UKTV has ordered a second and third series of hit show Taskmaster for its entertainment channel Dave. Greg Davies will once again take on the mantle ofTaskmaster and show creator and 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Alex Horne will return as his assistant. The 10 x 60 min episode recommission follows the success of series one of the programme, which was 2015’s most watched commission on the broadcaster’s VOD service, UKTV Play.

As the Taskmaster, Davies sets a series of stupefying tasks to a brand-new group of comedians with Horne assisting as his right-hand-man coaxing the comedians to show their creativity, conniving and competitiveness. Once again, rivalry will be encouraged, dodgy tactics rewarded and pitiful attempts scoffed at in the most dogged, hard-fought and ridiculous comedy show on TV. Taskmaster started out as a critically acclaimed live show, which ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010 and 2011. Series one saw Roisin Conaty, Tim Key, Romesh Ranganathan, Frank Skinner and Josh Widdicombe compete for victory, with Widdicombe going to the extreme length of getting Davies' name tattooed on his foot to secure his place as series victor. 

Alex Horne, producer and creator of Taskmaster, said: “This news is both exciting and appropriate; the Taskmaster still has many tasks he needs completing - almost all of which are either far-fetched or still unconcocted - and who better to attempt such challenges than a fresh bunch of ill-equipped and unhealthily competitive comedians.”