Taskmaster: The Crystal Maze Joined At Channel 4 By Another Game Show Phenomenon

Channel 4 was today confirmed as the new home of the hit celebrity game show 'Taskmaster', taking the show from UKTV channel 'Dave' after 9 series.

The hit format, since its debut in 2015, has been sold to broadcasters all around the world and has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Creator Alex Horne set a variety of comedians and hosts, including Joe Wilkinson, Mark Watson, Josie Long and Rick Edwards, a range of tasks to be completed across the year leading up to the Fringe. Tasks included "Find me a hedgehog" and "Who can gain the most weight in a year" to truly determine the dedicated from the chaff.

Each series has pitted a group of 5 against one another in a series of unusual tasks with the results judged by the Taskmaster himself Greg Davies ably assisted by Alex Horne. The inclusion of comedy stalwart Frank Skinner in the debut series helped establish the show as more than just another original panel show on Dave.

The show's move to Channel 4 was expected recently with the end of the deal between UKTV and the production company behind the show, Avalon. Online many fans have been anxious that a change of broadcaster may bring changes to the show they know and love but Alex Horne has been quick to provide reassurance:

Hello! Taskmaster is moving. To Channel 4. I promise the show won't change & there'll be the same amount of personal and professional humiliation. Thank you to everyone at UKTV for looking after us so brilliantly for 9 series. V excited. But now I have to go and clean the house.

— Alex Horne (@AlexHorne) November 22, 2019

The deal that's been signed is for 6 series across three years from late 2020 so we might have a bit longer to wait than we're used to. But rest assured in the next few years we will get to enjoy the incompetence and ingenuity of 30 more comics, hosts and possibly a mazemaster now that he's not doing weekend breaks anymore.

Every episode from series 1-9 is available on UKTV Play for viewers in the UK but international viewers can enjoy the show, for free, thanks to weekly uploads on the official YouTube channel

Here's hoping for the show mash-up to end all show mash-ups: Taskmaster does The Crystal Maze vs 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown