As Alex Horne tells it, Taskmaster was born out of professional jealousy. In 2009, he became a parent and so broke with almost a decade of tradition by not taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe. That same year, his friend and former flatmate Tim Key won the festival’s top comedy award, for which Horne had been nominated in 2003.
At home and envious, Horne sent out emails inviting 20 comedians – including Key – to take part in a new competition in which he would set them a different task each month for a year. The results would be shared in a live performance at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe called The Taskmaster.
The result was organised chaos. An overdraft of comedians (a Fringe-specific collective noun) plus a pianist joined Horne on stage to reveal the results, set tie-break tasks, and eventually crown a winner.
“So this is The Taskmaster,” Horne told the crowd, “It...
At home and envious, Horne sent out emails inviting 20 comedians – including Key – to take part in a new competition in which he would set them a different task each month for a year. The results would be shared in a live performance at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe called The Taskmaster.
The result was organised chaos. An overdraft of comedians (a Fringe-specific collective noun) plus a pianist joined Horne on stage to reveal the results, set tie-break tasks, and eventually crown a winner.
“So this is The Taskmaster,” Horne told the crowd, “It...
- 4/11/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Iceland’s Stockfish Film Festival has announced a new prize, the Eva Maria Daniels Award for Vital Filmmaking, which honors the legacy of the Icelandic filmmaker who died last year. With the support of Daniels’ partner Moritz Diller and son Henry, the festival will honor one standout producer or director in the shorts categories will receive the inaugural award commemorating her achievements and continued contributions to Iceland’s next wave of filmmakers. The prize includes a $1.5 million Icelandic krona award.
Daniels’ credits include “Reality” and “Joe Bell.” The 10th edition of the festival runs April 4-14.
“Eva’s approach to producing was to listen and support undeniable talent,” said her producing partner, Riva Marker, who will oversee the prize committee. “We will never know all the beautiful stories she would bring to audiences, but we’re honored to create an inaugural award endowed to storytellers that we believe Eva would have championed.
Daniels’ credits include “Reality” and “Joe Bell.” The 10th edition of the festival runs April 4-14.
“Eva’s approach to producing was to listen and support undeniable talent,” said her producing partner, Riva Marker, who will oversee the prize committee. “We will never know all the beautiful stories she would bring to audiences, but we’re honored to create an inaugural award endowed to storytellers that we believe Eva would have championed.
- 3/7/2024
- by Jaden Thompson, Caroline Brew and Diego Ramos Bechara
- Variety Film + TV
There are few bad days that can’t be remedied by watching an episode of Would I Lie To You?
This award-winning BBC panel show has been making us laugh for over 15 years thanks to hilarious repeat performances from the likes of Bob Mortimer and Rhod Gilbert, and the top-tier chemistry between team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell and host Rob Brydon.
It’s created so many legendary funny moments that picking a favourite is almost impossible, but here are the Would I Lie To You? stories that have gone down in TV history:
16. Henning Wehn Goes Missing in Morocco
Henning Wehn appears to have gone to the Kevin Bridges School of Storytelling (more on that later) – his yarns have a similarly scatter-brained approach that are pleasingly impossible to predict. Here he claims Interpol listed him as a missing person when he went on a bike ride in Spain...
This award-winning BBC panel show has been making us laugh for over 15 years thanks to hilarious repeat performances from the likes of Bob Mortimer and Rhod Gilbert, and the top-tier chemistry between team captains Lee Mack and David Mitchell and host Rob Brydon.
It’s created so many legendary funny moments that picking a favourite is almost impossible, but here are the Would I Lie To You? stories that have gone down in TV history:
16. Henning Wehn Goes Missing in Morocco
Henning Wehn appears to have gone to the Kevin Bridges School of Storytelling (more on that later) – his yarns have a similarly scatter-brained approach that are pleasingly impossible to predict. Here he claims Interpol listed him as a missing person when he went on a bike ride in Spain...
- 4/28/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
A+E Networks’ History Asks ‘Why Does Everyone Hate The English?’ With Comedian Al Murray – Edinburgh
Exclusive: Why does everyone hate the English? That’s the question being posed by British comedian Al Murray in a five-part series for A+E Networks’ History.
The British pay broadcaster has ordered Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate The English? from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver producer Avalon.
The comedian, famous for his Pub Landlord alter ego, will find out what lies behind England’s greatest feuds with its closest neighbours: Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and France. Each episode will see Murray partner with a local comedian and proud patriot – Antoine de Caunes in France, Henning Wehn in Germany, Fred MacAulay in Scotland, Elis James in Wales and Andrew Maxwell in Ireland – to explore stories of historic battles, massacres, riots and revolutions that have set the tone for our modern relationships with our closest neighbours.
The series, which will debut in the autumn, is directed by Top Gear’s Andrew Fettis,...
The British pay broadcaster has ordered Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate The English? from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver producer Avalon.
The comedian, famous for his Pub Landlord alter ego, will find out what lies behind England’s greatest feuds with its closest neighbours: Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and France. Each episode will see Murray partner with a local comedian and proud patriot – Antoine de Caunes in France, Henning Wehn in Germany, Fred MacAulay in Scotland, Elis James in Wales and Andrew Maxwell in Ireland – to explore stories of historic battles, massacres, riots and revolutions that have set the tone for our modern relationships with our closest neighbours.
The series, which will debut in the autumn, is directed by Top Gear’s Andrew Fettis,...
- 8/22/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
You might have noticed there's a General Election happening. But how can you keep up with all the bewildering swingometer and poll-closing action on TV? Fear not, because we've put together a handy guide to all of the best coverage.
What to watch now
If you missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start getting in the spirit of it early. Our pick for tonight is...
What to watch now
If you missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start getting in the spirit of it early. Our pick for tonight is...
- 5/6/2015
- Digital Spy
You might have noticed there's a General Election happening this week. But how can you keep up with all the bewildering swingometer and poll-closing action on TV? Fear not, because we've put together a handy guide to all of the best coverage over the next few days.
What to watch now
You might have missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? last night (May 5), but fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start...
What to watch now
You might have missed Educating Joey Essex: General Election - What Are You Sayin'? last night (May 5), but fear not, the programme is now available on ITV Player.
If you ever wanted to see a former Towie star interrogating the party leaders - minus spoilsport David Cameron, of course - then this is the show for you.
General Election 2015: Who are the celebrities voting for?
How should you watch the 2015 General Election? Take our fun quiz to find out
Preview shows (aka "the warm-up act")
The election isn't until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't start...
- 5/6/2015
- Digital Spy
The Enfield Haunting opened to over 750,000 viewers on Sky Living on Sunday night, overnight data suggests.
Timothy Spall's supernatural thriller was the second most-watched broadcast on the multichannels with 752k (3.4%) at 9pm.
ITV's new Women's Institute drama Home Fires rallied 4.82m (21.8%) at 9pm (519k/3.1% on +1), while Sheridan Smith's The C-Word on BBC One was seen by 3.79m (17.4%) at 8.30pm.
Earlier on in the evening, Celebrity Squares and Sunday Night at the Palladium entertained 1.77m (9.3%) and 4.0m (18.9%) respectively (45k/0.2% and 228k/1.0%).
As usual, Countryfile topped the night's ratings with 5.42m (30.8%), while Antiques Roadshow collected 5.22m (26.1%).
On Channel 4, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown returned with 1.09m (5.0%) at 9pm (320k/2.0%), and Henning Wehn's An Immigrant's Guide to Britain pulled in 780k (4.3%) from 10pm (214k/1.9%).
Channel 5 aired Legally Blonde to 813k (4.1%) at 7.10pm (133k/0.6%) and Resident Evil: Afterlife to 801k (4.1%) at 9pm (108k/0.8%).
BBC Two's Snooker World Championship coverage pocketed 1.95m (9.5%).
Elsewhere,...
Timothy Spall's supernatural thriller was the second most-watched broadcast on the multichannels with 752k (3.4%) at 9pm.
ITV's new Women's Institute drama Home Fires rallied 4.82m (21.8%) at 9pm (519k/3.1% on +1), while Sheridan Smith's The C-Word on BBC One was seen by 3.79m (17.4%) at 8.30pm.
Earlier on in the evening, Celebrity Squares and Sunday Night at the Palladium entertained 1.77m (9.3%) and 4.0m (18.9%) respectively (45k/0.2% and 228k/1.0%).
As usual, Countryfile topped the night's ratings with 5.42m (30.8%), while Antiques Roadshow collected 5.22m (26.1%).
On Channel 4, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown returned with 1.09m (5.0%) at 9pm (320k/2.0%), and Henning Wehn's An Immigrant's Guide to Britain pulled in 780k (4.3%) from 10pm (214k/1.9%).
Channel 5 aired Legally Blonde to 813k (4.1%) at 7.10pm (133k/0.6%) and Resident Evil: Afterlife to 801k (4.1%) at 9pm (108k/0.8%).
BBC Two's Snooker World Championship coverage pocketed 1.95m (9.5%).
Elsewhere,...
- 5/4/2015
- Digital Spy
The Alternative Comedy Experience is returning to Comedy Central in July.
Created by comedian Stewart Lee, the stand-up show goes both in front of and behind the curtain and features performances from some of the best cult comedy acts.
Lee said of the show: "I am delighted that Comedy Central have had the vision to bring back the connoisseurs' stand-up comedy show of choice."
The series will be 13 episodes long with performances from Bridget Christie, Tony Law, Isy Suttie, David Kay, Simon Munnery, Maeve Higgins, Josie Long, David O Doherty, Paul Foot and Henning Wehn.
There will also be a host of new names appearing on the show, some of which are making their first ever appearance on a TV stand-up series.
Filmed at Edinburgh's iconic The Stand Comedy Club in front of a live audience, the programme sees short clips of each act stripped across the series.
Lee chats...
Created by comedian Stewart Lee, the stand-up show goes both in front of and behind the curtain and features performances from some of the best cult comedy acts.
Lee said of the show: "I am delighted that Comedy Central have had the vision to bring back the connoisseurs' stand-up comedy show of choice."
The series will be 13 episodes long with performances from Bridget Christie, Tony Law, Isy Suttie, David Kay, Simon Munnery, Maeve Higgins, Josie Long, David O Doherty, Paul Foot and Henning Wehn.
There will also be a host of new names appearing on the show, some of which are making their first ever appearance on a TV stand-up series.
Filmed at Edinburgh's iconic The Stand Comedy Club in front of a live audience, the programme sees short clips of each act stripped across the series.
Lee chats...
- 6/11/2014
- Digital Spy
Happy Valley: BBC One, 9pm
Tonight's episode, the grand finale of Sally Wainwright's six-part series, sees Catherine struggling to keep her word and tell Nevison about the rape.
Ashley is released on bail, while the reason for Catherine's estrangement from her son Daniel is revealed. And has anyone seen Tommy Lee Royce?
CSI: Channel 5, 9pm
The crime drama returns for its 14th season, which picks up from last year where the forensics team try and solve a string of murders committed by a serial killer infatuated by Dante.
A flashback reveals CSI Morgan and Brass's daughter Ellie both get abducted. A race against time to find them ensues.
Backchat World Cup Special: BBC Three, 10pm
The comedy chat show presented by Jack Whitehall and his dad returns with a focus on this year's World Cup in Brazil.
Guests James Corden, Harry Redknapp, Henning Wehn and Rachel Riley delve into the football tournament.
Tonight's episode, the grand finale of Sally Wainwright's six-part series, sees Catherine struggling to keep her word and tell Nevison about the rape.
Ashley is released on bail, while the reason for Catherine's estrangement from her son Daniel is revealed. And has anyone seen Tommy Lee Royce?
CSI: Channel 5, 9pm
The crime drama returns for its 14th season, which picks up from last year where the forensics team try and solve a string of murders committed by a serial killer infatuated by Dante.
A flashback reveals CSI Morgan and Brass's daughter Ellie both get abducted. A race against time to find them ensues.
Backchat World Cup Special: BBC Three, 10pm
The comedy chat show presented by Jack Whitehall and his dad returns with a focus on this year's World Cup in Brazil.
Guests James Corden, Harry Redknapp, Henning Wehn and Rachel Riley delve into the football tournament.
- 6/3/2014
- Digital Spy
Mark Watson and Henning Wehn are to star in a new comedy series for Dave.
The comedians will team up for the six-part series Kia's Road to Rio ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year.
Watson and Wehn will drive together through South America ahead of the biggest event in the world's footballing calendar, culminating in a finale episode in Rio.
The show will see the pair meet football-obsessed locals, face roadside dramas, sample the local cuisine and meet famous football players.
Filming on the show is due to begin in January, and Dave has said that the programme will be broadcast in over 50 countries.
UKTV Commissioning Editor Iain Coyle said: "The series will offer an exciting insight into the host country of the FIFA World Cup and a fun way for Dave viewers to get ready for the biggest sporting event in the world."
Catch up...
The comedians will team up for the six-part series Kia's Road to Rio ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year.
Watson and Wehn will drive together through South America ahead of the biggest event in the world's footballing calendar, culminating in a finale episode in Rio.
The show will see the pair meet football-obsessed locals, face roadside dramas, sample the local cuisine and meet famous football players.
Filming on the show is due to begin in January, and Dave has said that the programme will be broadcast in over 50 countries.
UKTV Commissioning Editor Iain Coyle said: "The series will offer an exciting insight into the host country of the FIFA World Cup and a fun way for Dave viewers to get ready for the biggest sporting event in the world."
Catch up...
- 12/10/2013
- Digital Spy
From the Nutcracker to American Psycho, from Mary Poppins to Kurt Vile, our critics pick their must-sees of the festive season
If you wish it could be Christmas every day
Nutcrackers, various
You know it's Christmas in the ballet world by the number of Nutcrackers touring the world's stages. In the UK alone, there are close to a dozen doing the rounds, but the top three remain the Royal Ballet's exquisitely traditional version, the sparky family friendly production by Birmingham Royal Ballet, and English National Ballet's – with the best snow scene of them all. Royal Opera House, London (020-7304 4000), 4 December to 16 January; Birmingham Hippodrome (0844 338 5000), to 12 December; London Coliseum (020-7845 9300), 11 December to 5 January.
Father Christmas
Does Father Christmas use the loo? Does he secretly long for summer? Does he have strong views on the size of chimneys? You bet he does. Raymond Briggs's gorgeous picture book gets a heartwarming makeover for under-sixes.
If you wish it could be Christmas every day
Nutcrackers, various
You know it's Christmas in the ballet world by the number of Nutcrackers touring the world's stages. In the UK alone, there are close to a dozen doing the rounds, but the top three remain the Royal Ballet's exquisitely traditional version, the sparky family friendly production by Birmingham Royal Ballet, and English National Ballet's – with the best snow scene of them all. Royal Opera House, London (020-7304 4000), 4 December to 16 January; Birmingham Hippodrome (0844 338 5000), to 12 December; London Coliseum (020-7845 9300), 11 December to 5 January.
Father Christmas
Does Father Christmas use the loo? Does he secretly long for summer? Does he have strong views on the size of chimneys? You bet he does. Raymond Briggs's gorgeous picture book gets a heartwarming makeover for under-sixes.
- 11/25/2013
- by Lyn Gardner, Michael Billington, Andrew Clements, Alexis Petridis, Judith Mackrell, John Fordham, Brian Logan, Stuart Heritage, Mark Lawson, Jonathan Jones
- The Guardian - Film News
To mark the release of Alternative Comedy Experience Season 1 on 18th November, we’ve been given 5 copies to give away on DVD.
This critically acclaimed series, which proved a ratings success when it first aired on Comedy Central earlier in the year, with a second season to follow in 2014, is curated by Stewart Lee and features a cast of highly individual award-winning and break-through comedians, including Tony Law, Simon Munnery, Isy Suttie, David O’Doherty, Paul Foot, Andy Zaltzman, Henning Wehn, Josie Long, Eleanor Tiernan, David Kay and Bridget Christie.
The Alternative Comedy Experience was filmed in front of a real comedy club audience at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh, faithfully capturing the unique atmosphere of one of the UK’s favourite and longest established live comedy clubs. It showcases a mix of modern day comedians offering material possibly too clever, thoughtful, radical, satirical, strange, or downright stupid to...
This critically acclaimed series, which proved a ratings success when it first aired on Comedy Central earlier in the year, with a second season to follow in 2014, is curated by Stewart Lee and features a cast of highly individual award-winning and break-through comedians, including Tony Law, Simon Munnery, Isy Suttie, David O’Doherty, Paul Foot, Andy Zaltzman, Henning Wehn, Josie Long, Eleanor Tiernan, David Kay and Bridget Christie.
The Alternative Comedy Experience was filmed in front of a real comedy club audience at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh, faithfully capturing the unique atmosphere of one of the UK’s favourite and longest established live comedy clubs. It showcases a mix of modern day comedians offering material possibly too clever, thoughtful, radical, satirical, strange, or downright stupid to...
- 11/14/2013
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
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