Taskmaster season 21 A-list star explains why he signed up – and the former contestant who made it happen

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The popular show Taskmaster is coming back later this year with a new group of contestants, including a competitor from the United States.

Kumail Nanjiani, known for his roles in Silicon Valley and Eternals, is a highlight of a strong lineup for season 21, joining comedians Amy Gledhill, Armando Iannucci, Joanna Page, and Joel Dommett.

Taskmaster fans are really excited about Mo Amer joining the show, and people have been wondering how the Oscar-nominated actor ended up as a contestant on the Channel 4 comedy series.

And he has now revealed that he has one former cast member to thank for helping him land the gig…

I read in Vulture that it was actually Tim Key – you know, the contestant from season one and now a consultant on the show – who got things started. Apparently, he and Kumail Nanjiani connected, and that’s how it all began.

Nanjiani remembered inviting James Acaster, who had also been on Taskmaster, to a party. Acaster brought Key along as his guest.

I have to admit, hearing Kumail Nanjiani talk about ‘Taskmaster’ was a delight. He confessed he first stumbled upon it in 2018 thanks to James Acaster’s hilarious season, and from that moment, he was desperate to be a contestant himself. It’s always fun to hear how much these comedians love the show!

From that, it was a quick text from Key to Alex Horne and the rest is history!

Watch the full clip below:

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Kumail Nanjiani said he and his wife, Emily V. Gordon, have been fans of the show for years, recalling they likely started watching around season 7. He also mentioned he’s wanted to be involved with the show for quite a while.

He described filming as a wonderful experience. He had a lot of fun and really connected with the cast and crew, saying they all genuinely became close and enjoyed working together.

Find out more about the Taskmaster season 21 line-up in the video below:

Nanjiani isn’t the first American celebrity to be on Taskmaster. Jason Mantzoukas, a big fan of the show himself, was a memorable contestant on season 19.

Last year, Mantzoukas told Collider he was a big fan of the show, saying he didn’t just enjoy it – he really wanted to be a part of it. He felt a strong connection and expressed a desire to actually work on the show itself.

I’m fortunate to have a network of people who can help me get things done. I asked my manager to reach out to the producers, and I was thrilled when they were not only willing to talk but also immediately excited about the possibility of me joining the project. It was a really amazing moment.

The twenty-first season of Taskmaster is coming later this year. You can watch it on Channel 4 in the UK, and on Taskmaster’s official YouTube channel everywhere else in the world.

I just added Taskmaster to my watchlist on the TopMob app – it’s great for getting daily TV recommendations! You can download it now to find out what to watch and get all sorts of features too.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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2026-01-07 22:04