Ardal O'Hanlon's Series 13 Interview Task | Taskmaster

It's new Taskmaster week! In the first of our series 13 interview tasks, Alex goes for a stroll with Ardal O'Hanlon.
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In this Broadcast Award-winning, BAFTA and Emmy Award-nominated entertainment show, Taskmaster tyrant Greg Davies (Man Down, Cuckoo), with the help of his loyal assistant Alex Horne (The Horne Section and the show’s creator), sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians.
Comedians that have risked life, limb, and dignity in the hope of making the Taskmaster proud so far include: Frank Skinner (The Frank Skinner Show), Mel Giedroyc (The Great British Bake Off), Romesh Ranganathan (Asian Provocateur), Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered), Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones’ Diary), Rose Matafeo (Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner 2018), and Russell Howard (The Russell Howard Hour). Unaware of what awaits them in each wax-sealed envelope, only one competitor can become the victorious owner of His Royal Task-ness’ golden head and be crowned the next Taskmaster Champion.

[@vaughangilmore5665]

"my dad use to know someone who went for hikes" Alex is too funny

[@DyslecticAttack]

Reminds me of how he introduced someone of his band on 8 out of 10 cats does countdown. "This is [I think Paul] who was once described...."

[@lynnmahony544]

But I don't know his name.

[@ManWalksDogs]

Right this either confirms I'm tired and/or deaf and/or stupid as I heard 'heights' every time they said it and I assumed he was going for some abstract humour and never once cottoned on or questioned the likelihood. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

[@HOTD108_]

Adral going "Did he?" in response ks great too.

[@DragOnDani01]

The task itself premiered in Sweden last year where they had to take like 500 steps. One guy cleverly answered with numbers generally like. "How many cats did you have?" "By now I think it was... 367" which was hilarious.

[@xxAKSHUNxx]

That’s genius that each Taskmaster can kind of watch the other versions to get ideas for games they haven’t tried yet and see how both the players and audience responds

[@DragOnDani01]

@@xxAKSHUNxx Just like Jack Bernhardt I do a lot of stats so whenever there's similarities I do stats on the task and if they had whatever settings that change it. For example, in series 9 finale they had to do 7 tasks and having to redo everything if they failed and they had no time limit. Sweden recently did this but with only 5 of those tasks and 15 minutes only. I look at how they did and then see how they would do on each others circumstances and then do an ultimate scoring.

[@squeakyelbows]

If I remember correctly he forgot the original number so was off by about 100 steps 😂

[@97texascat]

367 likes! So not liking it

[@dalbyadventure]

"I think they will enjoy seeing me humiliated." Alex: "Yes." I can't wait for the new season.

[@russelljohnson7004]

"My dad used to know somebody who went on hikes" is such masterful conversational judo.

[@HOTD108_]

Did he?

[@Harrydewulf]

I don't think it's possible to create a more awkward pair than Alex and Ardal. Amazing.

[@antalkarolyi]

Adding one more A to the mix: Ayoade

[@samuelcardwell577]

I mean, Joe Thomas and any human, but yes.

[@PrettyPurplePolkaDots]

Tell me you've never seen Joe Thomas without telling me you've never seen Joe Thomas

[@BogusNoise]

It was like a remake of Ted and Ralph

[@AlwaysBolttheBird]

I would love to see Ayoade on a season

[@shadou1234567]

omg, the camerawork and editing here is straight up incredible. I can´t see ANY cameraman, and they at least make it fell like there is none besides the one right in front of them, but them BAM, another angle, and no cameraman. Amazing work

[@Blingo88]

It's a fairly unique problem for this show, not knowing how the contestants will play each task. They do a great job

[@NewGalaktos]

My guess is all the shots from behind were filmed separately… since we can’t see their faces then, it wouldn’t be very noticeable.

[@bryter00]

They will be ‘pick-up shots” shot after the task itself. It helps to edit the piece, especially dialogue, coherently.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@NewGalaktos The magic of television! :D

[@StonetheDestroyer42]

Editing tricks or not, Taskmaster is a legitimately beautifully-shot show. And it both has no business being shot this well for the type of show it is, and absolutely deserves to be. But the editing is also exceptional. It looks great and it flows great. And the comedic timing is perfect. It's a great concept for a show, and leans heavily on Alex's brilliance setting the tasks, and on the contestants' creativity and catastrophes in trying to meet them, but the execution in production, in my opinion, is what elevates it to a masterpiece.

[@Thorpefan]

Yessss "Does a spider have a heart?" NMJ peeps are here for it.

[@rodericko927]

i thought he was gonna follow that with "does a spider have a soul?"

[@royal7800]

But does a spider have a purpose?

[@Thorpefan]

@@rodericko927 Such a missed opportunity

[@royal7800]

@@Thorpefan leave something for the champion of champions

[@jamescarroll384]

@@royal7800 Does a Spider have a goal?

[@MrGhostTheBigRoast]

Hoping for an appearance of Ardal's mysterious walnut this series.

[@marcuscross8051]

😲

[@Charlotte-eo73i]

Maybe for a prize task! It would lend the outcome of the episode some emotional tension seeing as he's had it for a decade 😂

[@xensonar9652]

The crossover the world needs right now.

[@pooroldnostradamus]

This is precisely where the meaning of the walnut will finally be revealed

[@mousekiss6477]

Since his appearance on WILTY I can't stop wondering if he had the walnut in his pocket while filming Death in Paradise

[@bondfool]

“Have you ever gone to bed at night an-“ “Never. Never.”

[@robinnes2662]

I’m excited for the studio audience to be back. I’ve loved series 10-12 and the New Years specials but audible laughter is a comedian’s fuel.

[@LincolnWorld]

This is going to be a great series this year. I can tell. Poor Ardal probably gets stressed so much on the show that we will get to see him wriggle on the ground like a worm to make himself feel better.

[@antalkarolyi]

Well played

[@Tao_Tology]

It depends on how much Tarbuck "none of this really matters" energy he can bring.

[@chelseawildflowerloftinwey1945]

@@Tao_Tology so far, none

[@kingofcarrotflowers2930]

he did!

[@lksbat]

I love that Alex slipped in “Does a spider have a heart?” for the No More Jockeys fans. My brain immediately went “does a spider have a soul!”

[@sm-pt4gj]

I’m hoping the next interview asks the soul question

[@sm-pt4gj]

Followed by the “purpose” and “goal” questions

[@gretacwink8659]

YES

[@graymalkin7645]

It was probably a baby spider.

[@distantcoff7391]

@Lex Stephenson I've got good news or bad depending on how deluded you are There is no such thing as a soul. Just the same as the childish fantasy magic skyman or (gibber on dullards) or perhaps you prefer (grotesque oppressive delusion) or (arrogant misogynistic erroneous nonces) Senseless Oppression Utilising Lunacy 😄😁🤮

[@RoseInTheWeeds]

Taskmaster is easily the best show on TV for me right now.

[@Flike245]

It's the greatest form of entertainment yet devised.

[@vicodin36]

same

[@Peteroranje]

Absolutely!

[@Missjunebugfreak]

Ardal is just delightful. Can't wait to see him on Taskmaster.

[@mattmaloney5988]

A refreshingly quiet, humble brand of humor.

[@PaulaHoell]

Uuuuh, releasing the interviews early? I like! It builds hype and makes me know them a bit more right at the start.

[@milowhittaker9739]

Love the NMJ easter egg :D 🎶Does a spider have a heart? Does a spider have a soul?🎶 Does a spider have a purpose? Does a spider have a goal? 🎶

[@pantherette113]

The pure glee I felt when Alex said "does a spider have a heart".

[@destaquese]

i really hope one of the contestants just doesn't stop, and tests Alex's polite conversation limits.

[@baryler]

I think Bridget tested that limit ;-)

[@garrethhawkins3204]

Love the reference to No More Jockeys in here - "does a spider have a heart?". Oh does a spider have a soul? 🎵

[@rzjennings]

does a spider have a chat? does a spider have a stroll?

[@Jack-er1sc]

I can't wait for this series oml I adore him in Father Ted and Death in Paradise

[@ejc1868]

Me too! I honestly didn’t recognize his name when I read the line up but recognized his voice immediately on this vid. I’m excited that he would be on this season.

[@whatisausernamehm]

So excited to see him on this season! 😂🙌🏼

[@kellyg358]

I love Ardal and am so glad to see him again. Long live Father Dougal! ❤ ETA: Alex throwing out random numbers... that sneaky bastard. 😏 Also, 🎶 Does a spider have a heart?🎶

[@brentcehan5502]

Trickier question: Oh look there's some cows.... Would you say they are small or are they far away?

[@MrAndyStenz]

This is my favorite of the interview setups so far 🤣🤣

[@teeweezeven]

Feels weird seeing the interview before the series. Very excited to see him!

[@captinsparklezremix]

As soon as Ardal read that task I was like "fuck that!" There's no way I could do that.

[@exessex3522]

I think some contestants feel the same. They read the task and decide that they can't or won't do that and just faff around for the sake of appearances. All part of the show.

[@divamon5602]

Excited to see Ardal on the show - absolute class!

[@thebolsta]

Does a spider have a heart.. Hahaha... Instantly got the song in my head

[@royal7800]

Thank you for the stroll Alex

[@noitsabi5091]

I'm so excited to see Ardal

[@joebleasdale5557]

Dermot would be so proud of him right now

[@AshArAis]

🎵 I'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU 🎵

[@justinelouise2655]

I'll go for Ardal O'Hanlon, no more people who, when you think about it (when you have a little think), think spiders have hearts

[@jhfh3112]

Spiders do have hearts!

[@rkah6187]

But can a spider meet a person? For example, if, and that is a big if, your friend and mine, the Queen gets introduced to a spider, did then the spider meet the Queen?

[@HOTD108_]

Don't they?

[@maryekelly83]

Ohh God.. I can't wait for this. Best show on the telly👏👏👏 and Ardle himself🙏🙏🙏

[@emmat4158]

It’s so soon!!! I can’t wait

[@NovaBlueNova]

Taskmaster has the most amazing ability to make me love people I didn't like or I've never even heard of before. I didn't really like Katherine Ryan before watching her season and now I love her.

[@followtheboat]

Katherine Ryan is great but if you don't know Ardal then check out Father Ted. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest comedies ever made. It's up there with Fawlty Towers and The Office.

[@keithpanton7486]

@@followtheboat Always a bit weird when fans of the IT Crowd don't know of Black Books, Father Ted, or Big Train. But a joy to open their eyes to more joy.

[@tommiller8579]

@@followtheboat ...and My Hero.

[@followtheboat]

@@keithpanton7486 more great comedies there 👍👍

[@kodwadiaries2920]

Really looking forward to the new session 🤩🤩

[@ultraginge1990]

Oh my God……I love My Hero so much I can’t wait to see him do tasks.

[@tomsmith6878]

Does a spider have a heart? Does a spider have a soul?

[@royal7800]

If you stop and think about it, there’s a chance, however small, that Tim Key is watching this giggling.

[@Smith.S.E.]

Thirty seconds to give a spider a heart?!

[@sazzajay]

Does a spider have a purpose? Does a spider have a goal?

[@obesus787]

I think this might be the only task that there are no loopholes. I am genuinely impressed.

[@exessex3522]

Not really a task though. A commenter 3 down called Andy calls it an "interview setup". Exactly.

[@SamuelBoshier]

5:41 lol, does a spider have a soul?

[@Lumpiluk]

"The stroll must contain exactly […]" - So the steps of both of them will be added up?

[@SennaAugustus]

It depends if their feet are hands.

[@clarefrench6806]

They're the hand of the leg

[@allenshahood]

Oh, Ardal.....I was hoping you'd respond "What's that now, Ted"? to one of the questions! This series will be amazing.

[@Daniel-uj1nu]

I love Taskmaster!!

[@DePieks]

Does a spider have a heart?🎶

[@Diegesis]

I might be wrong but my theory is that its takes him somewhere around 589 steps to ask all of the questions. Certainly they wouldnt have wanted to walk in dead air, so i would have just let him ask them all and then called it.

[@dennysingh2813]

Is it just me or does the camera quality look super crisp.

[@cassieruddock]

Does a spider have a souuuuuul 🎵

[@therewasadisaster]

I love Ardal

[@lacidawson]

love love love

[@Scumbelina55]

I'm living for the awkward energy of this video

[@nelsondias9989]

Watched with big grin on my face whole video. That made me very happy. TM is back! 😀 🎉

[@jabbawabs]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they did this task in Best in Test (Bäst i test), the Swedish version of Taskmaster. Cool to see the UK version do it too :D

[@bryonybates897]

Alex has said that all the international task setters share ideas: "if they’ve got a task that they’re really excited about, they will tell me first. Not because they have to, but because it’s sort of our hobby." I think that's so cute.

[@exessex3522]

Either 'Bäst i test' or 'Best in Test'. Your version, I'm afraid to say, was a bit of a mongrel. Best to keep the two languages separate. By the way du had inte fel, a commenter called Dani sa att hon hade seen it på den svenska versionen.

[@jabbawabs]

@@exessex3522 Good catch, genuinely meant to type an (n) but I guess I didn't.

[@viva2archive]

@@exessex3522 When Alex did a Bäst i Test shoutout last week, the person doing the subtitles clearly didn't know what to make of that phrase and wrote "Best E Test". So I guess that spelling is canonical now 😅

[@superjfbm]

...i love that place you're at

[@mysso100]

Couldn't agree more, the best answer so far is - I think we all know the answer to that. Gold!!!!

[@generalpartridge7653]

why is this so entertaining

[@MrNerdosaurus]

What a hero!

[@chrisgrellmann9900]

Wish they made Joe Thomas do this

[@sfshinz]

I wish they would make Joe Thomas do every single task from every Series; at that, nothing would ever be funnier than his beach ball task.

[@JennaJuneify]

Never tapped a KZbin notification so fast in my life

[@melissagilbert6023]

"We're at 70" 🙄 can't wait for this season!

[@georgecampbellvideos3517]

All I can think of is Father Dougal Maguire 🤣

[@ResettisReplicas]

TIL I'm a terrible estimator, I thought Ardle overshot by a lot, and that the question about countries bordering Germany was a sure sign that they were in "filler" territory.

[@Abhothra]

The more I see of TM, the more I get the feeling that Claudia (Winkleman) Was right about Alex in the new years treat special. 😆😆😆

[@Abhothra]

@@ActuallyJamesS Go watch it, when you hear the remark I'd be surprised if you'd disagree.

[@Elwaves2925]

Not long now, eh Ted. I wonder how many times this location will be used in the new series? I miss some of the older ones but new is also grand.

[@rob_beaumont]

Shout out to NMJ fans! "Does a Spider have heart!"

[@stephlivegigs3587]

Does a spider have a heart! Does a spider have a soulllll 🎶🎵😂 excellent addition to the questions Alex.

[@dalefrink7244]

The only downside to new Taskmaster is less time for a new set of NMJ!

[@fabulistrose]

i'm absolutely feral for this lineup

[@kisbie]

Wondering if the tasks this series will include ‘write this year’s Euro Song’, or ‘kick a bishop up the arse’.

[@tentardigrades968]

Attempting this would break my brain

[@CthulhuInc]

ardal is great

[@paulquaife7974]

Nice to see a no more jockeys reference

[@remyratatata]

this looked like taskmaster nz for a sec

[@ArgusStrav]

"Can 8 go into 784?" The trick here is 800 - 16 = 784. So 8 goes into 800 100 times, minus 2 times for the 16, so 98 times. But good luck figuring that out while counting steps.

[@CptColCool]

The "trick" is to not worry about giving correct answers because that is not the task... ;)

[@Flike245]

"Probably," seems like a solid answer.

[@kavalogue]

The trick is probability. 8/16/24. Three multiples in and it already ends on a 4. So now do you take your chances that probability says yes or no, and based on the 4 being present so early just go for a yeah. I was never good at maths but always did ok

[@exessex3522]

I constructed a mental long division tableau. 8 into 7 = no, 8 into 78 = 9 remainder 6, bring down the 4 to the 6 to make 64, 8 into 64 = 8, bring up the 8 to the 9 > 98. Clear as mud.

[@goblingrandma7361]

Ardal living in Dublin so haha

[@ThisIsMeUK]

Loved this task. In a strange way I got a little ASMR from it 😂🙈😂

[@pia91]

Oh Alex you lovely little shit 😁😂 honestly can't wait!

[@micromacmacca1170]

I couldn’t even remember how many steps they were supposed to take. Lol

[@exessex3522]

587?

[@NiniZim]

He seems like a decent guy, I think I'll like him a lot

[@Toonfanatic1994]

Dougals doing Taskmaster?!! You let Dougal do Taskmaster?!!!

[@yuckfou5601]

I see a flaw in this task using the stepometer as Alex is the one wearing it so it's only counting how many steps Alex has done.

[@Elwaves2925]

I was going to say it's not a flaw, as Ardal had to match Alex but it was only walking speed, not number of paces. The real flaw is the the pedometer didn't work, meaning some intern would have to count each of Ardal's steps. Although, that may have been deliberate.

[@cheyannei5983]

@@Elwaves2925 Pedometers are usually designed to go on your sock or shoe... Or at least your pocket. Your hips don't move up and down terribly much as you walk, there's nothing to measure. Sorry for the late reply!

[@Elwaves2925]

@@cheyannei5983 Yes that's true and while I didn't mention it, it's what I meant by didn't work. I could have made that clearer. No need for the apology, I recently had a direct reply after 5 years, so relatively speaking you're quick. 😁

[@Hendrixium]

Lovely little Easter egg for BTL folk.

[@una_10bananas]

Oddly this comment gives me the option to 'translate to english' where it just changes "folk" to "people"

[@readytoeatapricots]

I am confused, curious, and.... and another word starting with C because where are the cameras? How do they make that work? There's one behind, in front, and in another angle, but not even a glimpse or a shadow. Is it just purely edited? Or is there something angles? I NEED TO KNOW, LITTLE ALEX HORNE!!!!!!

[@oggie114]

Does a spider have a heart? Lovely stuff.

[@RichardCorderoPhilosophy]

🎶 Does a spider have a heart? Does a spider have a soul? 🎶

[@damenwhelan3236]

01 is the area code for Dublin Ireland while inside Ireland.

[@cassiewootan9002]

14?!? ❣️

[@jessesutton7985]

'Does a spider have a heart?' OH MAN THIS NUISANCE PENGUIN IS LOSING IT!

[@davidlean1060]

Are those cows over there very small, or are they very far away?

[@rayrowley4013]

Sure hope they start putting the episodes up again.

[@oisinneary54]

Can get it for free on E4

[@rayrowley4013]

@@oisinneary54 I'm in the US. We don't get E4.

[@oisinneary54]

@@rayrowley4013 then a vpn is your only option I’d say

[@canadianmoth]

@@oisinneary54 or pirate bay

[@leed261]

Love the 01 reference haha

[@eggchomp]

It’s not a reference I don’t think? I love specifically the “What’s your dialling code” question here. Ardal’s answer “01” is 100% true if he lives in Dublin, but the way he says it makes it sound like a lie and Alex obviously doesn’t believe it. It’s hilarious

[@anyalazor7978]

5:40 *Does a spider have a heart?* The more important question is: does a spider have a *soul?* Does a spider have a *purpose?* Does a spider have a *goal?* That's what I want to know.

[@zxcvbnmzxcv1]

All the answers to that and more in Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

[@sonny9493]

Yes, yes and no

[@ducky5945]

Oh, my dear Alex. This stroll doesn't end until I decide so. How much time do you have? Where do you need to be? We'll make a day of it~

[@magnusv5783]

Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark. For those who were wondering. 9 in total.

[@missxelocin]

YES! I'm so happy to see sunshine sans the gloomy colour treatment. I assume that's mostly because the unpredictable UK weather and continuity but the sunshiny skies make me happier.

[@tinkerpinkerton5449]

Are they in Camberwick Green? He's in the nip Windy!

[@eggchomp]

I love specifically the “What’s your dialling code” question here. Ardal’s answer “01” is 100% true if he lives in Dublin, but the way he says it makes it sound like a lie and Alex obviously doesn’t believe it. It’s hilarious

[@mytube001]

Yes, Dublin has 01. But almost all UK dialling codes begin with 01. A few of the bigger cities have 02. Perhaps Alex genuinely didn't know about Irish dialling codes and thought Ardal was trying to be funny... :)

[@eggchomp]

@@mytube001 yeah i know, that’s why i thought it was funny

[@sebw89]

Didn't know the shot this season on Craggy island

[@Hugh_Jas]

Outro is WAY louder than the rest of the video, please do audio balancing for all uploads!

[@rockyroo10]

🎶 does a spider have a soul 🎶

[@therealswarvey]

DOUGAL!