Transformative Taskmaster

This week, TK and Nathan Good talk about the Taskmaster Treasure Hunts, both official and unofficial.

Links:
Join us on Patreon!

Other Links:

► The Unofficial Taskmaster Treasure Hunt II

► Masquerade on Wikipedia (book by Kit Williams)

► Bring Me The Head Of The Taskmaster (book)

► Taskmaster: 220 Extraordinary Tasks for Ordinary People (book)

► Taskmaster Champion of Champions Ep. 1

YouTube Video Link

Click here to open a transcript for this episode. Note: This is an automatic transcript. There will be errors and inconsistencies. We hope you can forgive us.

This week, TK and Ben Reynolds from The Horne Section talk about the band, the sitcom, Glastonbury, and Frankie Boyle’s drum kit.

Links:
Join us on Patreon!

Other Links:

► Will Collier Septet

► The blanket

https://youtu.be/WBikglw8a-Q

YouTube Video Link

Click here to open a transcript for this episode. Note: This is an automatic transcript. There will be errors and inconsistencies. We hope you can forgive us.

This week, TK and Jack Bernhardt talk spreadsheets, pedantry and the surprising shared struggles of fic writers and stat wranglers.

Links:
Join us on Patreon!

Other Links:

An Absolute Casserole

Jack Bernhardt | Taskmaster Wiki 

The Best 124 Moments In Taskmaster History (As A Way Of Escaping The Despair of 2020) [124–101] | by Jack Bernhardt 

Taskmaster Contestant Ranking – Series 19

Jack on Bluesky

Jack Bernhardt | The Guardian

YouTube Video Link

This week, we have Andys Cartwright and Devonshire on to talk about some of what goes on behind the scenes.

Links:
Join us on Patreon!

Other Links:

► Mistadobalina by Del Tha Funkee Homosapien

YouTube Video Link

Click here to open a transcript for this episode. Note: This is an automatic transcript. There will be errors and inconsistencies. We hope you can forgive us.

In this special episode of Transformative Taskmaster, TK chats with Dr Ali Struthers and James Blake-Lobb, co-heads of Taskmaster Education. From pineapples and prize tasks to university outreach and crocheted Alex Hornes, this lively conversation covers how Taskmaster’s joyful chaos is transforming classrooms across the UK.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Taskmaster Education actually is — and how it helps build creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork
• The difference between Taskmaster Club and School Tasking
• How tasks are adapted for different age groups and learning environments
• Real-world impact: boosting attendance, engagement, and student confidence
• Collaborations with Kids Invent Stuff, Hannah Fry, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, and more
• The role of fan-made arts and crafts
• Confirmation that Alex Horne is as kind and clever as we all suspect
• Junior Taskmaster and its links to the education programme
• What it’s like being a fan who now works in the Taskmaster universe
• Listen now to hear how Taskmaster is inspiring the next generation of lateral thinkers – one loo roll tower at a time.
• Look, we didn’t bring it up, but it seems James has a crush on New Zealand’s so-called ‘Taskmaster’. And thoughts on fanfic. Ali might have some too.

Find Taskmaster Education Online:

Taskmaster Club
School Tasking
School Tasking on Youtube
Triin’s Crocheted Greg and Alex dolls
Jo’s Needlefelted Alex dolls
No Context Colouring
Taskmaster Education on Twitter
Taskmaster Education on Facebook
Taskmaster Education on Instagram
Taskmaster Education on Youtube
Taskmaster Education on TikTok
Kids Invent Stuff with Alex

Other links:
Join us on Patreon!

YouTube Video Link

Saxophonist, songwriter, and one-sixth of The Horne Section, Mark Brown joins TK to dive into the band’s musical mayhem.

Highlights include:

• Edinburgh jazz gigs, postgrad hangovers, and Alex Horne beatboxing at Ronnie Scott’s.
• Mark’s giant baby Leo the Rottweiler-Poodle nearly chews a saxophone slider to death live on mic.
• Sax > clarinet > flute. Mark tried, but flutes just aren’t it.
• Horne Section musical? Mark says yes please.
• Imogen Heap’s studio = dream setup. Grammy shelf included.
• Makeup and hair: minimal. Except for that glam shoot for “Shit Show” – choreographed by Mark’s mates!
• Being a fictional version of himself? Mark says he’s just playing “Grumpy Mark.” Zero acting required.
• Mark talks Horne Section tattoos (planned but un-inked), his singing journey, and the band’s musical growth.
• Funniest Taskmaster memory? Getting drunk with Joe before playing “Midnight”.
• Secret dream? Learning Irish folk music properly on guitar. Mark wants in on pub sessions.
• Thirst traps on the socials? Fully approved by Mark.
• The Horndle quiz game was filmed in one night – because of course Alex already had 100 games prepped.

Horne Section songs discussed:

• Sidemen
• Friends Forever
• Drum and Bass
• Shit Show
• Chinese Five Spice
• Seasons
• If I Were
• Decisions
• Henry Hoover
• Midnight
• Less is More
• Time V Persons
• Manifesto
• Sensible Guy
• Fiddly Christmas
• Being With You

Movie THS featured in, uh, briefly?

• Time Travel Is Dangerous

Band Mark plays in:

• Soul Family

Other links:
Join us on Patreon!

YouTube Video Link

Buckle up guys because this week’s pod has a whole lot going on!

In the first part, TK talks with Joe from the Horne Section. (Expect to learn a lot about trumpets. Like, a lot.) They chat about…

• What’s it like appearing in an episode of Taskmaster, especially with none other than Jenny Eclair!
• Trumpets
• The Horne Section TV Show, and how it goes playing a semi-fictionalised version of yourself.
• Trumpets
• Is Joe’s magic head… real? And how often does he get recognised by fans?
• Are there any concrete plans for a Horne Section US tour?
• The best gifts he’s received from fans.

Find out…

• How Joe will do in the Rapid Fire Questions Game!
• Even more about trumpets.
• If Joe were to get a tattoo, what would it be of? (His answer is extremely interesting.)
• How Alex tests their improv skills to the limit.
• And yes, you guessed it, trumpets.

Whoa but hang on, someone’s taken over the podcast! It’s none other than our awesome editor and tech-wizard, Lewis!

TK tells us a story. (Not that kind, at least, not yet…)

Learn about how this silly little podcast came to be, what inspired it, and get some incredible behind-the-scenes deets! Ever wanted to know what it’s like recording a podcast with the Horne Section? (Spoiler alert: a lot more technically stressful than you might expect, yikes.)

They talk about the collaborative effort of a number of people in making this happen, and how the episode with Alex Horne came to be. We dispel some potential misunderstandings around that… it’s Tricky Territory guys, and we knew that. But we promise, we really didn’t ambush him. He was all in, for reals.

Horne Section Links:

Blessings – Joe’s favourite song he’s written.
Groupies – because that’s amusing in the context.
Chris Hoy – TK’s fave!
The Horne Section podcast
TK’s episode on the podcast

Other links:

Tim Key’s audiobook, The Incomplete Tim Key, which Joe played on!

YouTube Video Link

This week, TK talks with Little Alex Horne himself! (What a mighty brave Good Boy he is. FYI, TK did ask him beforehand if he was okay talking about fanfic, and his enthusiasm was undiminished.)

They discuss the Taskmaster fandom, the various forms of fan content created around the show, Taskmaster Lore, and so much more!

If you’ve ever wondered…

• How does the “harvesting” process work when they’re looking for fics to call out?
• Is Alex aware of the tagging system on AO3? Specifically, the Alex Horne Do Not Read tag?
• Do Greg and Alex knowingly Fan the Fanfic Flames?
• Who would be more of a menace during a podcast recording – Podcast Cat or Loky Podcast Dog?

…then this is where you’ll find answers!

Also, they play a game and Alex gives us his fic prompts. Our time starts now?

Links:

#HomeTasking Playlist

The Horne Section Tour

Alex Horne’s Comedy Football match 2025

Alex’s upcoming children’s novel The Last Pebble preorder link

Horne Section Podcast episode where Greg and Alex set a fanfic to music

More Links:

Like what we do? Like, really, like it? Then become a fan of the fans of the fans (or Podcast Cat) on Patreon <3

Curious about what appears under the tag Alex Horne Please Don’t Read? (Look, you can’t say we didn’t warn you.)

Games Section Fic Mentions:

Paints Drunk – Illuminescence

The Jester and the King – LadyJekyll

When Death Comes – LadyJekyll

YouTube Video Link

In this episode, TK chats with Lauren Balser (University of Virginia) about the fascinating world of real person fanfiction (RPF). Using the Taskmaster fandom as a case study, we explore how fans navigate ‘ethical RPF,’ especially when Greg Davies and Alex Horne have directly acknowledged it!

Tune in for a deep (but fun!) dive into fandom, ethics, fourth-wall breaks, and the way Taskmaster interacts with its own fandom.

Read Lauren’s article: Real Person Fanfiction and the Construction of the (Un)Ethical Fan

Find Lauren online:

• Lauren’s Website
• Lauren’s Bluesky

Fanworks mentioned in this episode:

• A Reciprocation by Elixir_if_I_wanna

YouTube Video Link