Alex Horne is never tired of working on Taskmaster.
The BAFTA-winning show Taskmaster returns to Channel 4 with a brand-new season, airing this Thursday at 9pm! Known for its line-up of comics and absurd tasks, the show continues to draw in viewers each season. You can catch all previous episodes now on the streaming platform. Viewers outside the UK can still watch it using a VPN. Check out our complete guide to the best VPNs for Channel 4 now!
Alex Horne, the 46-year-old comedian who created Taskmaster, is still excited about the show, now in its 19th series. He admits he never finds it tiresome, despite the comedians constantly performing wacky challenges. Alex shared with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett on the Dish from Waitrose podcast:
Advertisement I think we’re filming series twenty-one at the moment, which is quite a long time – so it’s 10 years. And there’s not an ounce of me that’s bored of it. I really enjoy it.
So, when the new person walks in for the first time, it’s such an exciting thing. Cause everyone’s different.
We’ve had, you know, 120 comics or whatever. I want people on that I’m excited about how they’re gonna (do). Because sometimes I have an idea what they’re gonna do, but when somebody does something that surprises me, I’m just so excited.
Read More: Taskmaster’s Alex Horne Casts Doubt on Greg Davies’ Future on Channel 4 Show
Alex came up with the idea for Taskmaster while performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010 and knew that fellow comedian Greg Davies was his “only choice” to play the Taskmaster role — judging contestants and awarding points based on their performances.
Well, personality-wise, it was clear I couldn’t host a TV show. I was always gonna not be the host, but always be the assistant, who sort of wields the power really. Unseen.
The funnyman explained
And Greg was the only choice. So, I knew Greg before from the standup world. He was just, I mean, I can’t imagine anyone else doing that.
Alex often finds himself humiliated by the comics on Taskmaster, but he’s willing to sacrifice his dignity for the sake of great TV. He explained: “They know that I’m the one who comes up with the tasks – to put them in these positions.
So, when Rhod Gilbert, for example, says, ‘I want you to take your trousers off and put a candle…’. Between… you know. And it goes through my head thinking, ‘Oh, no, Anne’s gonna watch this,’ my mother-in-law. But also it’s good TV. So, you weigh it up and go… All the dignity went pretty early. Liza Tarbuck made me sit in a cake with no trousers or pants on – once you’ve done that, you’ll kind of do anything. It changes everything.
‘Dish from Waitrose‘ is available on all podcast providers.