I still wish he was in Series 2 and Osman was in another. And I still wonder if he was meant to be. I can’t remember the exact comments, but some seemed to insinuate he might have filled a cancellation.
I camped right next to Bill Bailey a few weeks ago! I asked him about Taskmaster, and he said he'd been asked but it hadn't fit in with his schedule yet. He seemed like he wanted to do it. I suggested the New Year Treat might be an option if he couldn't do main Taskmaster.
He also talked about not liking hiking in hot weather, and I was gutted I didn't ask if he's ever got Dave's Syndrome.
Billy Connolly lives in my town. His wife Pam is very involved in a number of local charity organizations. In spite of his health issues, I occasionally see him about town walking his dog or making an appearance at a charity event
He was my first thought, enough anger to come out with some legendary TM quotes against Alex, enough silliness (Big Banana Feet) to go weird with the tasks.
I am in the US and since I started watching TaskMaster, YouTube recommends 8 out of 10 Cats a lot. I really enjoy Sean Lock, who was a new name to me, and was very sad to learn he has died. I
I agree, he would have been a great contestant on TaskMaster,
And if you haven't already, find the videos of Sean Lock playing "carrot in a box" against Jon. They played twice and Sean is diabolically funny (and clever).
I feel like he’d understand Greg is a parody of authority (my apologies Lord Greg) and he might play along beautiful. I also have a feeling he’d either abuse Alex more than anyone else, or he’d be the nicest kindest soul to Alex, but there is no in between.
IF they were to ever revive US I think you would have to put Paul F Tompkins on the first new season as a sign of goodwill to the pour souls like myself who have seen US.
I’d like John Hodgman as the US TM. He and PFT are good friends so I don’t know that dynamic would work. I could see Hodgman delighting in lording it over his friend though.
I think Hodgman would make a better assistant. Although PFT would be fine too. But neither of them seem quite right as the TM. I just think the TM needs to be more edgy and snarky, like Greg.
If you ever watch the New Zealand version versus the Australian version, the NZ TM isn't hitting the right note, imo. Too nice. The Australian TM is better, closer to Greg's humor.
One reason the US version failed was because Reggie Watts was better suited to be an assistant. Someone with a lot of snark needs to be the TM, like Conan O'Brien. Conan is a bit of a bully, like Greg. (Actually, Conan and Andy Richter could do the job together!)
Part of the problem isn't necessarily Reggie's fault, since US is a half an hour they really don't really have time to let Reggie DO anything. The studio segments, for the most part, he just scores quickly and we move on. I love Reggie on Comedy Bang Bang he's an integral part of the first four and a half seasons, but I honestly think he would have done better as a contestant.
It’s actually not a constructed persona! He talked a bit about it in various interviews, but the man was just seriously anxious and suffered from severe stage fright (leading to his signature glasses, as well).
I hate to say it, and I considered him, but I don’t think so. Robin was an amazing performer but he was also a bit of a thinker and a gamer. I think he’d struggle to stay on task and be funny at the same time.
Wouldn’t Graham Chapman or Peter Sellars have been great as contestants? Hey, as long as I’m resurrecting the dead, I’m putting legends in those chairs.
Gilda Radner
Buddy Hackett
Peter Cook
Lis Sladen (❤️)
Neil Innes
I've thought about loads before and glad to see a few of them already mentioned. Some ones I'd like to see are:
Bill Bailey (definitely the one I've thought about the most),
Diane Morgan (close second, the rest are in no particular order),
Sandi Toksvig,
Susan Calman,
Paul Whitehouse,
Richard Ayoade,
Claudia Winkleman,
Tamzin Greig,
Sanjeev Bhaskar,
Simon Pegg,
Peter Serafenowicz (unreasonably proud that I googled that after typed it to double check and I'd got it right!)
I've never really thought about dead people before, but I've seen Rik Mayall mentioned and that's a great shout. I loved Paul O'Grady as well, maybe even in his younger years as Lily Savage if we're choosing anything. Could go really old school as well and have Eric Morecambe, or Ronnie Barker! Caroline Ahearn would've been great too.
This is the full nuke option... Greg Davies. With Frank Skinner as guest Taskmaster for that season, just because the show might not have even happened if he didn't say yes, it'd have a special kind of poetry to it to see him there in the throne.
That’s tough but I’d have to pick a medieval jester for dead. Any will do.
For alive, probably Catherine Tate. I also think Jack Black is such a loving and fiery soul that’d be brilliant to watch, but I don’t think Americans are considered for UK TM
I really want to see John Oliver on a New Year's Treat. I absolutely need to see the banter between him and Greg. Just watch any episode of Last Week Tonight (if it hasn't been censored in the UK 🤣) to see what I mean
I had the same instinct. Keaton's iconic deadpan would get so many laughs in the studio, and his level of fitness would absolutely obliterate some of the physically challenging tasks.
If you didn't know Ardal at the time, then you'd hardly know Dermot Morgan, the man who played Father Ted.
But yeah, I'd love to see him on there in his prime. In my mind he'd be like a mix between Mike and Ardal, with a bit of Dara thrown in for good measure!
He’s not a huge name even in the US but after the very first Taskmaster episode I watched I immediately said “this show was made for Mo Rocca” and I stand by that.
I was introduced to British Comedy through my father, and I'd love to see someone from that era. My first pick would be The Two Ronnies (imagine the team tasks!), but for people still living... are any members of The Goon Show still active enough? Monty Python? David Jason, perhaps?
I thought of Sean when I read the title. Rik Mayall would've been great I think.