mike Wozniak and Sarah Kendall.
Round one sees them challenged to bring in “the best thing you can carry, but only just”, resulting in weird offerings from stolen goods to nightmarish tunes. Then they must do the most impressive thing under a table with one hand.
They must look at the camera and wave with the other hand at all times.
Later there is a run-in with a furry remote-controlled rodent, which they must catch in the most ingenious way possible.
There is plenty of plate smashing, too, as they attempt to deliver crockery to Alex while on wheels.
And there is a fair share of violence, with buckets and balls in the final task.
First episodes are for getting the measure of the contestants, working out who are the lateral thinkers and who are the clueless flounderers. From a row with Jamali over a spinning cushion to Lee trying to juggle plates dressed as Evel Knievel and Charlotte hiding under a red carpet, this does not disappoint.