Taken to task
BACK with more absurd mayhem, this is possibly the best comedy game show on telly.
For those who have missed the previous eleven series (where were you?), it sees Greg Davies preside as the fickle overlord as five comedians complete stupid tasks for his praise – and the odd point.
Little Alex Horne is Greg’s subservient sidekick, the quiet genius behind the entire show.
The five brave souls vying to win Greg’s regal golden head on their mantelpiece this time are Alan Davies, Desiree Burch, Guz Khan, Morgana Robinson and Victoria Coren Mitchell. They will need to attempt many pointless tasks that test their ingenuity, dexterity and ability not to become filled with rage under extreme pressure.
In the opening task, they must each bring in ‘the thing that if you put it in a bag and sit on it, it would feel the nicest’.
Then there’s a new non-contact sport as the comedians try to strike a moving Alex with a ball. It’s not as easy as it sounds.
Some abstract ‘art’ is gifted to the Taskmaster after a challenge to paint him on a canvas that is either six inches or six feet away – they must remain flat on the floor throughout.
Alex opens his Balloon Pop Shop, which sees Desiree get violent with a bucket of forks.
And finally, they must strike a strange pose to win extra points.
Says Victoria, for whom the penny has dropped: “I don’t know whether my self-esteem will survive this series.”