If you have managed to somehow miss the phenomenon that is Taskmaster, you are in for a treat. The show has been going for seven years now and the last series garnered an outstanding 1.7 million viewers. In 2021, Taskmaster also won the British Academy Television Award for Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme, so it must be kind of funny! To prove how brilliant this show is, here is a list compiled of the best moments from throughout the show’s run to date.
This show is one that makes you cringe all the way down to your toes, while simultaneously laughing so hard you pee a little.
£20 Tattoo
Series 2, Episode 3
In this briliant episode, the contestants are asked to buy the Taskmaster a gift with a £20 note. One contestant went down the ‘normal’ route of getting book tokens. However, everyone was shocked when Josh Widdecombe revealed he had permenantly linked himself to the Taskmaster, by getting Greg’s name tattooed on his ankle! Needless to say Josh claimed the five points for that round. So, £20 well spent, I say.
Potato Shot
Series 2, Episode 1
Picture it: a large red circle carpet, a golf hole in the centre, a potato and Joe Wilkinson. The recipe for a perfect bit of television. Joe was tasked with throwing the potato into the hole, without touching the red carpet. In typical Joe fashion, his first thought was his only thought and he just launched the potato, with no idea how he would get the potato back should it land in the centre of the carpet. But, to everyone’s surprise (including Joe’s) the potato slotted itself perfect in the hole.
Back in the studio, Joe relished in the glory, calling it ‘the best thing I’ve ever done’. After the celebrations, Greg asked to watch the footage again. After some true VAR inspection, it transpired that the tip of Joe’s shoe was touching the carpet. It was the biggest fall from grace I’ve ever witnessed. Joe is seen crawling on the floor, begging the Taskmaster, ‘Please don’t take it away from me!’ In the end Joe receives a total of zero points for his attempt and everyone is left wondering what has just happened.
Song For Rosalind
Series 5, Episode 8
This task saw the contestants put into groups and interviewing a stranger, with 30 mintues to then write a song about her. Both groups absolutley hammered this brief, with very different takes on the same woman. Phillips, Bea and Mortimer created the smash hit ‘Quite Good Considering’, alternatively titled ‘Rosalind’s a fu**ing nightmare’. The trio sang about Rosalind’s shortcomings including being a ‘geriatric athlete’ who ‘jumps quite far for a woman of her age’.
On the other hand, Kumar and Watson wrote a beautiful ballad referencing both Rosalind and their own time on the show. The chorus reads, ‘I try my best, but it’s never good enough.’ Both songs would have raked in the maximum five points had they been in different series. However, one had to come out on top and, according to the Taskmaster, Kumar and Watson just snatched it.
Horse or Laminator
Series 9, Episode 7
Quite simply, the contestants had to guess whether the Taskmaster was holding a picture of a horse or a laminator. Most ended up bowing out after a few guesses. But, after resigning herself to losing, Jo Brand went on to win by correctly guessing an astonishing 13 times!
Mike Wozniak’s Fart
Series 11, Episode 6
Sometimes during the series, select contestants are given solo tasks, just for our entertainment. Series 11 hit us with one of the best solo tasks to ever grace the show. Mike Wozniak was asked to fart. And, after several failed attempts, it was after another task in the day that he felt he could fulfil this solo task.
He gyrated a little and managed to make some sort of noise. In the studio, to everyone’s horror, Mike announced he had ‘dislodged a haemorrhoid’. As his fellow contestants and both hosts howled with laughter, Mike finished his symphony with the closing line, ‘It’s an absolute casserole down there.’