Series 20: I am all over the place with this series
Year: 2025
Channel: Channel 4
Contestants:
Number of Episodes: 10
Notes:
Going into the series 20 rewatch, my impression had been that it was middling series of the show. Partly because it was following up series 19, and partly because I really disliked the tasks in episode 1 of the series. On the rewatch, I've revised my opionion- this cast is wonderful, and it's the tasks that keep this series from reaching the top 5. The good tasks are great; the bad tasks are awful.
The cast in series 20 is excellent. Maisie Adam takes the role of the person who is trying very hard to win (and her anger at the tasks rivals Kiell Smith-Boyle, in an enjoyable way). Phil Ellis is trying, but can't help but push the jokes. Reece is the old guy who is (amusingly) annoyed by the whole show. Sanjeev is the older guy who no longer gives a damn. And Ania Magliano is brilliant and wonderfully weird, spending her time on the show claiming Greg Davies is her father. The interactions both between the cast members and with Alex and Greg are fantastic.
When the tasks are good, the series is fantastic. But the tasks are all over the place. The team tasks and the prize tasks- basically, anything where the cast interacts with each other- are great. But some of the house tasks are gross, and it hurts the series.
Portrait Decor:
Series 20 had an agriculture theme, and portrait showed Greg Davies and Alex Horne in an homage to American Gothic
"Team: Discover the name of the person in the lab. You must take it in turns to ask one question and the person may only say yes or no. The other team members must remain in this room until the questioner returns. Each person in your team must address the person in the lab by the correct name before the task is complete." The task is tricky, and the reactions by the teams are awesome
Worst task of the season:
"Do something behind this curtain that sounds disgusting but is actually really nice." I hate disgusting tasks...
Speaking of which, "Dribble a technicolour picture of your hero. Your technicolour picture must only be made from things that have travelled directly from your mouth to the tray through the air and cannot be tampered with post-dribble." also makes this list.
A bonus point in this category for "Live: End up on your spot. You must obey the Taskmaster's instructions." which may have been the most dangerous task the show has done.
Trivia:
* The location tasks were at Sandown Park Racecourse
* On episode 10, the contestants dressed as pirates for the studio.
* This series in insanely close. The difference between the highest and lowest score is eight points. And for the first time...
Contestant Rankings:
- Jason Mantzoukas (Series 19)
- Dara O'Briain (Series 14)
- Kiell Smith-Boyle (Series 15)
- Mel Giedroyc (Series 4)
- Rhod Gilbert (Series 7)
- Ed Gamble (Series 9)
- James Acaster (Series 7)
- Stevie Martin (Series 19)
- Maisie Adam (Season 20)
- Sarah Millican (Series 14)
Series Ranking:
- Series 19
- Series 14
- Series 9
- Series 7
- Series 15
- Series 13
- Series 20
- Series 18
- Series 17
- Series 12
- Series 16
- Series 4
- Series 11
- Series 5
- Series 10
- Series 8
- Series 6
- Series 2
- Series 1
- Series 3
