Good One (Vulture) | "No Comedian Is Prepared to Be on Taskmaster"

Released: February 12, 2026
Host: Jesse David Fox
Guests: Greg Davies (host of Taskmaster), Alex Horne (creator and co-host of Taskmaster)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Good One, Jesse David Fox interviews British comedians Greg Davies and Alex Horne, the host and co-creator of the cult TV show Taskmaster. Across nearly 90 minutes, the trio dig deep into the creative DNA, evolution, and international appeal of Taskmaster, exploring everything from its uniquely human casting, its comedic philosophy, and the impact of YouTube distribution, to tales from their US tour. The two reflect on their creative partnership, the show's cautiously anarchic spirit, and field fan questions with generous good humor.

Taskmaster brings together five comedians each series to tackle outlandish tasks whose solutions often reveal more about personality than prowess. It has become an international sensation, beloved for its blend of absurdist competition and deeply relatable human moments.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Personal Anecdotes & Warm-Up (03:03–05:40)

• The episode opens with Greg and Alex sharing unusual stories from their week in America, including encounters with a man who holds the record for America’s longest tongue and a memorably awkward massage.
• Notable Quote:
  • Greg Davies [04:45]: "She came really close to my ear and said… thank you for being my canvas."

2. Taskmaster’s US Tour & Popularity (05:40–07:24)

• Greg and Alex are surprised and humbled by the American fan reaction during their recent live shows:
  • Greg Davies [06:29]: "We have underestimated the popularity of the show... the reaction in Chicago was insane and not like the reaction we're greeted with in the UK."
• Discusses how YouTube made the show accessible to a global audience, letting it thrive on its own terms.

3. US Adaptation: Lessons and Vindication (07:24–09:39)

• Looks back at the short-lived US adaptation on Comedy Central:
  • Alex Horne [07:44]: “It definitely didn’t work commercially...I love that we just put it on YouTube and people have found it naturally, rather than us having to pander to a broadcaster.”
• Discusses why Taskmaster’s appeal is universal, not just British: “We all laugh at people falling over, which is what the show mainly is” [08:36].

4. A Potential All-American Taskmaster? (09:40–10:31)

• Alex is open to an all-American cast, but highlights the unnecessariness of a huge format revamp.
  • Greg Davies [10:01]: "If we put five Americans into our world, it would be no different… The wheel doesn’t need reinventing.”

5. Taskmaster’s Origin Story (11:56–14:14)

• Alex Horne tells the show’s creation story under “task conditions,” blending earnestness and wry humor:
  • Alex Horne [12:23]: "I decided to set my own awards thing, which was called the Taskmaster. And every month for a year, I set 20 comedians a challenge."
• Greg jokes about the “gravitas” lent by the show coinciding with his children’s birth.

6. Show DNA: Childlike Innocence vs. Comedian Bitterness (15:11–17:14)

• Discusses how Taskmaster balances 'petty bitterness' with community:
  • Greg Davies [15:17]: "In many ways, it’s the rabies shot of the petty bitterness of comedians—the other half being this community of supportive human beings."

7. Attempting to “Game” Taskmaster (16:17–17:38)

• Some contestants try to craft a persona, but the format strips that away, often in “glorious” fashion.
  • Example: James Acaster curated an on-screen anger that broke down into genuine rage.
  • Greg Davies [17:14]: "Some of his anger is curated, and I think that got put to one side for genuine anger."

8. Evolving Greg & Alex’s On-Screen Relationship (20:19–25:32)

• The “Taskmaster” character emerged over time; Greg initially played him as a pantomime villain but was advised to be less mean.
• The show shares “kayfabe” with wrestling: a blend of real and performed persona.
  • Greg Davies [21:14]: "I take a real aspect of my personality…and I just become him. But it's not dishonest—it is me.”
• The show’s fans have picked up on a “romantic” element in Greg and Alex’s dynamic, which they playfully acknowledge but have never discussed formally.

9. Casting the Show: Instinct Over Formula (25:32–32:36)

• Casting isn’t as formulaic as fans might think—it's instinctive and step-by-step, prioritizing “funny and nice.”
• There is, however, a focus on a wide range of ages and backgrounds, emphasizing family-game energy.
• Alex Horne [27:15]: "It's not formulaic. We’re not ticking boxes, just thinking, ‘Oh, this person would be great.'"
• Reflects on Series 7’s chaotic dynamic and how lineups confound expectations.

10. Inclusiveness and Controversy (35:54–37:11)

• The show doesn’t “analyze a lot” about diversity and progressiveness; it aims to cast nice people and be naturally inclusive.
  • Greg Davies [36:45]: "I love how inclusive the show is just naturally… it’s open to all."

11. The Making of Memorable Tasks (38:49–44:16)

• Alex details the creative process, using the “twins” task as an example of engineering a “magic trick moment.”
• The production team helps logistically, but the core comes from Alex’s scenarios and vision.
• They prize the organic, “small scale” nature of victories.

12. Judging & Narrative Structure (44:30–52:44)

• Greg judges “in the moment,” rarely considers narrative, but may subconsciously favor underdogs.
  • Greg Davies [51:14]: “As an ex-teacher, I probably am tickling things up subconsciously, but never consciously.”
• Alex confirms points are never manipulated for narrative.
• They record more than they broadcast, making arcs naturally emerge in editing. An upcoming series will explicitly highlight the contestants’ first task for the first time.

13. Taskmaster Fandom & YouTube Impact (53:23–69:08)

• The fan community is described as a “benign cult”—devoted and inclusive. Jesse highlights the Reddit fandom’s encyclopedic recall.
  • Greg Davies [54:36]: "A man tells you to do a thing, then a kind man with a whistle tells you you don’t have to do it again. I sort of love that."
• During COVID, Alex’s at-home tasks helped build community and global awareness via YouTube distribution, which they both see as a stroke of luck rather than grand plan.
  • Alex Horne [68:24]: “I love the YouTube model. It’s free and it’s there.”
• Taskmaster stands out on YouTube for high production values amid lo-fi viral content.

14. Balancing Comedy and Competition (57:21–61:46)

• They balance measurable vs. creative tasks in each episode, with Greg’s role as judge remaining crucial.
  • Greg Davies [58:48]: "My judgments are often unfair. But I would argue that’s life.”
• Some contestants approach the show as “a comedy show first,” playing comedic game rather than trying to win.
• Others focus on winning, and their competitiveness is an important dynamic.
  • Greg Davies [61:21]: "Sometimes… having an argument with a grown adult about perhaps one of the more preposterous tasks… does bring out a weariness in me."

15. Fan Questions and Lightning Round (75:23–88:28)

• The episode wraps with candid and sometimes ribald jokes, and comical stories of encountering legendary comedians or memorable on-stage bombs.
  • Street joke:
    • Alex Horne [76:15]: “Why did the man fall down the well? He couldn’t see that well.”
    • Greg Davies [76:36]: "What's the last thing you want to hear when you're sucking Willie Nelson's cock? 'I'm not Willie Nelson.'"
• On critical moments of failing on-stage:
  • Alex Horne [85:11]: "We started doing our scientific dissection on what makes people laugh. It wasn't us."
  • Greg Davies [86:17]: "I did my act of virtual silence in front of some pretty overweight businessmen under a blue whale."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• [06:29] Greg Davies: “We have underestimated the popularity of the show...the reaction in Chicago was insane and not like the reaction we're greeted with in the UK.”
• [08:36] Alex Horne: “We’ve always said it’s a human show, not a British show.”
• [12:23] Alex Horne: “I decided to set my own awards thing, which was called the Taskmaster. And every month for a year, I set 20 comedians a challenge.”
• [15:17] Greg Davies: "In many ways, it's the rabies shot of the petty bitterness of comedians—the other half of the show, which is this community of positive, supportive human beings."
• [17:14] Greg Davies: “Some of [James Acaster’s] anger is curated, and I think that got put to one side for genuine anger. In a glorious, wonderful way.”
• [21:14] Greg Davies: “I take a real aspect of my personality...and I just become him. But it’s not dishonest—it is me. But it's very easy to mute the other, more savory sides.”
• [27:15] Alex Horne: "It's not formulaic. We're not ticking boxes, just thinking, ‘Oh, this person would be great.’"
• [36:45] Greg Davies: "I love how inclusive the show is just naturally...it's open to all."
• [54:36] Greg Davies: "It's because a man tells you to do a thing and then you do it, and then a kind man with a whistle tells you you don't have to do it again. And I sort of love that."
• [58:48] Greg Davies: "My judgments are often unfair. But I would argue that's life. I would argue that inconsistency adds to the show."
• [61:21] Greg Davies: "When I'm sometimes having an argument with a grown adult about perhaps one of the more preposterous tasks, it perhaps does bring out a weariness in me occasionally. But...they're an important part of the dynamic."
• [68:24] Alex Horne: "I love the YouTube model that it's free and it's there."

Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• 03:03–05:40 – Week’s weirdest moments (Ripley’s tongue and the canvas massage)
• 11:56–14:14 – “Origin story” of Taskmaster told as a task
• 25:32–29:14 – The instintive, informal casting approach
• 38:49–44:16 – Designing memorable and “magic trick” tasks
• 54:36–56:02 – Taskmaster fandom explained (“benign cult” community)
• 75:36–78:12 – Favorite “street” jokes by both guests
• 85:11–88:28 – Most memorable comedy “bomb” stories

Conclusion

A rich, playful, and revealing conversation, this episode offers a comprehensive look at what makes Taskmaster unlike anything else in comedy television. It explores not just the nuts and bolts of constructing quirky tasks or casting the perfect mix of comedians, but also the intangible chemistry—the "benign cult" sense of belonging—fostered between hosts, guests, and fans. Both Alex Horne and Greg Davies are self-deprecating, candid, and insightful as they discuss their philosophy, the pitfalls and rewards of their approach, and reflect on the joy of sharing their world with an ever-growing audience.

Ideal for both Taskmaster superfans and newcomers alike, the episode distills the show’s magic: a carefully controlled laboratory for chaos, warmth, and, above all, laughter.