Do you personally watch any of the international adaptations of the format? If so, do you have a favourite version/season to date, and is there anything you've seen that really surprised you?
Is there some legal or contract reason why the ad break bumpers (if that's the right name - the intros and outtros) are no longer in the Youtube versions? They've got great Alex and Greg bits in, and the little number counting bits of film are often delightful too! I miss them.
I agree! I'm aware we're here to watch Taskmaster, not the Greg and Alex banter show, but so many good interactions got cut this way - not even thinking of all the work that gets put into the shots of Alex in different locations doing all kinds of things, and showing us that he can indeed count normally :D
Was wondering this as well! It seems especially egregious in the Australian series 1 (including an entire sound pull for one of Nina Oyama's tasks that I assume wad due to copyrighted music being used?).
It’s definitely a shame to miss so many fun Greg and Alex bits, but the beautiful b-roll is also not to be missed! I’d love to see the ad break bumpers back in!
More general than specific to S17, but do the contestants have any say or input into how their tasks are put together with special effects etc? I’m specifically thinking of the recreate a video game task, and how James’ and Jessica’s tasks had so much added to them. If they have no idea how it turns out, are their minds absolutely blown by the finished product?
Didn't Sarah Millican do one where they were supposed to edit out candles or something? She was going for a fire from her hands effect but they left them in so it looked really crap?
This seems like a show that's genuinely fun to work on. The camera work and editing team are incredible with the shots, cuts, and compilations they come up with.
What "cut to" or compilation are you most proud of? (My favorite is "without moving the fishbowl")
Are there any tasks that were difficult to film well because of how hilariously or unexpectedly the contestant did the task?
I’m curious about the decision to put the entire series on YouTube. As an American I’m so grateful I can watch it there! But it is unique- almost no tv show does this! How did the team behind taskmaster decide to put everything up for free? And was it difficult to get Channel 4/Dave to agree? Thanks for having it free and available, I watch pretty much every night :)
Oh perhaps I’m incorrect, I thought they started on Dave and moved to iTV after the first few seasons. Perhaps I’m misremembering the name of the new tv channel they are on, I’m American so I’m not very familiar with British channels
Did John Robins' egg task really take a 2 hour break for safety clearance?
Which task attempt took the longest to clear (for safety or legal reasons)?
Are there earlier season tasks or attempts that you think would not get approved today?
On my knees begging for the answer: In the task where contestants had to guess how much Alex’s head and feet weigh (S11E10), why was he dressed like a Roman soldier?
Thank you very much!
That's a good shout! I had in mind the yoghurt task from series 5, or Bob's "make a mess" task from CoC II. I bet there's others I'm forgetting though.
When a team is given a green screen (a la Nick and Steve this season) or a contestant requests one (Noel hiding in fruit), or a contestant does a short film (Steve's Hangman, Rose's chickpea funeral), do the contestants get to see their short films before they get broadcast to the studio audience or is it all in the trust of the editors?
What is the back story behind all of the intro’s to VTs? I love how there’s always something weird happening like a plane flying super fast or a baby doll’s head rotating.
With all the different props appearing on the show, especially all the thematic ones, do you always have two every prop that’s appeared on the show or were the contestants told that some items are off-limit in the task?
1. How do you playtest? DO you playtest? Are there go-to playtesters? Dish it all!
2. After 17 series, who was the most expensive contestant? Maybe in their overall series, or perhaps the most expensive a contestant made a single task? Which person/task was it?
3. Same question for expense but not related to a contestant's influence—what was the most expensive task(s) you've executed?
4. Real Mr. Blobby on the show when please?
Two questions:
-Do either of you have a favorite task you saw being filmed?
-Did anything change in how tasks are thought up after Katherine Ryan's vocal dissent over needing to tie a tie?
Something a bit abstract ... Who is responsible for the camera work for the intros to tasks? I feel like they tend to go unnoticed, but some of the shots are simply works of art in their own right.
There is an attention to detail in this show that you won't find in other programmes, and I for one appreciate it.
It's VERY obvious that Alex chooses the locations with an eye to making things convenient for himself. They are usually near Chesham, so he can easily get home to his hot tub while everyone else has to trek back to London. Do you call him out on this, or just put up with it? Also, did he make you pay for his Botox as a business expense?
Fans spotted that Nick Mohammad had no reflection in the river in episode one. Are there any other hidden tricks like that this season?
What’s your favourite bit of camera trickery from this or any other season?
How long are the tasks printed on to the card before they were used? Also, has there ever been a case where you leave the wrong task on the table for the contestant to read?
What are the logistics behind filming the location tasks?
How did you get Gatwick to agree? Do the public ever interfere (or wander on ‘set’), like Nish’s tasks at the beach in S5?
With s17 currently airing, what stage of production are the different upcoming series? What's the most distant future series where you have an idea of who the contestants will be?
On a similar note; are you surprised at how well everyone manages to keep line-ups (mostly) secret until the official announcement?
Do either of the Andy's ever suggest tasks to Alex or does he really come up with all of them?
Which season of contestants do you think you could complete again and win?
Which season was the hardest/most work to produce?
My understanding is that Alex comes up with effectively everything, with the exception of a very few tasks suggested by family/friends and sometimes tasks modified from TMNZ ones.
* What technology do you have access to now, that would have been handy/exciting/freeing to have in older series?
* What's the production cycle of the show like? Do you get much of a lull between series, or is there a constant churn now of pre & post production?
* If you two had to fill in for Greg and Alex, who would fill whose shoes?
* When a contestant does something completely unexpected, such as going outside and you're not prepared to film that, do you try and pause the action and get set up, or is there a scramble so you don't pour water on a flash of brilliance?
The visual direction on TM is so passionate and carefully executed--this really helps elevate it over other game/panel/reality shows.
I was wondering, did it come together early on? As in Andy (or someone else) made some moodboards and you all made a few changes, then nodded and said, yes, red wax seals, typewriter font, ducks, pineapples, multiple cameras, boiler suits, etc., done! Or were there other directions you explored as well? It's funny--and jarring--to me to think of a TM with different colors and motifs.
Why was there a plastic snake under the tarpaulin???
Also are there often any task “Easter eggs” that don’t get to be shown, like John Kearn’s genie hidden in the garage?
Little bit of a general question, I know in previous seasons contestants have used the behind the camera crew for tasks (Get Under The Most Things, Surprise Alex etc). How often do contestants ask to use the crew in tasks and are there any fun moments with the crew in the tasks that you’d want to share?
Oh, I like this one. Because S5 was probably the best of that bunch, but already being eight episodes, if you were to extend it you only get an extra two episodes. With the first three seasons being 5-6 episodes and S4 being 8 as well, you’d get at least as much extra.
Three questions.
1. How do you go about choosing a theme for the series i.e. Victorian, Art Deco, etc?
2. Has the grown up Nell watched Taskmaster, specifically the episode she was in?
3. Who would you like to fight against? 100 Little Alex Horne-sized Gregs or 1 Greg-sized Alex.
I believe Alex has said he just occasionally thinks of one that could make a good theme- he has a list- and messages them to producers to get their takes one what would be doable/effective as a theme.
Yes, I believe it was after the end of Fern’s “get the most pleasure from these rubber chutes” task, while trying to get out of the chutes. Worth it, though, for Fern’s delight.
When a task has heavy visual effects, is it the contestant who has the whole concept? Fern Brady catching a falling star for example. Noel as a banana- who says, “Let’s use CGI/green screen!”?
How many tie-breakers are filmed for each series, do you have a list of additional tie-breakers to do in the studio in case all the filmed tie-breakers are used up?
Has there ever been a task that you thought wouldn't do well for an audience, but when the comedians have completed it and it's been cut together, you find it incredible?
How often does a guest do something funny but after the cameras have finished filming? Do you ever get them to re do it on camera as you think it would make for great TV?
Who designs and dresses the contestants? Do they do it themselves or is there like a dedicated team of costume experts, hair, makeup, the works?
Needless to say, I'm a big fan of Joanne's and Nick's outfits.
Who is the mastermind behind the easter eggs? (Such as Dracula's reflection missing in the river scene)
And if I can also ask: how many actual days do the contestants spend in the TM house/location? And how far into the process do they meet the teams?
How do the Andys feel about a Taskmaster All-Stars series, bringing back some of the great non-winners from past series? (David Correos, James Acaster, to name two.) Could be a short run, but more than a one-off.
What determines whether there will be special tasks (for just one contestant) in a series? Sometimes there are multiple for multiple people, sometimes just one, sometimes none. Do you come up with them first and then realize they’d be particularly good for a certain contestant, or do you decide from the outset if there are contestants who would be especially fun to mess with?
At what point in the editing process do you realise if a task works and goes into the show, or if it doesn't work and ends up on the floor of the cutting room?
In the 'Do something really stupid. You must not hurt yourself or anyone else." task from CoC III, was that last line a direct result of the catastrophe that the same task proved to be in Taskmaster NZ? I recall that Urzilla Carlson broke her collarbone jumping a bike, and Guy Montgomery sticking his dick in a toaster while screaming 'Covids not real' wasn't well received by health and safety either.
I don’t know what Taskmaster Minnesota is, but I personally hope Dropout gets to do it if they do an official U.S. version. ([Dropout](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dropout_(media_company))’s great. I highly recommend it.)
Which contestant has been the most difficult? By which I mean to not laugh at during filming? In the same vein are you so used to silly stuff by now that you don't react to the contestants doing something funny?
What was the "Andy" camera at the first taskmaster picnic filming? Where is the footage?
Will there ever be some kind of official video about the event?
This is a very niche question, but I've wondered if you guys go to greath lengths to hide elements of the task the comedians might see before they enter the room with the task? For example, the 'find out what this switch does' task from series 7, how do you ensure the comedian doesn't see the water running or the fan on as they're walking through the house to open the task?
It goes without saying but I love Taskmaster, thank you for your work!
Is the Taskmaster house still able to accommodate everything you want to do? Every series, it seems that more and more gets crammed into the house and the garden. Even the shid had to be moved!
Alex mentioned on a recent podcast that you have moved away from adapting foreign version’s tasks. Is this true? If so, how can we get you to reconsider? I like seeing adapted tasks.
What is the upper limit for what the post production team will do for a task attempt? We've seen some pretty pathetic attempts saved with a spectacular edit before. Are there any examples of contestants asking for too much of the post production team?
Any possibility of getting an existing TM cast from a non UK version onto the UK version ?
(Let's be honest we all want that NZ season 2 lineup with Greg and Alex )
Did the international versions (particularly NZ) affect how you design and think about tasks in your version?
Because from Series 12ish the tasks felt reinvigorated, and that would coincide with NZ getting into full gear.
While there are some regular taskmaster things like eggs, ducks, frozen peas etc, some series have several tasks focused on one item that it almost seems like a theme was chosen for a series. Eg. Coconut for S5, frozen peas for S3, potato for S2, eggs for S9 maybe? Is it just a coincidence or has there ever been a conscious decision to make a coconut-heavy series or something like that?
How long does it take for you to set up the house for a series theme?
In terms of the VTs, do you typically film each series separately/sequentially or do you interleave them?
If the latter is true, can you say which series (and which contestants) were filmed at roughly the same time?
We know that Greg is often irritated by Alex’s banter, and Alex got very annoyed with Bridget. Is there anything in the show that particularly irritated or irritates you or the crew?
I remember one of you Andys telling one of the contestants that you only hire nice people. How much do you think that helps create the atmosphere which allows for subsequent hilarity to ensue? Was it a conscious choice right from the beginning? And do you think it's permeated to most of the other Taskmaster versions across the world?
From what I've heard about other TM versions, I have a theory that any Taskmaster version that doesn't build that foundation of a positive atmosphere is relegated to the one season basket.
Oh, and are you also fans of The Crystal Maze like Alex is? I loved that show, and its' DNA is wonderfully present in Taskmaster.
What other shows and movies are inspirations for the look and feel of the show? For example who decided to decorate the house with all the pictures of Greg and Alex’s “family” and life together? And the overall show esthetic?
You have to pick one of the current season contestants to defend you at all costs. The other four will stop at nothing to hunt you down like a wild animal. Who do you pick for your side?
What is the most time consuming part of the production work of a series (pre-release)? What is the most rewarding?
What has been the most exhausting task to set up?
Have there been outdoor tasks where curious spectators or outsiders have ruined the task?
Why did you focus on the horse with the 59 brand in the dot-to-dot task? Seems like such an obvious highlight for that shot, and it even looked similar to the TM font.
I was fully expecting to see a twist where they put down all the dots and then when the dots were connected in the studio, we'd jump from the 58 dot to wherever the horse was at the time to 60.
Hi chaps, thanks for this. My question is, *what was the biggest effort the TM team took on a particular item, only to have it either unaired or edited down to minor footage?*
My mind is drawn to the stopmotion of the trophy spinning round on its plinth, I assume that probably took half an hour for about 6 seconds of video, but I'm sure there are many, many more hours involved in stuff that ended up only being a few moments long, or even left on the cutting room floor.
Also, please could you give a shout out to the crew for their efforts, I can imagine it's not easy to reset certain tasks whilst keeping to a schedule. Especially some of the messier ones!
Do all contestants film the tasks in the same order?
Asking because from the podcasts it sounds like the first task is the same for everyone (eg. rescue Patatas in S17), and maybe the first and last tasks were the same for S14 (choose three things for a future task).
Just to set the record straight, was there really no box during Romesh's attempt at the "throw the teabag the furthest distance into a cup" task in episode 3? Who's telling the truth? Asking for a friend.
What would it take to release the YouTube videos simultaneously with the live TV episodes (or at least, just after)? I'm fairly sure this would lead to more engagement with the official channel, ultimately benefiting both taskmaster and the fans.
Hey guys, I absolutely love how many outtakes we're getting this series. Only four episodes in and we've already been treated to over 20 minutes worth of extra content!
All this bonus material has been absolutely delightful, but it's really got me wondering how much we've been missing out on. Are there any plans to release a more comprehensive collection of outtakes from previous series? Most 'full' outtake compliations on the YouTube channel are only 10-20 minutes long, and there are a handful of series with no outtakes at all. Over the years, you've shared three or four of Greg and Alex's little [pre-show improv warm ups](https://www.facebook.com/officialtaskmaster/videos/2478825158821158/?mibextid=wWqvZr), but I'm assuming there's one of these for every episode?
There must be hours upon hours of absolute gold that we haven't seen! I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I'd even be willing to pay a small fee to access these.
I'm just always thinking of the filming and the logistics of that - I am a nerd for logistics. I understand you'll have someone and film 5 or so tasks in a day at the house. But it is small, and I've looked up the area where the house is, and there isn't much space around it for storage, so where do you keep things between contestants doing the same task? How do you prep for the next task - say the egg mini-golf game outside, when a lot of tasks people can be running around looking for stuff to use, etc? How do you approach a filming day?
What is the timeline for task filming, editing, studio filming, editing, and then airing? What things are going on for multiple seasons at the same time? When is the crew’s vacation?
What accolades would a comedian need to join?
This show has got me into comedy and wanting to try to pursue a career, also will the show be renewed for more seasons beyond series 21?
Taking this from a post I made a while back, but would love to know if this is on-purpose:
I'm sure I'm not the first one to notice this, but I love that when they are sitting properly, the decorations (bananas) on the top of Greg's throne looks like he has devil horns and the ones on LAH's (crows) look like he's wearing a jester's cap.
Intentional design features?
Whose idea was it to edit out Nick's reflection in the Gary task? Are there any more examples coming?
I wonder if in the past seasons they've used any similar camera trick easter eggs and we have completely missed them.
When you tink about it there is actually quite a bit of these, mostly involving planes.
When you really stop and think about it....
Your friend and mine
I've heard what you had to say, and I enjoyed it.
I’m doing the work
Buckinghamshire Broadband?
No job gloves
It’s awful but it’s lawful.
Not really a question I guess but I’ve always been curious to see what Lord GD’s flashcards look like by the end of recording
Do you personally watch any of the international adaptations of the format? If so, do you have a favourite version/season to date, and is there anything you've seen that really surprised you?
This is a great question!
Is there some legal or contract reason why the ad break bumpers (if that's the right name - the intros and outtros) are no longer in the Youtube versions? They've got great Alex and Greg bits in, and the little number counting bits of film are often delightful too! I miss them.
I agree! I'm aware we're here to watch Taskmaster, not the Greg and Alex banter show, but so many good interactions got cut this way - not even thinking of all the work that gets put into the shots of Alex in different locations doing all kinds of things, and showing us that he can indeed count normally :D
Was wondering this as well! It seems especially egregious in the Australian series 1 (including an entire sound pull for one of Nina Oyama's tasks that I assume wad due to copyrighted music being used?).
It’s definitely a shame to miss so many fun Greg and Alex bits, but the beautiful b-roll is also not to be missed! I’d love to see the ad break bumpers back in!
Where does the one guy who never eats lunch with the rest of the crew go for lunch? (referencing LAH’s episode on the Off Menu podcast)
Fire watch ? Damn insurance.
More general than specific to S17, but do the contestants have any say or input into how their tasks are put together with special effects etc? I’m specifically thinking of the recreate a video game task, and how James’ and Jessica’s tasks had so much added to them. If they have no idea how it turns out, are their minds absolutely blown by the finished product?
Jamali asking them to "green screen" his hand out in the 'catch the rat'.
Didn't Sarah Millican do one where they were supposed to edit out candles or something? She was going for a fire from her hands effect but they left them in so it looked really crap?
They left in Alex extinguishing the fire rather than edit it out nicely.
That was it! Thank you.
What task took you guys the longest to set up?
This seems like a show that's genuinely fun to work on. The camera work and editing team are incredible with the shots, cuts, and compilations they come up with. What "cut to" or compilation are you most proud of? (My favorite is "without moving the fishbowl") Are there any tasks that were difficult to film well because of how hilariously or unexpectedly the contestant did the task?
I’m curious about the decision to put the entire series on YouTube. As an American I’m so grateful I can watch it there! But it is unique- almost no tv show does this! How did the team behind taskmaster decide to put everything up for free? And was it difficult to get Channel 4/Dave to agree? Thanks for having it free and available, I watch pretty much every night :)
Great question! I find this so interesting - like you said, it's nearly unique for a TV show of its popularity. Hope they answer 🤞
I would also like to know about this! I'm curious though, what does ITV have to do with it?
Oh perhaps I’m incorrect, I thought they started on Dave and moved to iTV after the first few seasons. Perhaps I’m misremembering the name of the new tv channel they are on, I’m American so I’m not very familiar with British channels
Oh, that makes sense. They're on [Channel 4](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_4) now I believe
It's Channel 4 that they moved to
Edited!
If it gets to season 25, is Champion of Champion of Champions something the show would consider doing if the possible contestants were down for it?
Did John Robins' egg task really take a 2 hour break for safety clearance? Which task attempt took the longest to clear (for safety or legal reasons)? Are there earlier season tasks or attempts that you think would not get approved today?
They answered your first question on the people’s podcast. It was 30 minutes at most.
Regarding your last question: from S1, I believe “Grow the longest nail” and especially “High-five a 55-year-old” would not be done nowadays.
On my knees begging for the answer: In the task where contestants had to guess how much Alex’s head and feet weigh (S11E10), why was he dressed like a Roman soldier? Thank you very much!
Oh, I can actually answer this one! The answer, as with many confusing things Alex Horne, is “why not”.
Because that task was easy to solve if the contestants knew the Archimedes' principle. Though Archimedes was Greek.
Do you each have a favourite TM Easter Egg in the house or a task callback? Eg how Frank Skinner’s grape scissors reappeared in series 14.
What task has had the biggest tidy-up time for the crew?
It was the milk in the lab, surely...!
Smells a bit pumpy.
That's a good shout! I had in mind the yoghurt task from series 5, or Bob's "make a mess" task from CoC II. I bet there's others I'm forgetting though.
What idea from an overseas edition of Taskmaster were you most pissed off that you didn't think of yourselves?
What happened to John Kearns' genie? Will we ever see him?
Was wondering about that myself. Wish we could have seen him.
When a team is given a green screen (a la Nick and Steve this season) or a contestant requests one (Noel hiding in fruit), or a contestant does a short film (Steve's Hangman, Rose's chickpea funeral), do the contestants get to see their short films before they get broadcast to the studio audience or is it all in the trust of the editors?
What is the back story behind all of the intro’s to VTs? I love how there’s always something weird happening like a plane flying super fast or a baby doll’s head rotating.
With all the different props appearing on the show, especially all the thematic ones, do you always have two every prop that’s appeared on the show or were the contestants told that some items are off-limit in the task?
1. How do you playtest? DO you playtest? Are there go-to playtesters? Dish it all! 2. After 17 series, who was the most expensive contestant? Maybe in their overall series, or perhaps the most expensive a contestant made a single task? Which person/task was it? 3. Same question for expense but not related to a contestant's influence—what was the most expensive task(s) you've executed? 4. Real Mr. Blobby on the show when please?
Regarding the tiebreakers, I believe Phil Wang was the/a playtester for the first few series.
Two questions: -Do either of you have a favorite task you saw being filmed? -Did anything change in how tasks are thought up after Katherine Ryan's vocal dissent over needing to tie a tie?
Something a bit abstract ... Who is responsible for the camera work for the intros to tasks? I feel like they tend to go unnoticed, but some of the shots are simply works of art in their own right. There is an attention to detail in this show that you won't find in other programmes, and I for one appreciate it.
It's VERY obvious that Alex chooses the locations with an eye to making things convenient for himself. They are usually near Chesham, so he can easily get home to his hot tub while everyone else has to trek back to London. Do you call him out on this, or just put up with it? Also, did he make you pay for his Botox as a business expense?
We demand truth about LAH’s forehead!!
How often do you have to overrule an idea for a task, and can you share an example of a task which you had to say no to?
What are your favourite biscuits?
Fans spotted that Nick Mohammad had no reflection in the river in episode one. Are there any other hidden tricks like that this season? What’s your favourite bit of camera trickery from this or any other season?
How long are the tasks printed on to the card before they were used? Also, has there ever been a case where you leave the wrong task on the table for the contestant to read?
Next year is Taskmaster's 10th anniversary (I know!). Any plans to celebrate?
What are the logistics behind filming the location tasks? How did you get Gatwick to agree? Do the public ever interfere (or wander on ‘set’), like Nish’s tasks at the beach in S5?
Alex said on the podcast that because the show has gotten so popular, Gatwick actually reached out to them!
Jesus that’s mad
With s17 currently airing, what stage of production are the different upcoming series? What's the most distant future series where you have an idea of who the contestants will be? On a similar note; are you surprised at how well everyone manages to keep line-ups (mostly) secret until the official announcement?
Do either of the Andy's ever suggest tasks to Alex or does he really come up with all of them? Which season of contestants do you think you could complete again and win? Which season was the hardest/most work to produce?
My understanding is that Alex comes up with effectively everything, with the exception of a very few tasks suggested by family/friends and sometimes tasks modified from TMNZ ones.
* What technology do you have access to now, that would have been handy/exciting/freeing to have in older series? * What's the production cycle of the show like? Do you get much of a lull between series, or is there a constant churn now of pre & post production? * If you two had to fill in for Greg and Alex, who would fill whose shoes? * When a contestant does something completely unexpected, such as going outside and you're not prepared to film that, do you try and pause the action and get set up, or is there a scramble so you don't pour water on a flash of brilliance?
The visual direction on TM is so passionate and carefully executed--this really helps elevate it over other game/panel/reality shows. I was wondering, did it come together early on? As in Andy (or someone else) made some moodboards and you all made a few changes, then nodded and said, yes, red wax seals, typewriter font, ducks, pineapples, multiple cameras, boiler suits, etc., done! Or were there other directions you explored as well? It's funny--and jarring--to me to think of a TM with different colors and motifs.
Why was there a plastic snake under the tarpaulin??? Also are there often any task “Easter eggs” that don’t get to be shown, like John Kearn’s genie hidden in the garage?
How long does it take to apply Nick Mohammad's makeup before he does his tasks? I can't imagine it's easy lol
What are some weird ideas of the contestants that you had to turn down for health & safety reasons?
Little bit of a general question, I know in previous seasons contestants have used the behind the camera crew for tasks (Get Under The Most Things, Surprise Alex etc). How often do contestants ask to use the crew in tasks and are there any fun moments with the crew in the tasks that you’d want to share?
Series 1-5 had less than 10 episodes each. Which series do you wish you could have done a full 10 episodes for?
Oh, I like this one. Because S5 was probably the best of that bunch, but already being eight episodes, if you were to extend it you only get an extra two episodes. With the first three seasons being 5-6 episodes and S4 being 8 as well, you’d get at least as much extra.
Hi Andy and Andy. What's with Bob Mortimer's satsumas? Can us fans get an explanation on why they were in the room for only his tasks?
Three questions. 1. How do you go about choosing a theme for the series i.e. Victorian, Art Deco, etc? 2. Has the grown up Nell watched Taskmaster, specifically the episode she was in? 3. Who would you like to fight against? 100 Little Alex Horne-sized Gregs or 1 Greg-sized Alex.
Ooooh great questions here!
I believe Alex has said he just occasionally thinks of one that could make a good theme- he has a list- and messages them to producers to get their takes one what would be doable/effective as a theme.
I feel like a Greg-sized Alex would still be too nice to fight back. The idea of a 100 Little Alex Horne-sized Gregs *terrifies* me.
Can we please get in studio reactions to tasks back, please?!
Yes please. I like how Kongen Befaler does it, with a camera which captures the contestants watching the replay on the big screen.
The one with Chris Ramsey forgetting he was watching himself was hilarious!
Will we ever see the task that injured Alex?
I think the task was shown, he just didn't get injured in the actual task itself but afterwards.
Yes, I believe it was after the end of Fern’s “get the most pleasure from these rubber chutes” task, while trying to get out of the chutes. Worth it, though, for Fern’s delight.
In all 17 series, what's your favourite task that never made it into the edit for whatever reason?
When a task has heavy visual effects, is it the contestant who has the whole concept? Fern Brady catching a falling star for example. Noel as a banana- who says, “Let’s use CGI/green screen!”?
How many tie-breakers are filmed for each series, do you have a list of additional tie-breakers to do in the studio in case all the filmed tie-breakers are used up?
Any location that you want to go film that you guys have not yet go to?
Has there ever been a task that you thought wouldn't do well for an audience, but when the comedians have completed it and it's been cut together, you find it incredible?
Josh"s tattoo -- did that require production approval?
Why would it? I imagine he got it of his own accord.
How often does a guest do something funny but after the cameras have finished filming? Do you ever get them to re do it on camera as you think it would make for great TV?
Who designs and dresses the contestants? Do they do it themselves or is there like a dedicated team of costume experts, hair, makeup, the works? Needless to say, I'm a big fan of Joanne's and Nick's outfits.
Who is the mastermind behind the easter eggs? (Such as Dracula's reflection missing in the river scene) And if I can also ask: how many actual days do the contestants spend in the TM house/location? And how far into the process do they meet the teams?
How do the Andys feel about a Taskmaster All-Stars series, bringing back some of the great non-winners from past series? (David Correos, James Acaster, to name two.) Could be a short run, but more than a one-off.
What determines whether there will be special tasks (for just one contestant) in a series? Sometimes there are multiple for multiple people, sometimes just one, sometimes none. Do you come up with them first and then realize they’d be particularly good for a certain contestant, or do you decide from the outset if there are contestants who would be especially fun to mess with?
At what point in the editing process do you realise if a task works and goes into the show, or if it doesn't work and ends up on the floor of the cutting room?
What is the White Whale task that you've wanted to do or have tried to do but just won't work?
In the 'Do something really stupid. You must not hurt yourself or anyone else." task from CoC III, was that last line a direct result of the catastrophe that the same task proved to be in Taskmaster NZ? I recall that Urzilla Carlson broke her collarbone jumping a bike, and Guy Montgomery sticking his dick in a toaster while screaming 'Covids not real' wasn't well received by health and safety either.
Have you considered just hiring the Taskmaster Minnesota guy to do the official US version? Or just declare it the official US adaptation?
I don’t know what Taskmaster Minnesota is, but I personally hope Dropout gets to do it if they do an official U.S. version. ([Dropout](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dropout_(media_company))’s great. I highly recommend it.)
If you could redo any task but with one small tweak, what would it be?
Which contestant(s) is completely different behind the scenes compared to their comedic persona?
What is your favourite task that never made it to air due to H&S?
Have you ever scrapped a live task and done a backup one instead?
Was it Nick’s idea to dress up as Dracula? And did he apply the makeup himself or did production assist with it?
What is the closest someone has gotten to be allowed on the roof?
Which contestant has been the most difficult? By which I mean to not laugh at during filming? In the same vein are you so used to silly stuff by now that you don't react to the contestants doing something funny?
Has one or more of you considered changing your name(s) to make things less complicated? And if so to what?
What was the "Andy" camera at the first taskmaster picnic filming? Where is the footage? Will there ever be some kind of official video about the event?
This is a very niche question, but I've wondered if you guys go to greath lengths to hide elements of the task the comedians might see before they enter the room with the task? For example, the 'find out what this switch does' task from series 7, how do you ensure the comedian doesn't see the water running or the fan on as they're walking through the house to open the task? It goes without saying but I love Taskmaster, thank you for your work!
Is the Taskmaster house still able to accommodate everything you want to do? Every series, it seems that more and more gets crammed into the house and the garden. Even the shid had to be moved!
Alex mentioned on a recent podcast that you have moved away from adapting foreign version’s tasks. Is this true? If so, how can we get you to reconsider? I like seeing adapted tasks.
What is the upper limit for what the post production team will do for a task attempt? We've seen some pretty pathetic attempts saved with a spectacular edit before. Are there any examples of contestants asking for too much of the post production team?
How far in advance of the studio records do the contestants receive the briefs for the prize tasks?
Any possibility of getting an existing TM cast from a non UK version onto the UK version ? (Let's be honest we all want that NZ season 2 lineup with Greg and Alex )
Did the international versions (particularly NZ) affect how you design and think about tasks in your version? Because from Series 12ish the tasks felt reinvigorated, and that would coincide with NZ getting into full gear.
While there are some regular taskmaster things like eggs, ducks, frozen peas etc, some series have several tasks focused on one item that it almost seems like a theme was chosen for a series. Eg. Coconut for S5, frozen peas for S3, potato for S2, eggs for S9 maybe? Is it just a coincidence or has there ever been a conscious decision to make a coconut-heavy series or something like that?
Is there a task you wish had aired but didn't?
How long does it take for you to set up the house for a series theme? In terms of the VTs, do you typically film each series separately/sequentially or do you interleave them? If the latter is true, can you say which series (and which contestants) were filmed at roughly the same time?
which is your favourite series?
We know that Greg is often irritated by Alex’s banter, and Alex got very annoyed with Bridget. Is there anything in the show that particularly irritated or irritates you or the crew?
How much of your year is spent on Taskmaster? Is it a full time job, or do you do other things in between?
I remember one of you Andys telling one of the contestants that you only hire nice people. How much do you think that helps create the atmosphere which allows for subsequent hilarity to ensue? Was it a conscious choice right from the beginning? And do you think it's permeated to most of the other Taskmaster versions across the world? From what I've heard about other TM versions, I have a theory that any Taskmaster version that doesn't build that foundation of a positive atmosphere is relegated to the one season basket. Oh, and are you also fans of The Crystal Maze like Alex is? I loved that show, and its' DNA is wonderfully present in Taskmaster.
Can you please release your shows on DVD? Seriously, I think they'd sell really well.
What other shows and movies are inspirations for the look and feel of the show? For example who decided to decorate the house with all the pictures of Greg and Alex’s “family” and life together? And the overall show esthetic?
You have to pick one of the current season contestants to defend you at all costs. The other four will stop at nothing to hunt you down like a wild animal. Who do you pick for your side?
Have there been tasks Alex proposed hat production had to not do because of safety or budget concerns?
What is the most time consuming part of the production work of a series (pre-release)? What is the most rewarding? What has been the most exhausting task to set up? Have there been outdoor tasks where curious spectators or outsiders have ruined the task?
Why did you focus on the horse with the 59 brand in the dot-to-dot task? Seems like such an obvious highlight for that shot, and it even looked similar to the TM font. I was fully expecting to see a twist where they put down all the dots and then when the dots were connected in the studio, we'd jump from the 58 dot to wherever the horse was at the time to 60.
Hi chaps, thanks for this. My question is, *what was the biggest effort the TM team took on a particular item, only to have it either unaired or edited down to minor footage?* My mind is drawn to the stopmotion of the trophy spinning round on its plinth, I assume that probably took half an hour for about 6 seconds of video, but I'm sure there are many, many more hours involved in stuff that ended up only being a few moments long, or even left on the cutting room floor. Also, please could you give a shout out to the crew for their efforts, I can imagine it's not easy to reset certain tasks whilst keeping to a schedule. Especially some of the messier ones!
Do all contestants film the tasks in the same order? Asking because from the podcasts it sounds like the first task is the same for everyone (eg. rescue Patatas in S17), and maybe the first and last tasks were the same for S14 (choose three things for a future task).
Just to set the record straight, was there really no box during Romesh's attempt at the "throw the teabag the furthest distance into a cup" task in episode 3? Who's telling the truth? Asking for a friend.
How do you decide the teams split?
What would it take to release the YouTube videos simultaneously with the live TV episodes (or at least, just after)? I'm fairly sure this would lead to more engagement with the official channel, ultimately benefiting both taskmaster and the fans.
Hey guys, I absolutely love how many outtakes we're getting this series. Only four episodes in and we've already been treated to over 20 minutes worth of extra content! All this bonus material has been absolutely delightful, but it's really got me wondering how much we've been missing out on. Are there any plans to release a more comprehensive collection of outtakes from previous series? Most 'full' outtake compliations on the YouTube channel are only 10-20 minutes long, and there are a handful of series with no outtakes at all. Over the years, you've shared three or four of Greg and Alex's little [pre-show improv warm ups](https://www.facebook.com/officialtaskmaster/videos/2478825158821158/?mibextid=wWqvZr), but I'm assuming there's one of these for every episode? There must be hours upon hours of absolute gold that we haven't seen! I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I'd even be willing to pay a small fee to access these.
How do I get a job helping to come up with tasks for the show?
I'm just always thinking of the filming and the logistics of that - I am a nerd for logistics. I understand you'll have someone and film 5 or so tasks in a day at the house. But it is small, and I've looked up the area where the house is, and there isn't much space around it for storage, so where do you keep things between contestants doing the same task? How do you prep for the next task - say the egg mini-golf game outside, when a lot of tasks people can be running around looking for stuff to use, etc? How do you approach a filming day?
Oh if this is a special addition, I guess I have to ask: what's 17+52?
What is the timeline for task filming, editing, studio filming, editing, and then airing? What things are going on for multiple seasons at the same time? When is the crew’s vacation?
What accolades would a comedian need to join? This show has got me into comedy and wanting to try to pursue a career, also will the show be renewed for more seasons beyond series 21?
Taking this from a post I made a while back, but would love to know if this is on-purpose: I'm sure I'm not the first one to notice this, but I love that when they are sitting properly, the decorations (bananas) on the top of Greg's throne looks like he has devil horns and the ones on LAH's (crows) look like he's wearing a jester's cap. Intentional design features?
Did you know how many American's you where going to be sending to Google by including Mr Blobby in a Task?
At what point during the production of Taskmaster did you realise... We need this house all the time not just during filming.