‘Taskmaster’ Moves From Dave To Channel 4 With 6 Season Renewal
Gameshow ‘Taskmaster‘ will have a new home when it returns in 2020, as Channel 4 announces they have snatched the series from Dave and handed it a 6 Season renewal.
The hugely entertaining irreverent show hosted by Greg Davies as the all-powerful “Taskmaster”, alongside Alex Horne as his loyal assistant, sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians through a series of strange and surreal challenges.
“We’ve had an amazing nine series on Dave and I’d like to thank UKTV for letting us do such ridiculous things for so long,” commented Alex Horne, the show’s creator. “Greg and I are looking forward to getting started on a new series for Channel 4 from next year. It seems like the right time to move to a channel with a broader audience and I can reassure people who like the show that it won’t be changing one bit and I’ll still be forced to do things no one should ever have to do.”
This is something of a homecoming for the show, which started as a live show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before being developed for television, initially with Channel 4. However, it was later commissioned by UKTV for Dave where it has aired for nine very successful series.
“For the first time in our working relationship I agree with little Alex Horne,” adds Taskmaster, Greg Davies. “The nine series on UKTV have been a joy and I would echo his thanks to all involved. I do take issue with the notion that the show will remain exactly the same however as I have made it my personal mission to break his spirit. I will remain even-handed with contestants of course, but it really is going to get unpleasant for him. Peace.”
Produced by Avalon, Executive Producers for the series are Alex Horne, Richard Allen-Turner, Rob Aslett, James Taylor, Jon Thoday and Andy Devonshire (‘The Apprentice’, ‘The Great British Bake Off’), who also acts as Series Director, while Andy Cartwright will also continue as Series Producer.
“Taskmaster is anarchic, original and a brilliant springboard for new comic talent,” said Ian Katz, Channel 4 Director of Programmes. “It’s everything we look for in a Channel 4 show and like millions of others I’m a massive fan so I’m delighted it will soon be taking its place in our unrivalled slate of scripted and studio comedy.”
Channel 4 has commissioned the BAFTA and Emmy Award-nominated series for six seasons across three years, in a deal agreed with producers Avalon.
‘Taskmaster‘ Season 10 will be broadcast on new home Channel 4 and repeated on E4 from late 2020.
