For over a decade, Taskmaster has turned absurd challenges into comedy gold, and hosts Greg Davies and Alex Horne still find themselves surprised by what unfolds. Season 22 brings a fresh batch of comedians—Matt Lucas, Nina Conti, Isy Suttie, Richard Ayoade, and Chloe Petts—who tackle tasks like making a face appear on toast, assembling a bed, and attempting to "gleek" on command. In a recent interview, Davies and Horne opened up about their casting philosophy, the evolving nature of the tasks, and why failure often steals the show.
The Secret to a Perfect Lineup
Davies and Horne have honed their casting process over 22 seasons, aiming for a mix of competitiveness and comedic instinct. Davies admits he prefers contestants who "enter into the spirit of it in a full-throated manner" but aren't devastated by losing a task. He clarifies that his on-screen persona as the "Taskmaster" is partly an act—he doesn't actually enjoy confrontation. Horne echoes this, noting that the best contestants balance genuine effort with natural humor. "If you only try to be funny or only try to win, you're not going to make any friends," he says.
The duo acknowledges that while they put thought into assembling the five, there's always an element of luck. Horne mentions they look for personalities that "juxtapose nicely," like pairing the reluctant Richard Ayoade with someone more high-energy. Davies adds that contestants consistently "confound expectations," revealing sides of themselves that even they didn't know existed.
Dream Contestants and Behind-the-Scenes Chaos
When asked about fictional dream contestants, Davies gleefully names Seinfeld's George Costanza, imagining pushing him to his breaking point. Horne, ever the wildcard, picks Bamm-Bamm from The Flintstones and Hercule Poirot. Davies also suggests Rodney Trotter from Only Fools and Horses, predicting he'd spectacularly fail every task.
Behind the scenes, the team films "three or four tasks more than we need to" to ensure the best material makes the cut—sometimes frustrating contestants whose favorite tasks get cut. Season 22, however, was relatively tame. "There was lots of fun, but no anarchy," Davies says. Horne notes that Ayoade would simply "get on his bicycle and cycle home" after each show, adding, "That's how rock and roll he is."
Why Contestants Still Miss the Obvious
As Taskmaster has grown, contestants have become savvier at spotting loopholes, forcing Horne to rethink his task designs. Davies enjoys watching Horne anticipate potential exploits, often adding increasingly specific restrictions to the task envelopes. Yet Horne remains amazed at how little preparation contestants do. "They could do so much, but they still don't look under the table, turn over the task, or bring a pen knife," he jokes, concluding that "comedians are lazy."
This unpredictability is part of the show's charm. Davies and Horne agree that failure often produces the funniest moments, as carefully planned approaches unravel in spectacular fashion. It's a formula that has kept audiences hooked for years.
Looking Ahead
With Taskmaster gaining a growing North American audience, Davies and Horne have no plans to change the format. They also teased the possibility of appearing on Saturday Night Live UK, a potential crossover that has fans buzzing. For now, they're focused on delivering more chaotic, laugh-out-loud moments—and proving that even after 22 seasons, the show's magic remains intact.
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