Worst Ever Prize Tasks | Taskmaster

Some of the absolute worst prize tasks in the history of Taskmaster, from Phil Wang's confusing little box to a present that Greg Davies bought for Rhod Gilbert's wife.
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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.

[@georgiegan]

The way Greg handled Acaster really shows how he has decades of experience working as a teacher. Legally, he can't hit the students. But mentally, he makes the students feel as if they going to get beaten to death by a 2 meter tall giant.

[@DiegoMartinezCoria]

To be fair, he is 2 meters tall and relatively intimidating...

[@lowhp_comic]

It's also how he managed to break his very aloof cynicism with ease 😂

[@panda4247]

Also, Acaster plays along, because it's a show

[@DragOnDani01]

He did say that he was ready jumping on him but he felt like he need to take a more responsible role. Said in the podcast.

[@pjd6977]

@@DragOnDani01 what podcast their champ?

[@yurinaily1326]

I love how genuine Hugh sounded when he tried to explain the cloud thing. So precious

[@uniquerebeljaney3639]

Hugh, have you heard of the sky? 😂😂

[@HugoGojibiter]

It’s such a wholesome grandparent thing to subscribe to

[@yurinaily1326]

@@uniquerebeljaney3639 "I joined the air society" lol

[@KyaKramer]

Later in the episode someone mentions there aren't any clouds in the sky, and Hugh says "That's the whole fucking point!"

[@diamondbowgamer3812]

I agree though it's a great subscription and I would buy it.

[@Pusher97]

I love how the teacher comes out of Greg when he’s talking to James

[@Rex0142king]

100% teacher dealing with student energy.

[@atypicalgeek88]

What I wouldn't give to have one of those chats with Greg...so sweet

[@annabelvb]

It’s confusingly hot.

[@atypicalgeek88]

@@annabelvb Yes! Maybe it's just the pandemic, but any bit of affection and gentleness really gets me these days...didn't think I was attracted to men but now it's Alex *and* Greg! (and Alice, to be fair)

[@Hellefleur]

Is.... That an avocado wearing a gag ball?!

[@cynthiazhang]

"It's frustrating isn't it Greg when you're asked to complete tasks under pressure and there's a lot of people watching" - Jess 😂

[@wsmarczak]

😂

[@soupsgord]

Epitome of smug 🤣🤣

[@88porpoise]

And somehow I can't even say that is the best part of the bit. James Acaster laying into Gregg. Gregg taking James aside and giving him a talking to like one of his students. Alex opening tbe box and closing rifht as Gregg returns. Gregg "opening" the box. All deserve consideration alongside Jess' snipe. Almost certainly the best bit of the entire show.

[@tombolton1379]

Mel referring to the audience as “gang” is the most Mum thing I’ve ever heard

[@chelseawildflowerloftinwey1945]

I love her

[@purplefood1]

@@chelseawildflowerloftinwey1945 she's genuinely amazing

[@flala2261]

💯

[@telegraphicfilms9908]

It’s like listening to an overly enthusiastic substitute teacher

[@fpspwny995]

Mel just IS the most Mum thing ever.

[@Rabhadh-RhymesWithJava]

Honestly, the thing that impressed me most from the "confusing little box" clip was Jess' comeback at the end of it.

[@sophiaredwood5825]

Me TOOOO

[@lwaves]

I'd forgotten that Greg and James had that little chat after his outburst but Jess's comeback to Greg was perfect.

[@TiddlywinksVonSmythe]

And Greg's little eyebrow wiggle

[@thor654]

It was Greg showing his teacher skills

[@2sdd]

@@lwaves what do u mean

[@jeckyllandheyed]

Honestly, the mysterious box prize is one of the best packages of jokes in all of the prize tasks: Phil's haggling schtick had been done enough to recognize but not yet enough for the other contestants to just give it an eye roll, Acaster's outburst, Greg losing it on the box (honestly, when I watched just the show I never noticed that Alex had solved it and slid it back together just before handing it back to Greg,) and then Jess' wonderful quip at the end... You couldn't script it more perfectly.

[@katiikN]

you're so right, it is my favourite moment of all of taskmaster. I must have watched it several dozen times at this stage

[@BasilLecher]

I also missed that Alex solved the box. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[@kris778]

I’ve watch that clips so many times cause it’s in every comp but somehow I’ve never noticed that Alex solved it 😂

[@KNR90]

He didn't solve it.. He passed it from one hand to the other

[@ghosttundra]

@@KNR90 he did solve it, it was opened

[@MrLarry]

“My thing is guacamole” “Okay, and - what?”

[@hi-ve1cw]

I'm obsessed with the way she pronounces guacamole. Gwackamolee lol

[@thelonesculler]

You can just see the moment his brain goes "ERROR"

[@FishFreddy]

I love how weird she is and how self-conscious she is of it. "I see where you are coming from." "What?" "That it's shi*"

[@NamelessAcquaintance]

Would be hilarious if it was just all prize tasks from season 10 haha

[@TheHutchy01]

Or just Rhod.

[@theyorkrose5274]

It should have just been the current season tbf

[@PassionPi]

That’s what I expected it to be haha

[@JMaxwellE]

Same

[@TheHutchy01]

@@sillydaisy11017 Well I don't want a selection of pictures and videos of Greg in various states of nakedness. The BT replica was cool though.

[@Aperki2010]

Love how Alex opens the box in that time and non chalantly closes it as he gives it to Gregg.

[@jacqiball4293]

And then the look on his face.

[@katherine7146]

Greg’s “oh, dear!” when Mel does the pea voices is 100% my favourite taskmaster moment of all time.

[@Katielovegood44]

“Irritating” 😂

[@russmawson6744]

@@Katielovegood44 it's one of my worst. She's a comedy vacuum

[@lowhp_comic]

They cut the best part where she protests the peas won't like being in last and Gregg in a deep voice goes *"THEY CAN FUCKIN DEAL WITH IT"*

[@smeargle518]

Season 4 is the best season imo

[@poppy786]

"person or woman" gets me everytime

[@lolapeet9281]

In every other clip James has been bleeped out. This is much better

[@joelcoool]

I agree I have no idea why they censor the KZbin clips

[@LizzieNeedsALife]

I did not expect that to be the word they censored. I thought he called Greg a f***er lol (censored because KZbin doesn't like 'bad words')

[@CaesarTjalbo]

It was "pussy", I'd remembered it as "prick" :-o

[@smeetsnoud1]

@@joelcoool It's because they're now on Channel 4 which is more lenient to profanity

[@Menno_3]

I always thought he said something like cunt

[@mannequin_mu]

8:28 Greg interrupting his own sentence out of confusion still gets me

[@ghostspaghetti4249]

just expecting all of Hugh's to be included

[@iheartbusterk82]

Joe Thomas too...

[@jacqiball4293]

Except the chair.

[@Katielovegood44]

The cloud appreciation daily email 😂 honestly that sounds such a hilarious gift for someone tho

[@TomS-rv8me]

Agreed. I thought 'The antithesis of cute' would have featured at least.

[@magicalhikari5859]

I mean, hey, losing 5 consecutive prize tasks is no easy thing to achieve

[@ftd888]

I sympathize with Hugh. It’s like when you hear an old song that you love on the radio. Sure, you could find that song on KZbin any time that you wanted - but the element of surprise makes it much more rewarding. He also makes a valid point about just going to the store and buying cheese or bacon yourself.

[@izzfizz9721]

You could also look out the window and be surprised 😂

[@Bi773n]

Please do a 'angriest moments in taskmaster' compilation. would be funny

[@MichaelCoombes776]

Daisy's "aaaaaghwwawaawwgh" in the silent cocktail task wins IMO.

[@misfitvillainz1769]

I think it would just be James Acaster staring at Rhod.

[@finsmylie8382]

James's hula hoop, Rhods javelin, daisy msy Cooper and the "hippo", just to name a few

[@baza8929]

@@finsmylie8382 what hippo that was nyan cat

[@TVFILMBUFF]

Not a vent puppet... not a vent puppet. No Points. NO POINTS

[@taterussell8199]

God I forgot how much I love Phil's haggling jokes

[@jk7690]

joke, it's 1 joke over and over. It's funny but ya know..he does it like 10 frikking times

[@peterclarke7240]

It's something that is known in the comedy trade as a "running gag." I for one appreciate the effort he put into it.

[@stenleesmann2300]

@@peterclarke7240 a running gag offers something different with each subsequent reiteration. this does none of it. it has the same structure and punchline every time. i admit i laughed at the first one but it was astounding that he went for the exact same joke like 4 times more.

[@peterclarke7240]

@@stenleesmann2300 They offer something SUBTLEY different, such as a change in scenario which sets up the running gag. So Phil using the "so I haggled" line in every scenario he can logically fit it into remains a running gag because the scenario changes, even if the haggling process doesn't. I also didn't say it was a GOOD running gag, but it was a running gag, nonetheless.

[@JMaxwellE]

I was expecting this to be just the series 10 prizes, it’s like they’ve got their own competition behind the scenes to see who can bring in the worst thing

[@Ghilannugs]

I just finished Series 10 and HONESTLY. When almost all brought jelly? A PLASTIC CUP? iconic

[@wystxrr]

@@Ghilannugs jelly was S11 I think…. Could have been both though

[@Millie-wi6th]

TIMESTAMPS: 00:11 Phil's confusing box, S7E04 02:36 Joe's diamond earrings, S8E2 03:26 Hugh's cloud society subscription, S4E3 05:30 Mel's plush pea pod, S4E5 06:28 Nish's euros, S5E7 07:15 Rhod's hideous candle holder ornament thing (there is no way to describe this one sorry gang), S7E5 07:58 Kerry's guacamole, S7E7 09:15 Sara's poisonous snake, S3E2 10:00 Nish's CD with a recording of his own laugh, S5E1 10:55 Joe's tomato stem smell, S8E1

[@wibbliams]

Poor joe and nish

[@kell1reilly2]

I shrieked after Kerry said her item was guacamole and Greg went " Ok, and.. ...what?"

[@holychickenmcnugget7107]

Taskmaster is pretty much the only thing that got me through this year

[@BoingBB]

Best show on TV by miles!

[@LizzieNeedsALife]

Same tbh I'm from the US so I can only watch them here

[@holychickenmcnugget7107]

@@LizzieNeedsALife I feel you, I get my Taskmaster fix from solely from KZbin too ^^

[@mzdiamondlover]

I just discovered it and I’m happy I did. Better late than never.

[@JasonZakrajsek]

Why did you capitalize “Thing”?

[@dj-kq4fz]

I would love to see a highlight reel of Alex cracking up. He seems genuinely amused quite frequently on the live portion, and I'll bet even more often in the taped tasks.

[@lisajade2961]

Yes! I love when he breaks character like that its so genuine and wholesome, like hes been exicted waiting for it to come up on the show

[@dj-kq4fz]

@@lisajade2961 He seems to have a great sense of humor, doesn't he. Superbly dry-witted I think.

[@martinhendry2683]

"Now that's what I call Nish's laugh" is a great combination of words

[@katieleighh]

The look of fear in James Acasters face when Greg got up! 😂💀

[@trevorgayworth]

"The person or woman..."

[@sticlavoda5632]

Well yes in the past if i remember correctly person was synonymous with man . And so there was a person and a woman

[@ampersandcastle1091]

That gets me every time lmaoo, I love jokes that are just blatantly sexist (obv not seriously), I think it was Frank Skinner in the teabag throwing task that said something like “I can’t see anyone beating that, who else is doing it? Sissies, girls...” and that cracks me up too

[@angmering5899]

My favourite bit about James swearing at Greg is when they cut to the wide shot with Jess just staring incredulously into James' face.

[@PppGameboy]

Bold to upload this before series 10 has finished airing

[@user-dr2ms1lu8k]

Don't worry, Catharine will have an entire compilation of her being terrible at taskmaster.

[@PhoebeGrigor]

I must’ve watched that clip with James and Greg a dozen times this year but I’ve only just noticed Alex trying to hold Greg back 😂

[@painteater]

The cloud appreciation society💔 hugh really won my heart with that one

[@davesmith2194]

The cloud appreciation society

[@laurenngng]

I actually really liked Hugh's cloud membership :(

[@iheartbusterk82]

But James’s outburst with the box is a series highlight?!?

[@BlitzerXYZ]

But the box itself got low points

[@iheartbusterk82]

@@BlitzerXYZ true, true.

[@lwaves]

@@iheartbusterk82 It just how sometimes the crappest thing can bring the best clips. One crap puzzle box gave us James's outburst, the Greg and James chat, the box smashing and Jess's comeback to Greg. All from a single piddly box.

[@ziripond3502]

Same. I honestly think that the worst prizes are the ones that show that the person hasn't even tried. Like, something could be pretty shitty but with a compelling story, or evoke an enjoyable reaction during studio recordings. But the forgettable ones are just meh and deserve to be on this list

[@Kernel15]

@@ziripond3502 Umbrella

[@rmkw4291]

"Well that's 300 Baht I'm not getting back" *Looks up the conversion of it to pound sterling* Oh OK.

[@y4wnd3r3]

very very upset "it's melon innit" didn't make it in. absolutely hilarious

[@jackmanley1473]

I can't believe they showed the Heaviest Prize Task from Series 3 and DIDN'T go with Paul Choudhury's' shoebox full of melon. One of the funniest moments in series history.

[@bobbiwib]

“Melon init” was a series highlight for me!

[@GNVS300]

Didn't Paul win that task though?

[@Calumba1904]

I’m surprised it wasn’t just all Hugh’s prizes

[@phothawkraphy2693]

with some of Rhod's thrown in for good measure

[@jacobloving6765]

Also, most of daisy Cooper’s

[@OP-1000]

Q

[@FangToh]

Greg taking James aside and have that talk is what I pictured him being a teacher is like

[@hilariocity__]

I will fight whoever decided to put Mel peas here. They were adorable! She was done so dirty! Greg has no heart -___-

[@Maazin5]

I love Mel ♥️

[@BoingBB]

He HAS a heart. A solid stone one. :)

[@chaim1842]

I thought that was established multiple times throughout the series.

[@SlothBird]

correct

[@kisbie]

For some odd reason, Greg seems to have something against Pixar (the peas are from the Toy Story films if anyone didn’t know). In series 3, he dumbfounds Al Murray when he admits he doesn’t like WALL-E.

[@AlwaysBolttheBird]

Greg's genuine confusion over guacamole is awesome

[@cynthiazhang]

"Hugh, have you heard of the sky" 💀

[@cavewomanbrain]

honestly expected everyone’s “thing that begins with g” to be included lol

[@ForumcoldiArchon]

Ye I would have brought gin.. or a girafe

[@kaceeeddinger6946]

Sometimes, Greg just very simply reminds us that he used to be a teacher, like when he takes James aside to have a little chat.

[@LL-lv8ke]

I would love a compilation of all the times greg put on his teacher tone like he did with James in the 1st one.

[@brinhitchings5994]

love the way Greg takes James for a little talk, then comes back to Alex casually closing the box and handing it to him 🤣🤣🤣

[@notme222]

I liked Hugh's "Cloud Appreciation Society". Better than 95% of anything so far in Series 10.

[@scoreless.thru.23]

Let's not forget Joe Thomas' best burstable item: Grape! Joe Thomas: The Original Series 10 Prize Task (plz don't hurt me joe I love you)

[@Maazin5]

But it was a brilliant reference to the Keats poem!

[@scoreless.thru.23]

@@Maazin5 oh i either had no idea or forgot it was a reference lol

[@BlitzerXYZ]

Just got the notification already 2/3 comments roasting series 10

[@george5954]

To be honest, the series 10 prize tasks being consistently awful has only made me find them even funnier every week

[@ticoangelo]

"roasting"

[@sanderverhage8331]

At 1:20 you can see Alex seriously worried that Greg lost his cool and is actually about to really beat James up without a care for his tv-show xD

[@Sunprism]

"Nish, What have you brought and why is it extraordinary?" "I've brought a Single Leaf" "Shit! Bob, What have you Brought?

[@JoaoPessoa86]

1:23 *teacher mode activated*

[@skaterbakes]

Mel’s prize combined with the voices made it the best prize ever

[@jeremyfuster7570]

Mel's prize is lovely and I won't have any word otherwise.

[@mrpelican5998]

Greg channeling his school teacher days with James was amazing 😂

[@moocha3689]

So a compilation of season 10?

[@samanthalaine8064]

Joe's powerful smell is actually brilliant. I can't stand that tomato-stem-smell. It always makes me think my tomato has gone bad.

[@reverse88]

wut That smell is brilliant

[@sarah-qz5oh]

so we all think it’s gonna be a lot of s10 right?

[@Septicor]

Greg's reaction to the guacamole had me dying for for a good solid 20 minutes.

[@b.b.8955]

OMG, you could see schoolteacher Greg come out there to James when that happened! Whew!

[@vincefox8]

We need a compilation of all the times Rhod used that photo of Greg as his task

[@gharbihamza4370]

"Worst ever prize tasks" might as well be a compilation of this whole series, lol.

[@francisconavarrog.1951]

Disappointed that it didn't include Daisy's crumpet.

[@phothawkraphy2693]

or Johnny's chips

[@seherling207]

Or Richard's cornetto

[@Game_Erica]

Greg taking James to the side to talk to him like a teacher will never get old

[@kelseywu3723]

Alex holding Greg back when he started to go for James is just so pure and funny to me

[@spookmomentum4380]

I love how Alex tries to stop Greg from getting up by pulling his arm as if he's going to do something very rash

[@mnm1273]

Makes you wonder how many people Greg has beaten up in front of Alex.

[@iseriver3982]

If you've read The Cloudspotters Guide then you'll realise Hugh is a visionary.

[@acmeholloway]

Going from Alex’s instant regret of the “special spot” line to “person or woman” to kerry’s really shit looking guacamole honestly finished me off

[@iamdb1990]

"person or woman" still gets me

[@declan5073]

Joe Thomas is such an icon lol I love his prize task entries

[@skippy7865]

A lot of these were at least creative. Season 10 has been so much of a wash for prize tasks, it's almost soul crushing

[@General_Flores]

Greg taking James back to have a talk was and still is one of the best moments in the show in my opinion

[@ashirateanby7743]

can you remember when they sat close together and the audience where in walking distance 👁👄👁

[@Nagnullat]

Thank you for omitting the trumprt transitions for these compilations. We appreciate it.

[@Kompoism]

This whole sequence in the first clip is one of the best bits of Taskmaster...what a series that was!

[@AO1hasyoutube]

The cloud subscription has legitimately not left my mind for half a year. I think the fact that it has lingered on my mind for that long means it’s freely special.

[@Joe-hi1zw]

"Drum roll please......" made me laugh way harder than it should've done

[@carjaroo]

1:23 I just noticed that Alex was genuinely worried that Greg was going to do something rash

[@chelseawildflowerloftinwey1945]

he says “don’t, don’t, don’t!”

[@robertsagest9552]

This show is the funniest thing for any person or woman to enjoy this holiday season.

[@drewidlifestyle7883]

“It certainly is distinctive Gregory” gets me every time

[@anophelesnow3957]

Poor Joe. Greg, that great oaf done him wrong. The green smell of tomato plants is the finest smell there is. V powerful.

[@Jayk-kz7sh]

joe thomas being on the show just brought out the Mr. Gilbert inside Greg, he can't help it it's instinct lol

[@michaelstrantzalis]

4:13 OMG what is that blue eyed demon in the back????? (left side) :O

[@sveniusz]

1:07 "It's gonna be good old telly, innit?" Proceeds to one of the best telly moments in recent history.

[@that.guy11]

I like how much Jess was tickled by “person or woman”

[@jeastman9603]

the episode with alex having ear gauges is an absolute classic taskmaster episode

[@theyorkrose5274]

Every single one of these would win any week of this season, even if they're paired with the wrong category. Some of these weren't even bad tbh 😂

[@Jambobist]

Crumpets have holes in them! What's the problem?

[@theyorkrose5274]

@@Jambobist haha it's true, but I think Herring's memento thing was the first time someone actually brought in something that mattered all season unless I'm forgetting something substantial. I don't dislike the few lateral thinking ones but a 50p item you have lying around your house is weak effort lol

[@LoneKharnivore]

You have to remember that shops weren't open during lockdown.

[@Kernel15]

@@theyorkrose5274 Johnny Vegas' one-armed bandit

[@theyorkrose5274]

Almost every business delivered, lots of shops were open for most of this season, they have lots of contacts as they're celebrities, and MOST of the historic best prizes weren't things that were bought anyway, so I don't buy that excuse. The one armed bandit was decent but still not as good historically as most of the ones on this video or other ideas. It does best guacamole though, I'll give it that!

[@miriamgreen3973]

The magic box one was hysterically funny on so many levels!!

[@victor-oh]

I loved the double take Greg did on the Guacamole

[@saoirsedeltufo7436]

I've seen that first clip ("open the box you pussy") so many times but this is the first time I've seen that Alex half gets up and tries to stop Greg... almost like he was expecting violence!

[@bigmama828]

I was expecting the season 6 invention task on here with Tim's shovel and Liza gluing a cactus onto a shoe

[@hannahharries5567]

It’s so weird seeing how close they all sat in the other series after watching the new one 😂

[@ReadySteadyDESTROY]

The disrespect for Hugh Dennis's clouds gets me every time. Poor Hugh

[@beefa24]

Greg’s teaching skill coming out with James just brilliant.

[@michykeys]

Damn didnt know alex guaged his ears lol

[@iseriver3982]

Jessica is great. Cheering on a fight and then putting Greg in his place.

[@LoraCoggins]

Alex: Actually opens the box Greg: Breaks it in half

[@eta2670]

I really do appreciate that Phil tells the same joke each episode

[@MichaelBranson6]

Greg and James' interaction is what I'm here for 🤣🤣🤣

[@philiplewis4630]

A hundred percent brand new. Genius at work.

[@babyblue1194]

As the Taskmaster. The supreme ruler of all that is allowed. Greg allowed Jessica’s comment to be aired. The whole confusing box moment is an absolute Taskmaster highlight.

[@sean8024]

the taskmasters faces get me everytime

[@alyssafayeabanilla8028]

Hugh!!! I joined the cloud appreciation society but only on facebook and the admin does share cloud photos uploaded by users from different parts of the world. its a very quaint community.