Episode 8: A couple of Ethels

Episode synopsis

In this episode the contestants must bring in the best thing they have repurposed, make a popcorn necklace while deciphering double-negatives, play and commentate on a socially-distanced sport, make their face look like another face when it's upside-down, and pop up before some objects. In a thrilling tie-breaker, two contestants must blow a feather across a table with their nose.

Title context

'A couple of Ethels' were who Guz Khan thought might be haunting the church in the 'Make a popcorn necklace and do the right thing' task.

Alternate Titles

• On Finland's MTV Katsomo streaming platform, this episode is titled 'Pari Etheliä', which translates as 'A couple of Ethels'. [Translator credit: zador]
• On Sweden's SVT Play streaming platform, this episode is titled 'Du får inte undvika att inte missa det här', which translates as 'You must not avoid to not miss this'. This title is simply referencing the confusing multiple negative clauses used in the task brief for the 'Make a popcorn necklace and do the right thing' task. [Translator credit: DANI]
• On Norway's Discovery+ Norge streaming platform, this episode is titled 'Et par Ethel', which translates as 'A couple of Ethels'. Note: this Norwegian translation of the title only appears in the subtitles for the episode, whereas the episode title listed on the platform is the original English title. [Translator credit: Jan Harald]

Taskmaster Intro

Hello, and welcome to Taskmaster. I know a lot of you out there in social media land think that sometimes when it comes to judgments, I don't always get it right. Well, you're wrong, and you'd better make sure those comments come from a server in Central Europe. It's not hard for a man with my connections to get a name, do you understand? You might be Dumbledore online, but I'll find you, and I'll disguise myself as a giant crow in a tree outside your house. You ever been jumped on by a six foot eight crow?! Then maybe keep your opinions to yourself. Right, let's meet the people brave enough to use their real names.

Assistant Intro

And, sitting to my left, a man who is the answer to the question 'What happens when you throw chunks of pork at a revolving car-wash brush?' It's little Alex Horne!

Taskmaster's Sign-off

So what have we learnt today? Well, people have suggested, because of the multitude of horrors we've seen over 12 series, Alex and I have been left bereft of feeling. Today, we found out categorically that is not true [slow-motion footage of both Greg and Alex jumping when the giant balloon burst]. Brave boys. Bye for now, and hooray again for Alan Davies. Thanks for watching. Goodnight.