When a format like Taskmaster crosses borders, it brings two things: global familiarity and serious creative risk.
In the UK, the show is a cult phenomenon, anchored by the iconic duo of Greg Davies and Alex Horne. Translating that absurd magic into something that resonates with Australian audiences is a delicate balancing act. But according to Sarah Thornton, head of non-scripted, Paramount Australia, it’s an experiment that’s paid off.
“Obviously, it was a format, so there’s a bit of safety there,” Thornton told Mediaweek. “But making the Australian version was definitely complicated, especially with a comedy that’s so based on the chemistry of its hosts. We asked ourselves: is it possible to make an Australian iteration of that and make it successful?”
Turns out, the answer was yes, with strategy, persistence and a touch of luck.
‘Taskmaster’ Tom Gleeson
The Gleeson effect
Landing Tom Gleeson as the Aussie Taskmaster was, for Thornton, a major turning point. His dry, deadpan authority brought instant credibility to the local version, but that casting coup didn’t happen by accident.
“It took a lot of hard work behind the scenes to get Tom, but he wanted to do it,” Thornton said. “He knew the format from the UK, and he could see it was a good fit for him.”
The final deal was the result of a unique collaboration between production partners, Token Group, Network 10, and the ABC. “We had to work really closely with Jennifer Collins at the ABC, and between that cocktail of people, we came up with a way to make it work. But I felt very safe once we had Gleeson on board. The show was in very safe hands, and he just keeps getting better every season,” Thornton said.
Learning from a misfire
Taskmaster’s US version only lasted one season, a rare flop for a format that has otherwise thrived in global markets. Thornton says that experience was actually invaluable for the Australian adaptation.
“It’s never nice when a show doesn’t work, but we were lucky to have that blueprint. The US version made some clear decisions that didn’t pay homage to the original, but also didn’t localise it in the right way either,” she said.
That insight helped inform every creative choice for the Australian run, from the tone to the writing to the challenges themselves. “We don’t use any of the UK tasks,” Thornton said. “They’re all new, and they’re designed with an Australian spin in mind.”
The assistant with his own flavour
One of the format’s wild cards is the Taskmaster’s assistant. In the UK, Alex Horne, who also created the show, plays the straight-faced foil to Greg Davies. In Australia, that role belongs to Tom Cashman, and while the dynamic is different, the result still lands.
“I’d say Cashman has done a great job developing his own flavour of assistant,” Thornton said. “It’s definitely different from Alex in the UK or Paul Williams in New Zealand. He’s got this pedantic nerd energy that works really well for Australia. And he has more screen time than the Taskmaster, which shifts the tone.”
The creative team also continues to have strong ties with Horne himself. “Alex reads through all the tasks, and he’s amazing, so generous with his time and available for feedback. By season four, I think he’s very comfortable with what we’re doing,” said Thornton.
Comedy with brand power
Thornton believes Taskmaster Australia has found its sweet spot between absurdism and relatability, a mix that’s resonated with local audiences and made it a bright spot in the network’s unscripted slate “There’s an amazing power play between the host, the assistant and the comedians” Thornton said. “It’s very specific, and we’ve managed to recreate that chemistry here with an Australian tone.”
She added: “We want to continue tonally to maintain the balance we’ve achieved. Every season, we ask: do we need to tweak the live tasks? Can we be more visual? How do we lift things 10%? But we’re confident we’ve found a formula that works, and the audience agrees.”