‘I like testy relations.’ Greg Davies and Alex Horne on Taskmaster’s success and the novelty of series 16
Among the thriving ecosystem of panel shows in the United Kingdom, one reigns supreme across the pond: Taskmaster. The uproariously silly and witheringly hilarious show pits groups of comedians and other celebrities against each other in a series of ridiculous tasks that range from the straightforward (don’t let the flame on this candle go out) to the completely outrageous (interview a stranger and write them a love song). By completing these tasks, the contestants all vie for the favor of the stern Taskmaster, Greg Davies, who doles out points accordingly.
The show is created by Alex Horne, who serves as the Taskmaster’s assistant on the show, running the tasks and keeping score. The program has exploded in popularity in the U.S. over the past few years, thanks to a strong YouTube presence, even stronger word-of-mouth support, and the sheer quality of the comedy.
Series 16 is one of the funniest yet, with an incredible collection of comedians who each bring their own distinct brand of humor to the show. That series is airing now, with new episodes each Friday on the Taskmaster YouTube channel. It’s been a delightful, unusual season, with a very fun group of contestants who have seemingly decided it’s better to work together than against each other.
Polygon sat down with Davies and Horne on a Zoom call to talk about the show’s international success, how they’d describe the various series 16 contestants, how the show has changed over the years, and which American might be a good fit to join a future season.
[Ed. note: This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.]
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