Taskmaster Retrospective: UK Series 10

So a pandemic happened...

Taskmaster:  UK Series 10

Year:  2020

Channel:  Channel 4

Contestants:  

Daisy May Cooper

Johnny Vegas

Katherine Parkinson

Mawaan Rizwan

Richard Herring

Number of Episodes:  10

Notes:

In 2020, COVID struck the world.  As a result of the social distancing guidelines, the contestants all sat far away from each other, and there was no studio audience.  The guidelines started in mid-recording;  when one pair recorded their team tasks, they were together.  When the team of three recorded their tasks, they stood far apart.

I think COVID affected this season- it's hard to be funny in the middle of a pandemic.  The group tries, and there are moments.  Johnny Vegas in particular brings out laughs, and the rivalry between Daisy and Richard can be hysterical.  But the attitude feels a little somber and the chaos of series 9 is muted by comparison

It's hardly the worst series- some of the tasks are excellent, and the five contestants are working hard.  But it's largely forgettable, and I suspect one that the show would have loved to have done a do-over when not in a pandemic.

 

Portrait Decor:  

Series 10 went with an American Western theme, and the portrait has Greg Davies looking like Buffalo Bill Cody.

Wild Greg Davies..

Best task of the season:

"Team Live: Draw the animal named on your card. Each artist may draw three straight lines in their turn. The artist's teammates may have one guess after these three lines. If the guess is incorrect, the other team's artist can draw their straight lines. You may not speak or communicate with your teammates in any way."  Putting Daisy and Richard on the same team was very serendipitous.  Both were excellent players, and they clashed throughout the series.  This task had Daisy exclaim in frustration, "I actually hate you more than my husband." to Richard.

Worst task of the season:

"Learn your lines."  The idea is clever- have everyone read lines, but they are filmed separately.  Given the COVID restrictions, it makes sense.  But the task takes forever, and it's not worth the time spent. 

Trivia:

* The location tasks were at London Printworks

* This is the first season moving from Dave to Channel 4

* The opening is reworked, now showing Greg with facial hair

* Daisy May Cooper was pregnant during the taping of the show

* Daisy dressed up as a superhero (Achievement woman) for the house tasks

* Episode 1 probably goes down as the lowest scoring episode in Taskmaster history...

Contestant Rankings:

1. Mel Giedroyc (Season 4)
2. Rhod Gilbert (Season 7)
3. Ed Gamble (Season 9)
4. James Acaster (Season 7)
5. Rose Matefeo (Season 9)
6. Bob Mortimer (Season 5)
7. Hugh Dennis (Season 4)
8. Noel Fielding (Season 4)
9. Katy Wix (Season 9)
10. Lou Sanders (Season 8)

Season Ranking:

1. Season 9
2. Season 7
3. Season 4
4. Season 5
5. Season 10
6. Season 8
7. Season 6
8. Season 2
9. Season 1
10. Season 3