Looking ahead to another great year of international Taskmaster in 2023

2022 was a great year for fans of the international Taskmaster franchise, with 101 episodes of eight versions of the show being broadcast, including the debut seasons of two new international adaptations of the format: Taskmaster PT from Portugal, and Le Maître du Jeu from Quebec.

It’s now officially 2023, so it’s time for a forward-looking recap of what we can expect from the franchise this year. Although we know for sure, at this point, that at least 10 seasons, mini-seasons, or specials of the format will be airing in 2023, we do not yet have confirmed air dates for anything other than the Taskmaster UK New Year’s Treat, so there is a fair amount of speculation in the following summary, based on the air dates from previous seasons.

Taskmaster UK

We don’t have to wait too long for new Taskmaster UK content, with this year’s New Year’s Treat special airing tonight at 9pm (GMT), featuring YouTuber Amelia Dimoldenberg, TV presenter Carol Vorderman, Olympic athlete Sir Mo Farah, radio DJ Greg James, and musician Self-Esteem.

We also know that series 15 of the show has been filmed and - based on previous years - is likely to begin airing in late March 2023. That series will feature comedians Frankie Boyle, Ivo Graham, Jenny Eclair, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, and Mae Martin.

It’s pretty much a given, at this point, that there will also be a series 16 of Taskmaster UK later this year, potentially starting in September. There is also the possibility of another Champion of Champions special, later in the year, given that we will likely know who the winner of series 15 is by June. That winner would face Sarah Kendall (series 11), Morgana Robinson (series 12), Sophie Duker (series 13), and Dara Ó Briain (series 14) to become the third Champion of Champions of the show.

However, there has not been any official announcement from Channel 4 or Avalon yet about the future of the show, so no details are known. Avalon’s previous contract with Channel 4 covered the production of series 10 through 15, plus the Champion of Champion and New Year’s Treat Specials. Hopefully we will hear more, early in 2023, about the terms of any contract renewal.

Kongen Befaler

There was a rocky end to the year for Norway’s Kongen Befaler in 2022, after host Atle Antonsen stepped down from his role as the Taskmaster of the show following a police investigation into an incident of racial abuse. As a result of his behaviour, a two-episode Christmas special of the show, which had already been filmed, was also cancelled.

2023 will see the strength of the format’s popularity without Atle in the king’s throne tested, with former season 1 contestant (and producer) Bård Ylvisåker taking over the Taskmaster role for the already announced season 7. Olli Wermskog will remain on the show as Bård’s assistant, and the season will feature presenter Leo Ajkic, actor and comedian Vidar Magnussen, comedian Hani Hussein, actor Karin Klouman, and comedian and presenter Lars Berrum as the contestants. Recording of the live studio segments is scheduled to take place at the end of January 2023 and, based on previous years, the show will likely begin airing in late February.

Kongen Befaler has, since 2021, been putting out two seasons per year. Hopefully the show can live on with its new host, and we’ll also see a season 8 of the show air later in the year (most likely airing in September).

Stormester

Denmark’s adaptation of the Taskmaster format continues to be extremely popular, and it has been announced that two special four-episode mini-seasons of the show will be airing in 2023, both featuring the return of contestants from previous seasons.

The show’s first Champion of Champions mini-season will see the winners from the first five seasons of the show - Christian Fuhlendorff (season 1), Sofie Linde (season 2), Victor Lander (season 3), Annika Aakjær (season 4), and Jonas Mogensen (season 5) - face-off against one another.

There will also be a four-episode 'Another Chance' mini-season featuring five contestants who did not win their previous seasons, offering them a chance to redeem themselves. Those contestants will be Jacob Taarnhøj and Thomas Warberg from season 2, Linda P and Sofie Kaufmanas from season 5, and Eva Jin from the recently-aired season 6 and 2022 Christmas special.

Although filming for both of these mini-seasons was completed towards the end of 2022, no air dates have yet been announced for either of them, so it is not known if they will be aired back-to-back over an eight-week period, or will be spread out across the year.

It is also not yet confirmed whether there will be a regular season 7 of the show, featuring a batch of new contestants, later in the year, but that definitely seems likely.

Bäst i Test

Bäst i Test’s popularity continues, and season 7 of the Swedish adaptation has now completed production.

The season will feature fixed contestants Henrik Nyblom, Linnéa Wikblad, Markoolio (who previously appeared in season 1), and Nikki Amini, all of whom we recently saw in action during the 2022 Christmas Special.

The guest contestants for the season will be: Amie Bramme Sey, Anne Lundberg, Carina Berg, Edvin Törnblom, Evelyn Mok, Janne Andersson, Johar Bendjelloul, Måns Möller, and Marcus Berggren (who previously appeared in season 6).

Based on previous years, it’s likely that the 10-episode season will start airing in late February or early March 2023.

Taskmaster PT

Portugal’s adaptation of Taskmaster was a new arrival in 2022, and was very positively received. In fact, RTP were so happy with the success of the show that they commissioned a second season featuring the exact same panel of fixed contestants (actors Jéssica Athayde and Inês Aires Pereira, comedian Gilmário Vemba, and musician Toy) for 2023.

Production of the new season apparently began in September 2022, and the live studio segments were recorded in October. The identities of the weekly guest contestants have not yet been revealed, but it has been reported that the season will have 10 episodes this time around, instead of eight. There has also not yet been any official announcement of an air date for the season, but it seems likely that it’ll start going out in March 2023, based on last year.

Direktor Svemira

Based on an Avalon press release which went out in October 2022 (regarding the announcement of Taskmaster AU), it was anticipated that a second season of the Croatian adaptation of the format would be airing at the end of 2022. However, no further news on this season has since been released.

I’ve heard, through the grapevine, that production on the show has been completed, and that they are now just waiting on an air date from RTL. Hopefully we’ll get more official news on this - and an announcement of the cast - in the next few weeks.

Suurmestari

A fourth season of Finland’s adaptation of the Taskmaster format has been produced and, based on previous years, it seems likely that it might begin airing in March or April 2023.

The cast for the season has not yet been announced, so hopefully we’ll see more information on that - and an air date - in the coming weeks.

Taskmaster NZ

In December 2022 it was confirmed that the very popular Taskmaster NZ will also be returning for a fourth season in 2023.

Neither the cast for the season, nor an air date, have yet been announced. However, based on the past couple of years, it seems likely that filming of the live studio segments might begin in May 2023, and that the season could begin airing in July 2023.

Taskmaster AU

New to the Taskmaster family in 2023 will be the Australian adaptation, which was announced back in October 2022, and is being produced by Kevin & Co (the same production company that works on Taskmaster NZ) for the Australian broadcaster Network 10.

Taskmaster AU will feature Tom Gleeson as the Taskmaster, and Tom Cashman as his assistant. The panel of contestants for the first season comprises the comedians Julia Morris, Nina Oyama, Luke McGregor, Jimmy Rees, and Danielle Walker.

Although production of the live studio segments of the season was completed in December 2022, no air date for the show has yet been released.

Le Maître du Jeu

There hasn’t yet been any official announcement on whether Quebec’s adaptation of the Taskmaster format will be commissioned for a second season but, based on the public reception of the first season in 2022, it does seem somewhat likely.