It was announced today that multi-award winning broadcaster UKTV has ordered a fourth and fifth series of hit show Taskmaster from Avalon Television for its entertainment channel Dave. BAFTA-nominated Greg Davies will once again assume the role of the Taskmaster with show creator and 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Alex Horne returning as his assistant. With each series increasing from five to eight episodes, the two series recommission (16 x 60″) comes after Taskmaster was nominated for Best Entertainment Programme at the 2016 Broadcast Awards. The series was 2015’s most watched commission on UKTV Play.
In each series the Taskmaster and his loyal assistant will judge five new unwitting comedians as they compete against each other with creativity, cunning and genius in a series of stupefying tasks. Series one was won by Josh Widdicombe, Katherine Ryan took home the series two crown, but with series three, starring Al Murray, Dave Gorman, Sara Pascoe, Paul Chowdhry and Rob Beckett, beginning on Tuesday, Katherine’s reign as Taskmaster champion will be short-lived.
Alex Horne, executive producer and creator of Taskmaster, and the Taskmaster’s assistant said, “As the Taskmaster’s personal secretary and trainer I have been instructed to state that we’re both satisfied that a total of ten apparently intelligent comedians will be doing more stupid things stupidly for Mr Davies. The Taskmaster has even bought me a caravan so this time I will be constantly on site to watch the desperate attempts and report back, before he ignores me and judges them.”
Hilary Rosen, deputy director of commissioning at UKTV, added:
“Greg and Alex are growing into an irresistible double act and it’s a joy to watch the tasks unfold on each of the series. I’m thrilled to commission not just one, but two new series for the channel and look forward to getting our next contestants lined up.”
Jon Thoday, joint managing director of Avalon Television, said:
“We look forward to working with Dave on series four and five of Taskmaster – the channel is a brilliant home for entertainment shows and we really appreciate their continued support.”
Steve North, Dave general manager, added:
“Taskmaster just keeps getting bigger and better, I look forward to seeing what fresh hell Greg and Alex bring to the new unsuspecting contestants. It’s fantastic that we have built a show on Dave which has generated such a brilliant fan base and viewers are genuinely excited to see what tasks Alex Horne’s genius mind comes up with every episode.”
An Avalon Television production, series four and five of Taskmaster is commissioned by Hilary Rosen, deputy director of commissioning at UKTV and ordered by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning and Dave general manager, Steve North. Executive producers for the series are Alex Horne, Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, James Taylor, Jon Thoday, and Andy Devonshire (The Apprentice and The Great British Bake Off), who also acts as series director, and Hilary Rosen for UKTV. Andy Cartwright is series producer.
UKTV
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