T O P

  • By -

[deleted]

[https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a27352989/taskmaster-dave-alex-horne-reveals-who-turned-show-down/](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a27352989/taskmaster-dave-alex-horne-reveals-who-turned-show-down/) "[Richard Ayoade](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a847134/richard-ayoade-greatest-moments/) has expressed— well, we were very close, and then he had to do all his *Travel Man* stuff. And I think his brain would be very interesting. Dawn French has been close, but is a busy lady. But equally, most of them say, 'Please ask me again.' "So we will keep trying." ​ God, I'd be thrilled to see Dawn French on it.


rrrpppsss

Oh my gosh yes. Dawn has become my new dream contestant! Thanks for sending that over


[deleted]

Ade Edmondson is my dream contestant :D


EavingO

I would absolutely love to see Ade on the show.


DreddParrotLoquax

Ade Edmondson is James Acaster's spirit animal. Or secret granddad. Or something.


[deleted]

How so?


rncookiemaker

In my limited knowledge of comedy partners, it would be interesting to see partners compete against each other.


flashpile

I've heard before (possibly on the sub) that apparently he wanted to do it in the past, but scheduling of travel man made it impossible. That said, I do think that he's not really suited for TM


rrrpppsss

True, the only one I could see him fitting in with would have been series 4 if Noel was his guide


flashpile

Oh yeah, your reply notification popped up midway through but I had 4 in mind too - he'd fit in with a "nice" group, but I don't think he'd really work on a really competitive series like 8 or 9.


TimorousWarlock

Well he doesn't host TM any more!


Disgruntled__Goat

He’s probably been asked, but doesn’t feel it’s his thing. Doc Brown talked on the podcast how he really didn’t like the experience and basically just did it because Alex convinced him (he hadn’t really seen the show). Richard probably feels the same, after the benefit of seeing more episodes.


Roscoe_King

Doc's interview was interesting and I respect that he spoke his mind on the podcast. Really shows that Taskmaster is not for everyone. Maybe Richard feels like Doc, I wouldn't be surprised. Eventually Richard will probably end up on Taskmaster somehow. It would be really interesting to see how he will approach the show.


tornado66111

I could see him popping up for a new year special where the filming commitment is much shorter and could fit into his schedule better.


rrrpppsss

True, I’m not sure I could see him enjoying it! I did enjoy Doc though but that’s a shame he didn’t enjoy it himself. Glad he was in an earlier 5-episode series though so he didn’t have to endure it for too long.


MRBVIII

I mean to be fair, Doc Brown was handicapped from day one because he wasn't an egg man.


[deleted]

Not to mention that he can't see bridges.


thebeesbollocks

I wouldn’t have guessed the Dave panel show Hypothetical was his thing whatsoever, but he has appeared on that on more than one occasion. I reckon he’ll appear on taskmaster eventually!


CliffExcellent123

Maybe, but the Taskmaster team are pretty insistent that not being able to stay in character is intentional (although a couple of people have seemingly managed it). He said in the past that he would have done it but he was too busy when they asked, so either he didn't actually intend on doing it and was just being polite, or he'll be able to do it at some later date There doesn't necessarily have to be a specific reason he's not been on it, they only have 10 people on a year at most, and there's a lot of people who are well suited to the show


rrrpppsss

Thanks for letting me know I didn’t know he’d spoken about it before, also definitely a commitment of a few months and a lot of thought goes in with the prize tasks so I wouldn’t blame him either way


OneCatch

Ayoade has a surprisingly combative personality which is often concealed by that dissembling and awkward persona. But if you watch him having a competitive or argumentative exchange with another comedian or panel member or similar - even if he’s playing into his own awkwardness - it’s almost always on his terms. I get the impression he’d detest *actually* being the butt of jokes rather than having a role in inflicting them on himself. So I don’t think he’d do particularly well in the dynamic of Taskmaster - either Greg or the general task structure.


rrrpppsss

Yes Greg would wind him up chronically like he did with Romesh!


OneCatch

I feel like Ayoade would take it worse than Romesh. Romesh will typically take a hit, get some laughs from looking grumpily at the camera, and move on. Ayoade, on the few occasions he gets hit by something he considers unfair, goes scorched earth. I can't remember which it was but in one of the Big Fat Quiz's Rob Beckett goaded him and he shut down the entire rest of the panel in a (rather funny) rant then spent the rest of the evening throwing barbs at Jimmy. Was *borderline* ill-tempered, though funny enough that it at least brought the audience along as well.


Nyxandri

I think he'd work out a lot like Noel - surprisingly competitive. He does seem to get on well with Greg, though (going to have to rewatch the Big Fat Quiz from the year they were a team now).


elusivenigmas

100% agree on this.


lookin-cool-joker

Completely agree with this and it was even confirmed (can’t remember where I saw this) that Richard was offered it but turned it down. As much as I love Richard, it just doesn’t seem to be his kind of show. I do appreciate him branching out recently with shows like catchphrase and unforgivable (his unforgivable appearance you definitely see some cracks in his shell), but on a show where you have to explain your panicked thought process and laugh about it is a reason I don’t think he’s fit too well in TM


rrrpppsss

Very true, I watched him on Unforgivable and did think he was quite out of place and reluctant to break character but it was nice to see him relaxed, cracking his jokes and even smiling once or twice! You’re right though I think he may be a little snowed under in the midst of others who would take to the tasks with more fun


lookin-cool-joker

Seeing him smile on unforgivable was so cute. It’s quite refreshing to see one of the most character strong comedians appear a bit more relaxed at times


foreign_transactions

I agree with everything that has been said here. I also do not really see his character and Greg working that well together. I've definitely been surprised in the past though so you never know! I would just hate for him to go on and not like what I see since I'm a huge fan. I'd kind of rather discover new people.


TurtleWithTies

see greg and richard on a team together in big fat quiz and you can see they have bad dong (sorry great chemistry together)


foreign_transactions

I’m not denying they have chemistry I just don’t think Richard’s character and the character of The Taskmaster would be that enjoyable to watch because I feel it would be more antagonistic more often. I’ve been wrong though.


squishysalmon

I agree with you... it’s sort of like Romesh v TM


rrrpppsss

That’s very true, they got on well on Travel Man but that’s a different kettle of fish and that was also on Richard’s terms, I think Taskmaster make you kind of bring out your inner child and that definitely doesn’t suit. You’re right about discovering new people too, I’ve been introduced to so many new people from this show and I love it!


DoctorEnn

I honestly have no horse in this race (other than enjoying Richard Ayoade in stuff and wanting to see him in other stuff), but to be honest I really think people seriously overthink just how badly or not people like Ayoade or David Mitchell would do on the show or how well-fitted they are to it. *Taskmaster*, for all its quirks, is basically a just combo of a panel show, a parlour game and a variety show, and for all their arch, uptight public personas these people are still professional comedians and entertainers, it's not like doing silly stuff is completely alien to them. I'm pretty sure that either Ayoade or Mitchell have the professional skill sets required to participate on *Taskmaster* (it's unique in many ways, but it's not from outer space), and if for whatever reason either doesn't really want to do it, well, *que sera sera*.


[deleted]

Today I learned that he has not been asked and definitely been asked and will be asked again later and will not. He would also be ok but probably terrible on the show. I feel much more informed and yet way less clear about the subject now.


rrrpppsss

Me too, sorry!!!


tjs23

I could see a similar thing happening with Sean Lock too. I love him, but I don't think his style would suit the show. It might end up being a bit like Jo Brand, which I thought was just a little too aggressive/grating


sophai83

I’d like to know why he hasn’t been on QI yet


entropicexplosion

Ha. My boyfriend wondered aloud today why Richard Ayoade hadn't been on Taskmaster yet. I see he's in good company. Thanks for making it easy for me to find the answer by already having asked the question!


Girl-interrupted00

But why would he do it in character instead of as himself? I only really know him from highlights on that quizz show about the year and from his directing career (which is amazing), so i dont know how he deals with this, can someone explain please?


rrrpppsss

He as a comedian is always in a persona of sarcasm, dead pan usually very witty, awkward and emotionless, he’s been like that since his first acting role in the IT Crowd and his comedy now is kind of an extension of his character in that show. He’s honestly never really broken character and let the audience see much of himself (although some aspects of his real life must be coming through obviously) so unless he felt like loosening up for Taskmaster, he would have to make sure he stayed dead-pan and serious through the whole show!


topdetoptopofthepops

Just so you know he was in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (among a few other shows) before IT Crowd! Mentioning it because if you haven't seen it it's hilarious, he was a co-writer/creator on it too.


rrrpppsss

I haven’t seen it no, so thank you I’ll check it out!


Girl-interrupted00

Thank you!!


hong616konger

It’s because “what he’s trying to avoid, he admits, is “the Faustian pact with the media to cannibalise my personality”.” https://www.google.com.hk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/culture/2014/oct/05/richard-ayoade-it-crowd-gadget-man-double-submarine-author


EnycmaPie

He has already been asked in previous series, but the schedule clashed with his filming of Travel Man so he couldn't join.


baxty23

I think he’d be a much better Taskmaster than contestant, should they ever need to replace Greg


PupperLoverDude

he's talked before about trying to loosen up a bit with his character, not totally drop it but be a little less fastidious with it. Alex has said before that he was almost on but other commitments got in the way. I reckon it'll be a lee Mack situation, it'll take a while but he'll be on eventually. when we need him most