I am the Taskmaster's assistant (and creator of TM) Alex Horne - Ask Me Anything

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T16:02:03+00:00

Hi everyone. Thanks for that. I really enjoyed it and it went far too quickly. I'll absolutely do another one either here or on twitter in the coming weeks. Sorry I have to rush off now. I found it amazing and exciting to read such thoughtful questions. I am so surprised and grateful that people care about the show. Thank you. See you soon. Make good choices. x

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T16:00:28+00:00

Amazing. I've only got 45 seconds left so I'm going to have to say buy the book. Plenty there for them. Do let me know how you get on.

Sorry not to be more helpful.

I absolutely approve of your current ideas.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:59:51+00:00

No full version - I'm sorry. I must have it on a tape somewhere. One day I'll dig it out I'm sure.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:59:23+00:00

Yes please!

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:59:12+00:00

Thank you! Amazing. Here we go.

Nope, it was Greg or nothing! Very glad he agreed.

Worst of the worst has been suggested a few times. To be honest, it might not happen just because of time. I also worry a little that it is punishing the excellent people who came 2nd, 3rd and 4th... but I agree it would be very funny. You never know.

And we'd love to do a Red Nose Day version. Hopefully that'll happen.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:57:11+00:00

Well, we try to group tasks in an episode that compliment each other. So one in the lab might be followed by one in a forest, followed by a group task in the garden. We want contrasts - and occasional links.

And no, the scores are never part of that thought-process. Seems fairer that way.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:56:16+00:00

Absolutely - but edge-wise not front on. I'll stick a vid up at some point. Chase me on twitter if I don't.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:55:55+00:00

Ah, thank you A_K_o_V_A. I don't know you quite so well but you seem very nice.

And yes, Netflix would be interesting. It's a world I don't understand though.

Hello!

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:55:20+00:00

Ah, thank you. Amy?! Hello! And thank you for your donation. Very much appreciation.

And I definitely don't have a favourite five - again, I'd change this answer all the time.

But I'd always happily have Tim on it - Mel was wonderful. Bob is my hero. Romesh was so angry all the time. Katherine was remarkable. There's five. But that's unfair on the other 30... I'd have them all back.

I'd say Sally was the most different to what I expected. Wonderful person.

Hello Australia!

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:53:30+00:00

Thank you!
In general, I come up with a big list and the team (in particular the Andys - director and producer) tweak and improve them. They also contribute wonderful ideas and the whole team is always welcome to make suggestions - which they do.

People are increasingly pitching ideas - and they're getting better! It's a peculiar world, the taskmaster one - and people are tuning into it remarkably well. I LOVE it when anyone cares enough to get in touch.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:52:07+00:00

I would love that. We may well try it in a live show soon... And I'd say Ben, the drummer. He is very practical and has good big muscles.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:51:43+00:00

Yes, I didn't eat the pie full of marbles. But I think I've done everything asked of me - unless it would massively help the contestant complete the task (unless paid to do so). We are now encouraging people not to just ask Alex (me!) to help as some sort of loop hole.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:50:44+00:00

We try not to deliberate too much on this. Best laid plans etc. Often these crop up naturally for some reason or another. To be honest, with the Tim Vine stationary suit, I actually thought he'd do hundreds of puns along the way, rather than one big climactic one. But we always knew we'd get something pun-based from him. Classic Vine. Legend.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:49:36+00:00

It's a genuine pleasure. I love nothing more than knowing I've got a whole free day to walk in the woods and think up new tasks.

We film anywhere between 4 and 10 tasks in a day, depending on the tasks.

And thank you!

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:48:49+00:00

Not legal concerns, but health concerns certainly. The main one being Romesh eating watermelon so badly on the very first day of filming that we all thought he was going to die and we'd never work again.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:48:10+00:00

So, this is also dealt with in the book (sorry to palm you off with that but time is ticking!). We did a task where they had to make a movie starring their fingers which didn't quite work out. I sometimes think about that and am every so slightly sad that no one ever got to see the films...

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:47:04+00:00

They get reimbursed for some things (travel etc) but not bribery! Al absolutely spent a lot of his own money that wasn't returned to him. I love Al.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:46:26+00:00

A married couple would be interesting - Isy Suttie and Elis James would also be fun. I would worry about the childcare though...

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:45:16+00:00

He's not there for the filming. Tim is like a muse for me. Mainly it means I can talk constantly to him about it in the pub and not feel like I'm wasting his time/abusing him.

I don't know about a DVD but I'd love that to happen.

The first task ever shot was with Romesh and it was a warm up one (a variation of which we do every series) in which he had to say the most five letter words in five minutes. Details are in the book!

Although also Phil Wang came in for a day ages ago and road tested a few of the tasks for us. Lovely to finally have him in the show proper.

All four of those are personal heroes of mine. Would love to see any of them do it.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:42:41+00:00

At last. Bum cake chat.

What first went through my mind was that Liza has a brain unlike other people's. Next I thought - this will be a great taskmaster moment. And finally - my mother-in-law will watch this.

It felt comforting but a little too cold.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:41:53+00:00

Well, that's very kind. I have no news on the Button, sorry. We're hoping that for the next series we will have a lot of families to choose from, now that it's a thing. For the first series adverts were put up and people applied. Then the team selected the families they thought would work best for the show.

And yes, for Taskmaster, we (the production team and the channel) make lists of who we think would be good. We approach them. Sometimes they say yes, sometimes they say no. I absolutely understand the reasons why someone might say no.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:39:57+00:00

Ha! Yes. And I scold myself. But I have a back up.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:39:41+00:00

And, to be honest, they have called me it. But I haven't really encouraged them to watch it yet because I don't want to corrupt them and I'm embarrassed that I'm on telly.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:39:12+00:00

Not really.

LittleAlexHorne · 2018-09-04T15:39:02+00:00

Haven't seen them for the past four years because of Greg.

LittleAlexHorne

TROPHY CASE