Masters of the world

As a longtime fan of British comedy, I must say that I find the success story of Alex Horne and his brainchild, Taskmaster, absolutely captivating. It’s not every day that one man’s whimsical idea turns into a global phenomenon, spawning spin-offs, merchandise, and even a live experience.

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In June, at Pinewood Studios, located near Slough, sets are gradually being constructed for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film titled The Fantastic Four. Meanwhile, further along, a warehouse is brimming with props destined for the next Star Wars television series, with a Lucasfilm sign just peeking into view.

Personally speaking, I’m not here just for typical productions. I’ve come to enjoy five comedians battling it out for meaningless points and fun trinkets, all while donning hotdog costumes. This spectacle is overseen by Greg Davies and Alex Horne, and the viewing public, in the unique format of Taskmaster, a Channel 4 panel show-cum-game show that’s now celebrating its tenth year. And contrary to what it might seem, this popular series is just as much an international franchise as any other production being filmed on set right now.

Delighted that you didn’t mention ‘universe,’ chuckles Alex Horne, its originator and performer. “A cinematic universe for The Taskmaster, now that’s a franchise worth having!

As a devoted movie buff, if you haven’t figured out the structure of Taskmaster by now, let me break it down for you in a nutshell: Five contestants, often comedians, find themselves in an eccentrically decorated house in Chiswick, where they receive mysterious wax-sealed envelopes containing peculiar, time-sensitive tasks assigned by the enigmatic figure of Alex Horne. These challenges can range from the absurd, like throwing a potato into a golf hole, to the emotional, such as filling an egg cup with one’s own tears.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I’ve found myself captivated by a unique and quirky television show that’s now in its 18th series – “Taskmaster”. Despite its British origins, it has managed to charm audiences worldwide, making its global success no less surprising. In fact, much like other British exports such as “Pointless”, “The Chase”, and “Strictly Come Dancing”, adaptations of “Taskmaster” have sprung up in various corners of the globe.

Initially, the first spin-off was in Belgium, and I had my doubts about its success, Horne admits. “We watched it in Flemish, not understanding a single word, but we found it hilarious throughout,” he says. “Suddenly, I thought, ‘This could work anywhere!’

Currently, there are several adaptations of a show called “Taskmaster” in progress across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Croatia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Portugal. Each adaptation features unique overseers and helpers, with tasks devised by local crews. To date, over 900 episodes of the international versions of “Taskmaster” have been produced abroad, which is more than thrice the number of episodes generated in the original home country.

Greg and I would jump at the chance of doing it in American again… but on our own terms

Horne clarifies that each variation exhibits unique tastes. For instance, the Portuguese edition is lengthier and carries a bolder tone, while the Finnish version is characterized by a somber and moody atmosphere. Notably, Taskmaster Sweden (or Best in Test), diverges significantly from its UK counterpart, gaining more prominence within Swedish borders than the latter does here.

According to Horne, Sweden has been quite unusual. He believes it takes place on Saturdays and resembles the format of ‘X Factor’. It’s surprising how massive it is there. The character I portray seems to have grasped it quickly and even generates tasks for the show himself. (Even though they always add their own twist to things.)

Indeed, Taskmaster Sweden has grown in popularity to the point where it can be watched in the UK, joining its New Zealand counterpart. You can find it streaming on Channel 4’s website. However, there’s a question as to whether it influences the main show. Does Alan ever cast an eye over the tasks created by his international peers, considering if they could be suitable for his own celebrities?

He asserts that they’ve never merely duplicated anything, instead, he explains that more than 90% of the tasks are his own creation, while the rest is contributed by team members or friends. However, they draw inspiration from shows like Taskmaster NZ. Rather than directly replicating them, their approach is to think, “They’ve done something similar, let’s do something different but inspired by it.” The Swedish versions, in particular, are commendable. Yet, they have a significantly distinct perspective on health and safety compared to us.

Not all spin-offs have been successful across different nations. The Spanish and Belgian adaptations each produced just one season, while attempting an American version faced numerous obstacles. For instance, Horne was cast as the assistant but a new lead, musician Reggie Watts, took on the role of the taskmaster. However, this adaptation also lasted only one series.

According to Horne, there were a few errors made along the way. Essentially, we followed the channel’s instructions to shorten the show by half, making it 22 minutes long. All the activities we performed were ones we had already completed before, as we aimed for safety and familiarity.

We had to make some adjustments that we’re not entirely happy with. Given the opportunity, Greg and I would eagerly repeat the experience in America, only this time under conditions that suit us.

Currently, Alex Horne might be preoccupied with a spin-off show that’s more locally focused due to the approaching finale of Taskmaster. Starting within a few weeks on Channel 4 is a new series titled Junior Taskmaster. Although there have been UK adaptations of this format in the past, such as the Champion of Champions where former winners compete, this junior version will introduce fresh faces: Rose Matafeo and Mike Wozniak stepping into the role of Taskmaster hosts.

Matafeo explains that he’s working to perfect a unique method of entertaining children, making it endearing, and reminiscing about it fondly as they grow older with a hint of joyful nostalgia. As a previous contestant, and now taking over from Greg Davies in the kids’ edition, Starstruck’s star is leading youngsters through their own quirky challenges, eventually reuniting in the studio.

Greg stands out as an impressive taskmaster among many, she reflects. He embodies the ideal, much like the first figure in Plato’s allegory. Essentially, we could say that he is the original model from which all other taskmasters are derived. Interestingly, I am one of only two female counterparts – the other is based in Sweden.

However, some might wonder if Taskmaster is suitable for children. The series actually originated when its creator, Horne, welcomed his first child (now 3 of them at 46 years old). While he was unable to attend the Edinburgh Festival that year due to his baby being a newborn, he came up with an idea: creating challenges or tasks for comedians since he had connections within this circle. He felt it would be enjoyable. In August 2009, he sent out emails to 20 comedians, and the following year, compiled their work for a late-night special show.

The idea for a junior version emerged when Horne found himself confined at home due to the pandemic again. He noticed that numerous families were engaging in activities together as a way to fill their time. Additionally, his previous experiences of introducing these tasks into schools had demonstrated the incredible creativity of young minds.

He mentions that for a long time, he’s been engaging activities with children, particularly on the set and off, spanning over numerous years. Soon after a couple of series, he began participating in activities at elementary schools. Then, we initiated an educational version of Taskmaster, collaborating with other young students from primary schools.

At present, approximately 800 schools have enrolled in Taskmaster Education, a program that integrates aspects of the popular show into teaching teamwork, problem-solving, and various curriculum-related skills. Starting from 2023, schools are also given the option to establish after-school Taskmaster Clubs, which might occasionally see visits from the renowned Horne for special events.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve had the joy of witnessing children immerse themselves in it, ingeniously tackling challenges, and it has been nothing short of uplifting – though I wouldn’t want to come off as overly virtuous. It’s uplifting, yet amusing at the same time.

Well, it simply felt intuitive to give it a shot, you might say. And I’m genuinely fond of Harry Hill on Junior Bake Off. To me, it represents an approach that respects children’s intelligence rather than just finding humor in their innocence. Instead, it showcases kids excelling at being kids.

On the junior version of the series, Mike Wozniak steps into the assistant role previously held by Horne. Notably, Wozniak was also a competitor in 2021. After spending several weeks filming alongside the children, he expresses that it could potentially surpass the original.

Greg casts a long shadow amongst taskmasters

According to Wozniak, their methodology towards various matters is remarkably unique and at times, even more creative than a typical adult stand-up comic would present. He further adds that the tasks are entirely fresh and haven’t been simplified or made less challenging in any sense.

I myself can’t guarantee that the approach with [JTM] will succeed, as these aren’t familiar faces – they’re unknown children to me. We’re putting faith in them being captivating enough, which is quite a burden for their young age. However, we shall soon discover the outcome.

Given the widespread appeal of the program across all age groups, especially among younger viewers, which has resulted in a family-friendly, edited version airing during Sundays’ teatime and online, there’s good reason to anticipate the success of the upcoming spin-off. Interestingly, it appears that Horne’s children are the only ones not fond of the show.

As a parent of three, it’s quite exasperating; they refuse to watch it since I’m part of it myself.” Horn chuckles. “It’s one of the rare shows that we’d enjoy watching collectively.

This fall, London has introduced the live version of “Taskmaster,” allowing people to participate by completing tasks similar to those on the show, all while being encouraged by recorded messages from Alex Horne and Greg Davies. Horne expresses that it’s a bit intimidating stepping into a new environment but feels like going back to our roots – producing shows at the Edinburgh Festival.

Apart from the virtual reality game, you can create a similar experience at home with books, board games, Christmas crackers, and an array of merchandise, all selling in massive quantities globally. However, as per Horne’s statement, it seems unlikely that there will be any new TV spin-offs for the time being.

He muses, “We’ve tried out a trial run for ‘Foodmaster’. We’ve discussed ideas like ‘Dogmaster’ and ‘Carmaster’, among others. However, I believe we’re content with our progress at the moment. There’s always a risk of watering down the product. For now, I think ‘junior’ and ‘senior’ are the ones we have.

However, it appears quite overwhelming to manage. One might wonder if Horne, the man at the helm, frets about potentially losing grip over it?

He concedes that it’s a persistent concern of his. “Right now, I’m juggling everything mentally,” he says. “From the holiday cracker tasks to the jokes – every bit of it is in my mind.

At the moment, we’re not operating at our maximum potential. If we reach that point, we likely won’t be able to perform that action. However, it’s important to note that we only take on tasks that are beneficial. As of now, I don’t feel like we’ve lost control.

2024-10-21 18:06

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