If it carries on at this pace, it's in danger of running out of comics: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Taskmaster

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 17:11 EDT, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 17:25 EDT, 3 September 2026 Taskmaster (Channel 4) Rating: 4 stars Little Britain star Matt Lucas, looking half the man he was and far healthier for it since leaving behind the mega-calorie temptations of the Bake Off marquee, must be unique.'I probably should have watched this show before coming on it,' he told presenter Alex Horne as he arrived to tackle the first challenge on Taskmaster.Now on its 22nd full series, plus at least a dozen special episodes and a spin-off for children, the endlessly inventive Taskmaster must be the most-watched panel game on air. If Matt has really never seen it, I suspect he doesn't own a telly.Millions love it and, if it carries on at this pace, every viewer will eventually get a chance to appear as a contestant. Surely Alex and head judge Greg Davies will run out of comedians eventually.That hasn't happened yet. Apart from Matt, it seems remarkable that Richard Ayoade, a long-time Channel 4 favourite, is also getting around to it only now.Richard made it clear from the outset he had no intention of putting effort into the game. In the opening round, when players were instructed to bring a 'droopy' present for Greg, some used their invention and strived for laughs. Little Britain star Matt Lucas, looking half the man he was and far healthier for it since leaving behind the mega-calorie temptations of the Bake Off marquee, must be unique (Matt, Nina Conti and Richard Ayoade pictured L-R)Actress Isy Suttie filled a pair of tights with gallons of warm, dripping porridge. Richard just took a photo of a houseplant that needed watering.In a round with overtones of Greek myth, the contestants were told to search the Taskmaster house for a golden apple and a golden dish. Most followed a trail of clues that led them through a tunnel to a temple in a grove. Richard could hardly be bothered to drag himself to the kitchen, where he found an apple and dumped it in a plastic bowl.But we know from other panel shows that, despite himself, Mr Ayoade's ennui is all an act. He is, in fact, compulsively competitive. We saw that on Amazon Prime Video's Last One Laughing, where he managed to keep a straight face while everyone around him cracked up — until he was eventually pushed into a guffaw by Bob Mortimer's unprintable gag about a man caught short in a graveyard.When Greg started awarding points, and Richard discovered himself in last place, that one-upmanship instinct kicked in. He played the final round, a memory test, with ferocious determination, and couldn't hide his glee at winning.Taskmaster's challenges are so tricksy, and demand such a combination of physical energy, lateral thinking and luck, that no one can be sure of winning every round. But my money this time is on comedian Chloe Petts, because she's got the right attitude — she's delighted to be taking part, and she gave each game her best while accepting her defeats in good part.That's the winning formula. Keep striving, keep believing and keep your sense of humour. There's a lesson there somewhere.