Taskmaster

The debut series, which aired in 2022, won widespread critical acclaim, with the likes of The Guardian saying "this riotously fun sitcom is an utter delight."

For 16 series, Taskmaster Greg Davies has been setting five comedians absurd and surrealist tasks from the comfort of his big red throne, joined by his assistant ‘little’ Alex Horne.

Contestants must earn points by completing tasks such as “be photographed in the most unusual situation wearing this fez” or “conceal this pineapple”, and the one with the most points at the end of the series goes home with a trophy in the shape of Greg Davies’ head.

Spring boarding off the success of Taskmaster with younger audiences, Junior Taskmaster will follow in the footsteps of the flagship comedy game show which sees Greg Davies (Man Down) and Alex Horne (The Horne Section) as Taskmaster and Assistant.

Linda goes on a journey of discovery and empowerment after hearing the news. Dusting off her old Triumph motorbike she last used 30 years ago, she travels solo to the Forest of Dean to do something for herself and reconnect with her identity.

She meets different characters along the way. These include the ‘Eel Sisters’, an exasperated local radio presenter, and a hermit living in the woods with only a wild boar for company. Cue the high jinks!

Succession

Monday

Sky Atlantic, 9pm

It didn’t seem possible, but Taskmaster is about to get even more juvenile. Channel 4 is adapting the show to a children’s format, driven by the rise in the Taskmaster viewing figures with younger audiences.

The success of School Tasking, the not-for-profit primary school outreach project which replicates Taskmaster games in schools, was also motivation to bring the show to children’s programming.

Having previously joked that he doesn’t have the jolly temperament required for Taskmaster, Frankie Boyle, host of Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, will be put to the test in the new series to impress the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies.

Joining Boyle will be stand up Ivo Graham, who has appeared on the likes of Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo, comedy legend and former Loose Women panellist Jenny Éclair, Ghosts star Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Canadian comedian and creator and star of Feel Good, Mae Martin.

TV host and Countdown veteran Carol Vorderman, Olympic champion Mo Farah, Radio 1 DJ Greg James, Chicken Shop Date's Amelia Dimoldenberg and singer Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka Self Esteem) will compete in the third New Year's special of the comedy competition series. 

The celebrities will take on a series of obscure tasks to impress the Taskmaster, Greg Davies, and his assistant, Little Alex Horne, to be crowned the New Year Treat's champion and take home this year's trophy: Greg's Golden Eyebrows.

The Horne Section TV Show piloted in 2021, and following the band's multiple appearances on The Last Leg and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Channel 4 has now been picked up the show for a six-part series.

Fiona McDermott, Head of Comedy at Channel 4, commented: “Alex is an extraordinarily talented comic; unique, charming and unpredictable.

“The Horne Section TV Show is set to mirror all these qualities, with a unique blend of talk show and sitcom, music and mayhem and we can’t wait to share it with the Channel 4 viewers.”

Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof 

Tuesday

BBC One, 9pm 

The entertainment reality show will follow a group of celebrities as they undergo a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will test their mental strength under the guidance of extreme athlete Wim Hof.