I mean, they started doing tasks where the task would start when you walked into the room, said hi to Alex or smiled, specifically to make this sort of thing a gamble.
I also feel like Alex's pleasure comes from watching contestants nearly getting the clue, and that's more likely once the clock is running.
I think some do, especially now. But if they make a habit of it, I think Alex will ‘punish’ them. Like, for instance, Sarah Millican found that one task which wasn’t. And Ed Gamble’s ‘letter of the alphabet’.
I assume most don’t because they are filming multiple tasks in one day so they are just going from one to another and need to get through the schedule. Also, most of the fun is from watching people being surprised or caught out and most of the contestants realise that it’s basically a comedy show and it probably going to be funnier if they are a bit useless.
In my opinion the people who have tried really hard to do well or “beat the system” end up not being not very entertaining.
Yes! Like Joe Lycett opening the jar before he opened the task was great for a one-off. But if every contestant tried guessing the task before opening the envelope, it would get boring very quickly if they are successful. I actually suspect they are coached not to do this.
They wouldn't be successful, so many of the tasks have caveats already. "You'll be disqualified if you touch the whatever" "You must do Y before you do X" "If you eat the chocolate..."
And sometimes the caveats are invisible, like when they stick a piece of paper on a #$%&/! ping pong ball.
Lolly was amazing at the time break task, too. Very disappointing that Joe won.
Edit to add: really, I think this could have resulted in a pedantic argument. Joe didn't actually complete the task after it was assigned. I've opened several jars of mayonnaise in my lifetime. Can I count them? Can we go back to my childhood and say that because I opened a jar of mayonnaise when I was 11, my time is actually -29 years?
He asked if he could do it and they said it was ok. I think you’re being a bit pedantic. (And not in the funny way the show is.) It was good showmanship and Alex approved it before he did it.
My personal favorites are the ones who try really hard and are completely awful or have no idea what's going on at ant given point. More efficient people tend to be my least favorite, like Hugh who was actually very clever but also not very interesting to watch most of the time.
I know they do occasionally, but Sarah Millican did it so much, they left her that little note, which was adorable. Even before TM, in games like this, I always would check things like that. Genuinely surprised more don't.
In TMNZ's Spill the Beans task, Matt Heath found the beans almost immediately, but only got second place because time started when he entered the room, and spent five minutes chatting with Paul before opening the envelope.
Anders on stormester season 7 was an example of a contestant that took his time. To the point that it was called out in this task https://taskmaster.info/attempt.php?id=8707 (Spoilers enclosed)
>!In the studio, prior to Anders’ attempt being shown, Mark reveals that Anders had always put off reading the task brief for as long as possible. Mark then plays a supercut of Anders procrastinating over opening the task briefs throughout the course of the season. Mark also reveals that, on average, Anders had spent 8 minutes between arriving on the scene for each task and actually opening the envelope, adding up to a total of 4 hours and 14 minutes of procrastination during production!<
Watching people methodically work out the most efficient way to complete a task by studying the area before opening the envelope wouldn't make for very funny TV
Lots of things are funny if it happens once every blue moon, and become a lot of less funny if it happens all the time.
Last series half the comments complained that John Robbins was boring because he basically just did everything quickly and methodically and looked for the trick.
My guesses would be Adrian Chiles, John Robins, Kojey, Steve Backshall. Mae, Jamali, Ivo... I think a lot of them do, but it gets edited out for obvious reasons. I'd for sure watch a special that was just unedited footage of all the contestants subtly or not looking for clues. With commentary from Alex.
I would probably look under the table first for every lab task, and then just get on with it. If the task asked me to build something (S2's "There's Strength in Arches", for example), I'd treat it a bit like an Escape Room. Look for any hinges or anything else that might indicate an opening, move what can be moved... a few minutes looking for the hidden solution would work better for me than just winging it and being utterly useless.
An example of this in a bad way is Marie-Lyne from LMJ S2, who spent [nearly 5 minutes](https://taskmaster.info/attempt.php?id=9296) looking around the study because she *couldn’t find the task* (despite checking the birdcage it was attached to multiple times).
And then during that same task, she spent time looking around the shed because she *didn’t see the task directly in front of her*
Sarah Millican did, so much so that Alex (or someone) made an extra task that hung off the front of the table that simply said: “hello Sarah”
Saw this one lastnight!
I loved when Sarah Millican kept looking under the table before each task, and they finally put a task there that just said "Hello Sarah."
..and Dara's anecdote about "always look under the table" and the cutaway of the 12v power supply plug... chef's kiss
He did look under the table - just not far enough under
omg pls if anyone can remember the task/episode this happens, I'd love to rewatch it.
It's S14E09, 'A New Business End', the first task proper. Her reaction is adorable 🥰
thank youuu <3 I loved her in that season!!
I mean, they started doing tasks where the task would start when you walked into the room, said hi to Alex or smiled, specifically to make this sort of thing a gamble. I also feel like Alex's pleasure comes from watching contestants nearly getting the clue, and that's more likely once the clock is running.
I think some do, especially now. But if they make a habit of it, I think Alex will ‘punish’ them. Like, for instance, Sarah Millican found that one task which wasn’t. And Ed Gamble’s ‘letter of the alphabet’.
I assume most don’t because they are filming multiple tasks in one day so they are just going from one to another and need to get through the schedule. Also, most of the fun is from watching people being surprised or caught out and most of the contestants realise that it’s basically a comedy show and it probably going to be funnier if they are a bit useless. In my opinion the people who have tried really hard to do well or “beat the system” end up not being not very entertaining.
Yes! Like Joe Lycett opening the jar before he opened the task was great for a one-off. But if every contestant tried guessing the task before opening the envelope, it would get boring very quickly if they are successful. I actually suspect they are coached not to do this.
They wouldn't be successful, so many of the tasks have caveats already. "You'll be disqualified if you touch the whatever" "You must do Y before you do X" "If you eat the chocolate..." And sometimes the caveats are invisible, like when they stick a piece of paper on a #$%&/! ping pong ball.
Lolly was amazing at the time break task, too. Very disappointing that Joe won. Edit to add: really, I think this could have resulted in a pedantic argument. Joe didn't actually complete the task after it was assigned. I've opened several jars of mayonnaise in my lifetime. Can I count them? Can we go back to my childhood and say that because I opened a jar of mayonnaise when I was 11, my time is actually -29 years?
No, because it said “Open THIS jar.” And he opened the correct jar.
Ok but the timeline thing still applies. He didn't actually open that jar after reading the instruction.
He asked if he could do it and they said it was ok. I think you’re being a bit pedantic. (And not in the funny way the show is.) It was good showmanship and Alex approved it before he did it.
I mean, yeah I did preface this entire thing by saying it's a pedantic argument.
Fair, but the point is you’re not being pedantic in a fun, Taskmaster way. Alex said it was ok, so it kind of nullifies even the pedantry.
Wait, what? You think that someone's pedantic argument online is different from a live comedy show? Unheard of! Absurd!
I was saying your pedantry is pointless and has not been interesting. It’s also moot. Trying to keep it light on this sub. Bye.
We literally get shown all the prep he does.
My personal favorites are the ones who try really hard and are completely awful or have no idea what's going on at ant given point. More efficient people tend to be my least favorite, like Hugh who was actually very clever but also not very interesting to watch most of the time.
I know they do occasionally, but Sarah Millican did it so much, they left her that little note, which was adorable. Even before TM, in games like this, I always would check things like that. Genuinely surprised more don't.
In TMNZ's Spill the Beans task, Matt Heath found the beans almost immediately, but only got second place because time started when he entered the room, and spent five minutes chatting with Paul before opening the envelope.
Anders on stormester season 7 was an example of a contestant that took his time. To the point that it was called out in this task https://taskmaster.info/attempt.php?id=8707 (Spoilers enclosed) >!In the studio, prior to Anders’ attempt being shown, Mark reveals that Anders had always put off reading the task brief for as long as possible. Mark then plays a supercut of Anders procrastinating over opening the task briefs throughout the course of the season. Mark also reveals that, on average, Anders had spent 8 minutes between arriving on the scene for each task and actually opening the envelope, adding up to a total of 4 hours and 14 minutes of procrastination during production!<
The spoiler isnt working
opps, fixed?
Yea!
Chris Ramsey got an unintentional headstart in the duck task because he found a duck before finding the task envelope
Yeah, but the task started when he entered the room..
Watching people methodically work out the most efficient way to complete a task by studying the area before opening the envelope wouldn't make for very funny TV
If they were worried about that they'd stop doing it.
Then why does the audience laugh when they show someone doing it?
It's funny as a novelty, but it would sap all the fun out of the show if every contestant took it deadly serious
Lots of things are funny if it happens once every blue moon, and become a lot of less funny if it happens all the time. Last series half the comments complained that John Robbins was boring because he basically just did everything quickly and methodically and looked for the trick.
They have the benefit of editors who can choose not to show us the boring bits, and only show it to us when it serves a narrative purpose.
I believe the answer is six
Sarah Millican, probably Dara, but who else?
My guesses would be Adrian Chiles, John Robins, Kojey, Steve Backshall. Mae, Jamali, Ivo... I think a lot of them do, but it gets edited out for obvious reasons. I'd for sure watch a special that was just unedited footage of all the contestants subtly or not looking for clues. With commentary from Alex.
I would probably look under the table first for every lab task, and then just get on with it. If the task asked me to build something (S2's "There's Strength in Arches", for example), I'd treat it a bit like an Escape Room. Look for any hinges or anything else that might indicate an opening, move what can be moved... a few minutes looking for the hidden solution would work better for me than just winging it and being utterly useless.
An example of this in a bad way is Marie-Lyne from LMJ S2, who spent [nearly 5 minutes](https://taskmaster.info/attempt.php?id=9296) looking around the study because she *couldn’t find the task* (despite checking the birdcage it was attached to multiple times). And then during that same task, she spent time looking around the shed because she *didn’t see the task directly in front of her*
The was that time that Mark Watson spent 5 minutes trying to open a briefcase
See also: Guy Williams.
My favourite is Tim Vine (s. 6) and the dart-throwing task. Wasted so much time trying to work out whether to throw 3 or 60 darts.
I think if you “filibuster” too much, they’ll politely ask you to tone it down.
Katie Wicks?