GREG DAVIES & ALEX HORNE RETURN TO UKTV’S DAVE WITH TWO BRAND-NEW SERIES OF TASKMASTER
Multi-award winning broadcaster UKTV has ordered a second and third series of hit show Taskmaster for its entertainment channel Dave, with BAFTA-nominated GREG DAVIES once again taking on the mantle of Taskmaster and show creator and 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee ALEX HORNE returning as his assistant. The 10 x 60 min episode recommission follows the success of series one of the programme, which was 2015’s most watched commission on the broadcaster’s VOD service, UKTV Play.
As the Taskmaster, GREG DAVIES sets a series of stupefying tasks to a brand-new group of comedians with ALEX HORNE assisting as his right-hand-man coaxing the comedians to show their creativity, conniving and competitiveness. Once again, rivalry will be encouraged, dodgy tactics rewarded and pitiful attempts scoffed at in the most dogged, hard-fought and ridiculous comedy show on TV. Taskmaster started out as a critically acclaimed live show, also devised by ALEX HORNE, which ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010 and 2011. Series one saw ROISIN CONATY, TIM KEY, ROMESH RANGANATHAN, FRANK SKINNER and JOSH WIDDICOMBE compete for victory, with JOSH going to the extreme length of getting GREG’s name tattooed on his foot to secure his place as series victor.
Praise for Taskmaster
Caitlin Moran once wrote that the comedy panel game is one of the glories of British TV. A new one shone bright last night ***** The Times
Wildly stupid fun…a winner The Guardian
A bountiful source of laughs Radio Times
Hilarious viewing Daily Mirror
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen some of the nation’s finest comedians trying to cram as much watermelon in their mouths as possible ***** Mail on Sunday
HILARY ROSEN, Deputy Director of Commissioning, UKTV said: “Taskmaster has taken the panel show to the next level, it’s an outstanding new comedy format and delivers the perfect balance of silliness and intelligence. I’m delighted to continue our working relationship with Alex Horne and Avalon. We look forward to unveiling our new cast of comedians and a fresh line-up of outrageous tasks.”
JON THODAY, Joint Managing Director of Avalon Television, said: “It’s great to be working with Dave again on such an innovative and funny programme”
ALEX HORNE, producer and creator of TASKMASTER, and the Taskmaster’s assistant said: “This news is both exciting and appropriate; the Taskmaster still has many tasks he needs completing – almost all of which are either far-fetched or still unconcocted – and who better to attempt such challenges than a fresh bunch of ill-equipped and unhealthily competitive comedians”
STEVE NORTH, Dave General Manager, said: “We are thrilled to continue this hilarious show on Dave, Taskmaster sits perfectly alongside our other returning original shows like Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled. I’m particularly excited to see what genius tasks the mind of Alex Horne has in store for the next two series.”
Recent Avalon Television productions include: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO), Catastrophe (Channel 4) Not Going Out (BBC One), Russell Howards Good News (BBC Two) Workaholics (Comedy Central) and Man Down (Channel 4).
An Avalon Television production, the new series of Taskmaster is commissioned by HILARY ROSEN, Deputy Director of Commissioning at UKTV and ordered by RICHARD WATSHAM, Director of Commissioning and Dave General Manager, STEVE NORTH. Executive Producers for the series are RICHARD ALLEN-TURNER, JAMES TAYLOR, JON THODAY, ROB ASLETT and ANDY DEVONSHIRE (The Apprentice and The Great British Bake Off), who also acts as series director, and HILARY ROSEN for UKTV.
-Ends-
For more information please contact:
Lottie Robertshaw or Dan Lloyd at Avalon on: 020 7598 7222 or email: [email protected] /[email protected]
About Dave
Sky 111/246, Virgin 128/194, Freeview 12, BT & TalkTalk 12
On demand on Sky, Virgin and UKTV Play
Dave proudly presents a plethora of original commissions; award-winning Crackanory, Ross Noble Freewheeling, Dave Gorman’s Modern Life is Goodish, and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, all laden with the biggest names in British comedy. Not to mention a brand spanking new original series Hoff the Record, Undercover and Taskmaster.
There’s national treasures like QI, Red Dwarf X, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You, plus the Red Bull trilogy of Cliff Diving, X-Fighters and the Soap Box races. And of course, we still have Top Gear.
Dave is the UK’s most watched non-PSB channel broadcasting to over 27 million people per month, featuring hit US shows including the sharp-witted and sharp-suited Suits, critically-acclaimed Parks & Recreation and brand spanking new US series The Last Man on Earth. How can we forget the wonder that is Storage Hunters and now original commission Storage Hunters UK, the gift that keeps on giving.
About UKTV
UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches 42 million viewers a month.
UKTV’s eleven imaginative brands – UKTV Play, Dave, Watch, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food – include the most popular non-PSB channel in the UK and account for 9% of the British commercial TV market. The company’s most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £283m and EBITDA of £74.1m. It invested £123m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity.
UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.
Now celebrating its 22nd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV – an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) – is proud to be the only British television broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.
