Taskmaster is set to return for another round of fun with a brand new cast after wrapping up its 17th series.
Starting off as an Edinburgh Fringe show before finding its way to a major television channel, the hit programme has rejuvenated the panel show format, attracting more than half a million viewers.
Since it landed on TV channel Dave, and then its current home of Channel 4, viewers have flocked to see the latest batch of comedians compete against each other in a series of simple – and usually pretty unusual – tasks.
In past series, these quests have ranged from crafting an exotic sandwich to impressing the mayor of Chesham, with lateral thinking and creativity generally winning over Greg Davies, the omnipotent, acerbic and wildly unpredictable “taskmaster” and judge of all he surveys.
The brainchild of comedian Alex Horne, who fronts the Bafta award-winning show alongside Davies, series 18 will welcome a new cohort of the UK’s funniest minds to battle to the final.
In the meantime, i takes a look at the newly announced cast of Taskmaster series 18.
Who is taking part in series 18 of Taskmaster?
Andy Zaltzman
A political comedian by trade, Zaltzman is co-host of BBC Radio 4 panel show The News Quiz as well as a statistician for BBC Radio’s Test Match Special cricket commentaries. The 49-year-old London-born comic is a close collaborator with John Oliver, on projects including pun-heavy podcast The Bugle, and radio shows Political Animal and The Department.
Rosie Jones
The British comedian, writer and actress has become a panel show regular in recent years, with appearance credits including QI and 8 out of 10 Cats. She has appeared in several episodes of Casualty, wrote an episode of Sex Education, and last year presented a documentary about the discrimination faced by disabled people.
Babatunde Aléshé
The British actor, writer and comedian ahs past TV appearances including Celebrity Gogglebox – alongside his friend Mo Gilligan – as well as the 22nd series of I’m a Celeb, in which he placed seventh. His acting credits include Doctor Who, Law & Order: UK and EastEnders, and he embarked on his first solo stand-up tour last year.
Jack Dee
A stand-up comic, actor, presenter and writer, Jack Dee is an established name known for his deadpan humour. As well as stand-up routines (he was the original host of Live at the Apollo), various appearances on panel shows including BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue – which he hosts – and a winning performance on the first series of Celebrity Big Brother back in 2001, he wrote and starred in the sitcom Lead Balloon.
Emma Sidi
Emma Sidi is a comedian, actor, writer and performer known for her sitcom work as well as her stand-up comedy. Her notable TV roles have included that of Kate in Starstruck, Eleanor in Ghosts and Esme in Stath Lets Flats.
How many epidoses of Taskmaster are there?
There will be 10 weekly episodes of the hit show.
When is Taskmaster on TV, and what channel?
Episodes will be broadcast every Thursday at 9pm on Channel 4 – though the premiere is likely to still a few months away, with an official release date yet to be confirmed.