Taskmaster’s Alex Horne linked to new entertainment show in development

Channel 4 has issued a casting call for a new entertainment programme featuring tasks dreamt up by Alex Horne.

According to the entry form – which is now open for applications – the potential series will feature UK households who must work together to complete the “fun, creative and head-scratching” challenges set by the Taskmaster favourite.

The description for the series from production company Avalon reads: “The random tasks are designed to require a combination of creativity, lateral thinking, speed, some general knowledge and, of course, teamwork.

“The ultimate aim and requirement is to stay in the game and keep playing, in the hope of beating the other households and getting the chance to win a cash prize.”

Radio Times understands the series has yet to receive a full commission but is currently in development.

TV fans may notice that the description sounds familiar to Horne’s BBC One series The Button, a game show also produced by Avalon that aired in 2018.

The concept saw teams of families receive a giant talking button (voiced by Horne) in their living room. Whenever it lit up, they had to complete the subsequent challenge faster than their opponents across the UK.

At the end of the episode, the household that had won the most money could choose to keep it and not appear on the next episode, or roll it over and come back next time – but risk losing the money they had won.

There has been no official confirmation that the new series in development is The Button or a revamped version of it, so watch this space for any further updates.

There will be plenty of Alex Horne on screens to come, as Channel 4 recently confirmed that Taskmaster has been renewed for an additional six seasons.

Horne said in a statement: “I’m pleased and quite stressed that I’ve got to come up with a lot more tasks for a lot more comedians but the thought of three more years in Greg’s deep embrace is soothing my little head.”

Meanwhile, Davies added: “I am delighted the comedian meat grinder remains open for business. I look forward to gleefully keeping it fed with the help of a small, introverted man that I own.”

The latest season of Taskmaster is currently under way, with Amy Gledhill, Armando Iannucci, Joanna Page, Joel Dommett and Kumail Nanjiani competing for Greg’s golden head.

And while Iannucci and Nanjiani both have Academy Award nominations, the show will be going one step further in a future cast – as Horne previously told Radio Times that the show has lined up its first Oscar winner.

He also teased a slightly different format for a future Taskmaster outing, saying: “People ask us about adding a Champion of Champion of Champions.

“I think, instead of that, we have got something up our sleeves in the near-ish future, of doing a slightly interesting series. It’s just some tweaks, but I can’t say any more than that. So [we have got] something. We’ve got something up our sleeve.”

Taskmaster continues Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4 and on the official Taskmaster YouTube channel immediately afterwards globally.

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