“Taskmaster Australia” will be back for Season 2, although timelines and casting for its second outing are not yet clear.
Variety Australia had speculated about the return of the show, after host Tom Gleeson ended Season 1 by saying: “That’s it from me. See you next season on “Taskmaster Australia”. Goodnight.”
At the time broadcaster Network 10 declined to comment.
Now, however, the Taskmaster’s assistant Tom Cashman has revealed that Season 2 is currently in production, with Network 10 then confirming the news to Variety Australia.
Alex Horne, creator of “Taskmaster” and the Taskmaster’s assistant in the long-running U.K. version told Variety Australia: “The Australian Taskmaster’s assistant [Cashman] is efficient and kind and I want him to be my friend, so I’m really glad they’re doing another season. Greg and I watched the first one together with some snacks and drinks and really enjoyed it and I’m pretty sure we’ll do the same next time around.”
Wanted to say a belated thank you to everyone who watched #TaskmasterAU Season 1! I’m back filming Season 2 as we speak 😍 (in the meantime S1 all on 10play (they also have Bold & the Beautiful on there)) pic.twitter.com/RW70vWpgoT
— Tom Cashman (@_tomcashman) April 25, 2023
Variety Australia understands that more announcements about Season 2 are coming soon.
Season 1 of the local iteration of show premiered in February to 520,000 national overnight viewers. A week later, its Total TV audience, including those who had viewed a recording within seven days and those who had caught up online via 10 Play, was up to 621,000.
Its final episode 10 weeks later had an overnight national audience of 367,000, which lifted to a total of 518,000 seven days later.
This year’s season had five comedians – Julia Morris, Luke McGregor, Jimmy Rees, Nina Oyama and Danielle Walker – competing in tasks, each of which were said to be “more mind-bending and head-scratching than the last”.
“‘Taskmaster’ rewards innovation, berates incompetence and doles out a laugh a minute,” Network 10 added ahead of its premiere.
Internationally, the format has been sold to 12 countries, with over 300 episodes produced outside the U.K. It was also given life to a YouTube channel, an app and a board game.
Each new season traditionally has a new batch of comedians competing to be the champion.