Do what Alex does

Task notes

• The task takes place in the lab, where Alex is sat at one end of the table, and the contestant sits at the other.
• Arranged symmetrically on each half of the table are the following items: a jar of Vaseline, a maths test (consisting of a single sum inside a folded card), an unsharpened pencil, a pencil sharpener, a balloon pump, a modelling balloon, five rubber bands, and a banana.
• In the middle of the table, there is a wooden treasure chest, secured with a four-digit combination lock, and also a digital chess clock.
• The chess timer starts at 4 minutes for both Alex and the contestant, and counts down while each of them are performing their actions, until they hit the button.
• The first action Alex performs is to say "I'm going to eat a banana.", and he then does so in 30 seconds.
• The second action Alex performs is to say "I'm now going to sharpen a pencil.", and he then does so in 10 seconds.
• The third action Alex performs is to say "I'm going to have 40 winks.", and he then winks 40 times in 20 seconds.
• The fourth action Alex performs is to say "I'm now going to do some maths.", and he then solves the sum in his maths test, using the pencil, in 30 seconds.
• The fifth action Alex performs is to say "I'm now going to put five rubber bands on my face.", and he then wraps five rubber bands around his head in 20 seconds.
• The sixth action Alex performs is to say "I'm going to open the box.", and he then uses the four-digit answer from his maths test to unlock the combination lock, so he can open the treasure chest and take out a pair of blue surgical gloves, before locking the box again, all in 20 seconds.
• The seventh action Alex performs is to say "I'm going to inflate an entire balloon.", and then, while wearing the surgical gloves, he uses the balloon pump to inflate the balloon, before tying it, all in 30 seconds.
• The eighth action Alex performs is to say "I'm now going to put my banana skin in the Vaseline pot." and, while still wearing the gloves, he scoops a handful of Vaseline out of the pot, puts the banana skin inside, and replaces the top, before removing the glove holding the blob of Vaseline in such a way that the Vaseline ends up inside the inside-out glove, all in 20 seconds.
• The ninth action Alex performs is to say "I'm going to make a dog.", and then make a standard balloon dog, and stand it on the table, in 58 seconds.
• The tenth and final action Alex performs is to say "I'm going to pop my dog.", and then use the pencil to pop the balloon dog, in just 2 seconds.
• Alex manages to complete all 10 actions in exactly four minutes, each time.

Official task video