As a dedicated fan of Taskmaster, I must say that I am absolutely thrilled about the new spin-off series featuring kids! It’s refreshing to see how these young minds approach tasks and comedy in their unique and inventive ways. Alex Horne and Mike Wozniak seem to have hit upon something truly special here, and if the original show is any indication, this new version could potentially be even better.
In June, at Pinewood Studios, located near Slough, sets are gradually taking shape for The Fantastic Four, the latest high-budget film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Meanwhile, further along, a warehouse is filled with props destined for the upcoming Star Wars TV series; a Lucasfilm sign can just be made out in the distance.
Instead, let me clarify that this event isn’t what primarily drew me in. I’m here to enjoy a hilarious competition among five comedians, who are vying for insignificant points and playful awards, while adorning hotdog costumes. All of this is for the amusement of Greg Davies, Alex Horne, and the audience at large.
Though it may seem otherwise, I’ve come to realize that Taskmaster, a panel and game show airing on Channel 4 and now in its tenth year of production, has grown into a global franchise just like many other productions filmed here.
Alex Horne, the creator and lead, chuckles as he says, ‘It’s a good thing you didn’t mention the universe.’ He continues with a laugh, ‘The Taskmaster Cinematic Universe! The franchise is far superior.’
In case you’re unfamiliar with the format of Taskmaster, let me explain it simply: Five contestants (often comedians) typically film at a peculiar house in Chiswick, where they receive wax-sealed envelopes detailing peculiar, time-bound tasks that have been devised by Horne.
On location, Horn oversees the shooting process. Later, in the studio, under the watchful gaze of Taskmaster Greg Davies, all five contestants gather. Here, their frequently unsuccessful endeavors are replayed to them. Davies evaluates their efforts based on creativity, cleverness, and luck, assigning points accordingly.
Currently in its 18th season, this show carries an unusual and undeniably British charm, which might come as a surprise given that Taskmaster has also found success abroad. Similar to shows such as Pointless, The Chase, and Strictly Come Dancing, adaptations of this program have emerged in various parts of the world.
Originally, the initial spin-off was in Belgium, and I had my doubts about its feasibility, Horne admits. “We watched it in Flemish, not comprehending a single word, but found ourselves laughing throughout,” he recounts. “All of a sudden, I thought to myself, ‘This could work anywhere!’
Currently, spin-offs of the show are running in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Croatia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Portugal. Each of these versions features unique taskmasters and assistants, with tasks designed by their local teams. To date, over 900 episodes of Taskmaster shows produced internationally have been made – that’s more than three times the number created in the original location.
Horne clarifies that each version carries its unique taste. For instance, the Portuguese edition lasts two hours and has a more assertive tone, whereas the Finnish one leans towards darkness and solemnity. Interestingly, Taskmaster Sweden (known as Bäst i test) seems to hold more weight within Swedish borders compared to its UK counterpart.
As a movie reviewer, I found myself captivated by the peculiar charm of this Swedish production. On a typical Saturday evening, this show takes on an X Factor-like vibe, which is surprising considering its immense popularity there. The character I portray in the film seems to have grasped its essence and even contributes his own tasks to the mix. Despite the creators’ tendency to put their unique spin on things, my character is deeply immersed in this intriguing production.
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Indeed, Taskmaster Sweden has grown to such an extent that it can now be viewed in the UK, joining Taskmaster New Zealand. You can find both on Channel 4’s streaming platform. However, I’m curious, does the content from these international versions influence the main show? Does Alex Horne occasionally glance at tasks created by his counterparts overseas, considering if they would suit his own celebrity contestants?
He asserts that they’ve never simply duplicated someone else’s work. Instead, he emphasizes that more than 90% of the jobs are done by him personally, with the remaining 10% being handled primarily by colleagues and acquaintances on their team.
“But we definitely do use versions like Taskmaster NZ for inspiration. Instead of reusing them, we think, ‘OK, they’ve done that, we want to do something similar but different.’ Sweden come up with really good ones. But they’ve got a very different attitude to health and safety!”
It’s not always successful for spin-offs to be produced across different countries. For instance, the Spanish and Belgian adaptations ran for just one season each. The attempt to create an American version of the show encountered several hurdles as well – it featured Horne as the assistant but with a new boss in musician Reggie Watts, and again, it was only able to air one series.
Horne admits that a few errors were made. “We essentially followed the instructions given by the channel,” he explains, “which led to shortening the length of the show by half. The entire duration was 22 minutes. Most of the tasks assigned were repetitions since we believed playing it safe was the best course of action.
We had to make some concessions that we’re not happy about. If given the opportunity, Greg and I would love to repeat the experience in America, but this time under conditions that suit us.
Currently, Horne seems to be occupied with a new spin-off series that’s more locally based. As the current season of Taskmaster winds down, Junior Taskmaster is set to premiere in a few weeks on Channel 4. The show has previously spawned UK spin-offs, such as a Champion of Champions where past winners compete against each other.
Instead, the UK junior edition will see fresh hosts, Rose Matafeo and Mike Wozniak, taking their places on the Taskmaster thrones.
Matafeo expresses that he’s working to perfect a unique method of entertaining children in an endearing manner, which they may one day reminisce about with a sense of joyful nostalgia. As a previous contestant, Matafeo is now stepping into Greg Davies’ shoes for the kid-friendly version of the show, where pre-teens engage in quirky challenges and reunite in the studio afterward.
Greg stands out as an imposing figure among taskmasters globally, she reflects. He serves as a model, like the first figure in Plato’s allegory of the cave. We can all be seen as reflections of him, albeit I am one of just two women mirroring him – the other is in Sweden.
Could Taskmaster actually be suitable for children? The series originated when Horne’s first child was born (he now has three at 46 years old). “Since he was zero, I didn’t go to the Edinburgh Festival that year. And I conceived this concept of setting tasks for comedians, as I knew many comedians and had a gut feeling it would be an enjoyable endeavor.
In August 2009, I dispatched a series of emails to twenty comedians. After that, during the next year, I collected their work for the entire year and organized a special late-night event as a culmination.
The idea for the junior version arose during the pandemic when Horne found himself confined at home again. This was when he noticed that many families were engaging in activities together to fill their time. Additionally, Horne’s previous experiences of introducing these tasks into schools had demonstrated the incredible creativity of younger minds.
He mentions that for quite some time now, he’s been engaging activities with children, primarily around the area of the show. In just a couple of TV series, he began working on educational programs in elementary schools. Later on, they initiated the Taskmaster educational project along with other young students from primary schools.
At present, around 800 educational institutions have enrolled in Taskmaster Education, a program that integrates aspects of the popular show into classroom learning, fostering teamwork, problem-solving, and a variety of curriculum-related abilities. From 2023 onwards, schools can establish Taskmaster Clubs after school hours, which may occasionally host visits from Horne for notable events.
He mentions that he’s witnessed children finding genuine joy in this, coming up with creative solutions to tasks, and it proving to be an overall beneficial and amusing experience – all while avoiding a preachy tone.
It felt quite intuitive to give it a go, I guess. And honestly, I’m quite fond of Harry Hill on Junior Bake Off. To me, it’s about respecting children as individuals rather than just finding humor in their childish antics. It’s more about kids being fantastic at being kids.
In the junior version of the show, Mike Wozniak stepped into Horne’s assistant position, who was also a participant in the year 2021 series. After spending multiple weeks working alongside the children, Wozniak finds that this version could potentially surpass the original one.
According to Wozniak, their unique perspective on things often surpasses that of an ordinary adult comedian in creativity. Moreover, he emphasizes that the tasks assigned to them are entirely novel and have not been simplified at all.
However, it’s uncertain if [JTM] will be effective, Horne notes, as they aren’t well-known figures – we don’t recognize these children. We’re banking on them being engaging enough, which is quite a responsibility for their young age. We shall see the outcome soon.
Given the widespread appeal of the program across various age groups, especially among younger viewers, which has resulted in a family-friendly, censored version airing on Sundays (both on TV and online), there’s good reason to anticipate the success of the upcoming spin-off. In fact, it appears that Horne’s children are the only ones who aren’t fans of the show.
As a mother or father of three, it’s quite exasperating since they refuse to watch it, and that’s because I’m one of the stars! Hornes chuckles, “It’s just one of the rare shows we’d enjoy watching as a family.
This fall, Taskmaster: The Live Experience was introduced in London, allowing people to participate in tasks reminiscent of the TV show within a replica of its house, with pre-recorded messages from Horne and Davies encouraging them. Regarding this venture, Horne notes that it feels nerve-wracking to step into a new realm, but it’s almost like returning to our roots – producing shows at the Edinburgh Festival.
At home, you can enjoy a virtual reality game that provides a comparable experience. There are books, board games, novelty items like Christmas crackers, and a wide variety of merchandise selling in massive quantities across the globe. As of now, it’s not anticipated, according to Horne, that there will be any more television spin-offs for the time being.
“We did a pilot for Foodmaster,” he reflects. “We’ve talked about Dogmaster and Carmaster and so on. But I think we’re pretty happy with where we are. There’s obviously a danger of diluting the product. I think, currently, junior and senior are our lot.”
However, managing it all continues to appear overwhelming. Does the person, Horne, who is in charge, still harbor concerns about eventually losing control over it?
Admittedly, I’m finding it quite a burden right now. The details are piling up, even extending to the holiday season crackers – from the tasks to the jokes, everything is my responsibility. It’s a constant concern.
Currently, we’re not operating at our maximum potential. If we reach full capacity, I believe we might need to forego that particular action. However, our rule is simple: we’ll only take on tasks that are beneficial. At this point, I don’t feel we’ve lost control of the situation.
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Taskmaster airs Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4.
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2024-10-14 18:36