Taskmaster Moves to Channel 4

Channel 4 has become the new home of the BAFTA- and Emmy Award-nominated series Taskmaster, signing a six-season deal across three years.

Taskmaster started as a live show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before being developed for television, initially with Channel 4. It was later commissioned by UKTV for Dave, where it has aired for nine seasons.

Hosted by Greg Davies as the all-powerful “Taskmaster,” alongside Alex Horne as his loyal assistant, the show sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges.

New episodes of Taskmaster, produced by Avalon, will be broadcast on Channel 4 and repeated on E4 from late 2020.

Alex Horne, the show’s creator, said: “We’ve had an amazing nine series on Dave and I’d like to thank UKTV for letting us do such ridiculous things for so long. Greg and I are looking forward to getting started on a new series for Channel 4 from next year. It seems like the right time to move to a channel with a broader audience and I can reassure people who like the show that it won’t be changing one bit and I’ll still be forced to do things no one should ever have to do.”

Davies said: “For the first time in our working relationship I agree with little Alex Horne. The nine series on UKTV have been a joy and I would echo his thanks to all involved. I do take issue with the notion that the show will remain exactly the same however as I have made it my personal mission to break his spirit. I will remain even-handed with contestants of course, but it really is going to get unpleasant for him. Peace.”

Ian Katz, Channel 4’s director of programs, commented: “Taskmaster is anarchic, original and a brilliant springboard for new comic talent. It’s everything we look for in a Channel 4 show and like millions of others I’m a massive fan so I’m delighted it will soon be taking its place in our unrivaled slate of scripted and studio comedy.”

Karl Warner, controller of E4, said: “Not only is Taskmaster one of the best formats on TV, but it’s also one of the best launchpads for new talent. I’m thrilled we’re getting to build on its success across Channel 4 and E4 and can’t wait to start working with Alex, Greg and the team at Avalon.”

Executive Producer Jon Thoday added: “We are delighted Taskmaster will have a new home at Channel 4. I would like to thank Steve North, Richard Watsham and Hilary Rosen at UKTV as well as all the other people who have helped make the show such a success.”