Taskmaster fans have been grumbling about the latest series of the legendary comedy show.
So what’s got viewers’ knickers in a twist? Is it Greg Davies’ arbitrary scoring? Could it be Alex Horne’s choice of socks? Might it be the realisation that the Gregulator was the worst task ever?
No. It’s none of these glaring issues. In fact, most fans are apparently enjoying this series, but they do have one complaint.
They want to know why some of the funniest scenes in the series have been inexplicably cut out and banished to the outtake bin.
‘So I’ve enjoyed bits of this season, but it’s felt at times like it’s been rather calm, not much interaction or banter, straight to tasks; a lot of the fun interactions between contestants and Greg and Alex are just missing,’ wrote Billy Bryant on Reddit.
‘So lately I’ve caught a few of the outtakes on YouTube, and that’s where all these moments are. Richard Ayoade has actually been really funny in the studio on multiple occasions, and in the studio edit it’s cut down to minimal conversation.
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‘I don’t know if anyone else feels like this, but it’s taken out a lot of what I love about the show. The content is there, but they edited it all out.’
SystemPelican agreed, claiming the editors are ‘overvaluing the tasks at the cost of studio banter’.
‘To me, the tasks are fun, but the real gold is having everyone react to the nonsense in the studio after,’ they wrote.
‘The outtakes have been so much better than the show,’ agreed sammyt10803. ‘Richard has been the biggest revelation, but really just the whole vibe seems better in them.’
KindlyKangaroo meanwhile wrote that they’re surprised how much Richard comes alive in the outtakes compared to his subdued experience in the studio.
DerHoggenCatten, however, had a far more withering critique of the latest series. While they agreed that ‘the best bits are being chopped out’, they think it’s less the fault of the cast and more the fault of Little Alex Horne.
What’s worng with this new season of Taskmaster?
Our Deputy TV Editor, Tom Percival, shares his thoughts on Taskmaster series 22.
I’ve seen a lot of people asking ‘What’s wrong with Taskmaster series 22?’ and honestly I think the answer is ‘nothing’. Yeah, the in-studio stuff isn’t as funny as other years, but that’s what happens when you have a rotating cast on a series: there are always peaks and troughs.
I know that’s not exactly a hot take, but I’m old enough to remember when people were whining about the Series 10 cast, so I kind of think the complaints about the vibes being off are just par for the course.
In all honesty, I think the series’ only real problem is that it’s following a generational run of Taskmaster contestants. We’ve basically had five unbroken years of top-tier talent on the show, with the last three casts in particular having incredible chemistry.
‘An increasing problem is the straightjacket the tasks are putting contestants in,’ they wrote.
‘The tasks need to be simpler, with more flexibility so they can be funnier or more creative with them.’
DerHoggenCatten wasn’t the only one to claim the tasks have grown too complicated; others agreed that the simpler tasks in the first few series were better.
Taskmaster series 22 continues on Thursday at 9pm on Channel 4.