Taskmaster

Comedian and writer Fatiha El-Ghorri, American comedian, actor and podcaster Jason Mantzoukas, actor and writer Mathew Baynton, podcaster and broadcaster Rosie Ramsey, and comedian, actor and podcaster Stevie Martin take up the challenge. Their success in this opening episode will rest on their skills in tasks involving vinegar, raisins and, as is traditional, peas. As usual, Alex Horne administers the tasks and Greg Davies determines the winners

The first team task of the series brings the usual awkwardness, but also the joys of Stevie Martin inventing a new way for humans to move, and Fatiha El-Ghorri sweeping the lawn with a small broom. Elsewhere, Rosie Ramsey has a visceral reaction to mental arithmetic, Mathew Baynton strikes his own face with a grape, and Jason Mantzoukas destroys a shower. Little Alex Horne watches on in awe as Taskmaster Greg Davies judges it all with his customary wisdom. 

The contestants are released from the Taskmaster grounds to explore an old abbey, but Fatiha El-Ghorri is concerned about the aggressive waterfowl. Despite Rosie Ramsey going flying, Stevie Martin attempting art with a duck and Jason Mantzoukas finding a new moustache, it's Mathew Baynton crawling through a corridor that causes the largest commotion. Alex Horne supplies the stats so that Greg Davies can make the judgements. 

Greg Davies expertly presides over another episode of profoundly important tasks, but he may come to regret a bold promise involving his mighty trousers. Greg's adoring assistant Little Alex Horne has some trouser issues of his own, thanks to Rosie Ramsey, but he gamely records events as Stevie Martin repeatedly punches a mannequin in the groin and Jason Mantzoukas pops raisins into a little hole in a wooden box. Meanwhile, Mathew Baynton strikes a memorable pose and Fatiha El-Ghorri demonstrates her acting chops. 

The challenge continues as Rosie Ramsey has a revelation about monster identity, Stevie Martin finds a new use for her nail varnish and Jason Mantzoukas learns that lollipop ladies exist. Task setter Alex Horne gets comfy by a campfire to hear Fatiha El-Ghorri tell a disturbing story about a goat, before he's compelled to join in with Mathew Baynton's ode to storage.

The halfway point sees the competitive streak start to show in all the contestants. Sadly, this is mainly at the expense of administrator Alex Horne, who's poked with a snooker cue by Fatiha El-Ghorri, repeatedly dunked by Mathew Baynton and aggressively pursued by a bearded Stevie Martin. Taskmaster Greg Davies does his best to keep a lid on things as Rosie Ramsey impersonates a teacher and an unhinged Jason Mantzoukas causes havoc in the previously harmonious Taskmaster House.

The contest continues, with Jason Mantzoukas trying to befriend a fisherman, Rosie Ramsey displaying a talent for trotting, Fatiha El-Ghorri boasting about her seductive scent and Stevie Martin pitching for a role in Downton Abbey. Meanwhile, Mathew Baynton spectacularly forfeits any remaining dignity. In a not-unrelated instance, Little Alex Horne's shoes are doused with yoghurt as Taskmaster Greg Davies casts his judgements.