New Contestants Announced for Taskmaster Series 18

As another series of epic tasking draws to a close, the almighty Greg Davies and his Little Alex Horne are already excited to welcome the next batch of bright-eyed hopefuls to their BAFTA and National Comedy Award winning, international hit show. Taskmaster series 18 is set to air later this year on Channel 4. The news arrives shortly after Taskmaster: The Live Experience has been confirmed to go ahead this September.

Hoping to pass muster and be the best are: comedian, host of The Bugle Podcast and cricket statistician Andy Zaltzman (The News Quiz, BBC Radio 4), comedian, actor and podcaster Babatunde Aléshé (Celebrity Gogglebox, C4), actor, comedian and writer Emma Sidi(Starstruck, BBC Three/HBO Max), legendary stand-up and writer Jack Dee (I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, BBC Radio 4), and stand-up, presenter, actor and author Rosie Jones (Trip Hazard, C4).

Taskmaster has triumphed as one of Channel 4’s most popular programmes in recent  years, coming in as the channel’s third most streamed title of year of 2023 with 2.3 billion viewing minutes recorded across all series watched in the year. The launch episode of the latest series [S17] averaged an audience of 3.2m, with 40% of viewing coming from streaming [0-28days, all platforms]. Watched by a broad multi-generational audience, Taskmaster was Channel 4’s youngest skewing series last year, and in terms of audience share of young viewers (16-34) across last year’s series on the channel it was second only to Gogglebox in the coveted 9pm slot.  

Elsewhere, Taskmaster: The Live Experience has been confirmed to go ahead, and will launch this Autumn. Taking place at Dock X in London’s Canada Water from 18^th September 2024. Taskmaster: The Live Experience gives fans the chance to step into the shoes of their favourite comedians and enter the iconic Taskmaster House. Based on the BAFTA and National Comedy Award winning hit TV show, brand-new ridiculous and infuriating tasks set in the lab, living room, shed and other recognisable locations will get contestants battling for points, culminating in a final in the studio theatre where one player will win the Taskmaster’s seal of approval.

Taskmaster is working with Homeless Link; the national membership charity for frontline homelessness services, creating a virtual Taskmaster at Home event with all the money raised going to homeless charities across the UK. Having raised over £125,000, more information on the virtual event can be found here.