Browse / Where it happened
Lab tasks
Tasks in the Taskmaster house lab.
Series 11
Arrange the seven objects in a line on the table in order of how many sides they have
Arrange the seven objects in a line on the table in order of how many sides they have. Fewest sides on your left, most sides on your right.…
Scientifically work out how much Alex's feet and head weigh
Scientifically work out how much Alex's feet and head weigh. You may not use the internet. Most accurate answer wins. You have twenty…
Series 12
Paint the most flattering picture of the Taskmaster in action
Paint the most flattering picture of the Taskmaster in action on the canvas in the lab. The canvas will either be six inches or six feet…
Work out the contents of these bags
Work out the contents of these bags. You may not open the bags. You can either: A. Ask Alex to make one tiny hole in each bag and have 5…
Make the highest sand bridge across the river
Make the highest sand bridge across the river. You may not leave the lab. Your sand bridge must support the egg and the egg must be able to…
Get goosebumps
Get goosebumps. Your goosebumps must be revealed in the lab. Fastest wins. Your time starts now.
Drink all this drink with your mouth open
Drink all this drink with your mouth open. Your mouth must be visibly open throughout. The fastest wins. Your time starts and your mouth…
Series 13
Find all ten ducks
Find all ten ducks. You must stay in the lab. Fastest wins. You have a maximum of twenty minutes. Your time started when you entered the…
Make all these things happen at the same time
Make all these things happen at the same time: The monsters must be squatting. The robot must be walking. The marble must be rolling. The…
Make a stirring speech for the Taskmaster out of this bunting
Make a stirring speech for the Taskmaster out of this bunting. Longest speech - that is deemed to be stirring by the Taskmaster - wins. You…
Lick the lemon, then the sherbet, then the ice lolly
Stick your tongue out as far as possible and keep it out until further notice. Every time Alex blows his whistle, you must lick the lemon,…
Identify the liquids
Identify the liquids. Most accurately identified liquids wins. You have ten minutes. Your time starts now. You may only spray the perfume…
Series 14
Identify the ice cream flavours
Identify the ice cream flavours. The most correct ice cream flavours identified wins. You have ten minutes and you must find every flavour…
Pick up both milk bottles and hold them directly above the microwaves
Within 30 seconds of opening this task, you must pick up both milk bottles and hold them directly above the microwaves. The clock stops…
Paint a self-portrait using your brush or sausage
Choose one item from each plinth and bring them into the lab. You have one minute. Your time starts now. Part 2: Paint a self-portrait…
NYT 2023
Recreate the picture that Alex is holding
Recreate the picture that Alex is holding. Your face may not move from this position. Alex will show you the picture for five seconds when…
Series 15
Efficiently shell an egg
Efficiently shell an egg. You may not touch any part of any egg with your hands and you may only break the shell of one of the eggs. Fewest…
Completely free yourselves and have a team hug
Completely free yourselves and have a team hug. Fastest team hug wins. Your time starts now.
Put the most stuff on top of this jelly
Put the most stuff on top of this jelly, without breaking the jelly. If anything other than jelly touches the duck, you are disqualified.…
Deliver a one-minute lecture about the year you selected
Put three single digit numbers in the slots, then open the second task. Part 2: Deliver a one-minute lecture about the year you selected.…
Do what Alex does immediately after Alex does it in exactly the same time as Alex does it
Do what Alex does immediately after Alex does it in exactly the same time as Alex does it. You must press your button when you're satisfied…
Series 16
Build a tower out of the cans in the lab
Build a tower out of the cans in the lab. You must put on your blindfold in this room and wear it properly for the rest of the task.…
Make a cheeky picture on wood using nails and one continuous piece of wire
Make a cheeky picture on this piece of wood using nails and one continuous piece of wire. Also, if any egg timers stop, you must stare at…
Complete these tasks, then put the tubs back on your heads
Complete all the tasks, then put the tubs back on your heads. One person must be looking at a teammate at all times during the tasks. Also,…
Get all the water in the vase
Get all the water in the vase. If you spill any water from the plate, you are disqualified. You may not leave the lab. Fastest wins. Your…
Instruct your teammates to recreate your garage scene
Recreate your teammate's garage scene. You have fifteen minutes. Your time starts when your teammate calls. Part 2: Instruct your teammates…
Do whatever you like with these switches
Do whatever you like with these switches for five minutes. You will then do a task in the lab for five minutes. The conditions in the lab…
NYT 2024
Eat these poppadoms
Eat these poppadoms. After each mouthful, you must lose a letter of the alphabet from your vocabulary, then either compliment Greg or…
Series 17
Stick the heaviest thing to the board using three of the ingredients on the shelves
Stick the heaviest thing to the board using three of the ingredients on the shelves. Once you have chosen your ingredients you cannot…
Tie yourself to the bed
Tie yourself to the bed. Most tied up person wins. You must be horizontal whilst in the lab. If you pull down the terrible tie, you are…
Get the most orange juice in the vase
Take Alex to one side and do the following things to him:. Confess your favorite piece of kitchen equipment. Scream a body part of your…
Make the back of your head look like the front of a head
Make the back of your head look like the front of a head. You may not just make a mask. You must demonstrate your new front of head in…
Series 18
Identify these 10 fine people (part 1)
Remember these 10 fine people.
Identify these 10 fine people (part 2)
Identify these 10 fine people.
Make the strongest smell
Make the strongest smell. You must seal your smell in this jar and the Taskmaster will open it in the studio. You have twenty minutes. Your…
Eat and obey five fortune cookies
Eat and obey five fortune cookies. Fastest wins. Your time starts now.
NYT 2025
Remove all your gloves and put them back in the glove box
Don as many gloves as possible. You have five minutes. Your time starts now. Part 2: Remove all your gloves and put them back in the glove…
Series 19
Write down every word you said in this room before you opened this task
Shorten these pencils and place your shortened pencils in the pencil case. You have five minutes. Your time has started when you mentioned…
Obey the autocue
Obey the autocue. The most authoritative delivery with the fewest mistakes wins. Your time starts when the autocue starts.
Series 20
Discover the name of the person in the lab
Discover the name of the person in the lab. You must take it in turns to ask one question and the person may only say 'yes' or 'no'. The…
Make a love heart using your body, the body of your teammates and any other items of your choosing
Make a love heart using your body, the body of your teammates and any other items of your choosing. You must make up half [Ania and…
Wear the flippers correctly
Wear the flippers correctly. Slowest wins. Your time started when you entered the room. Part 2: Every time you say "flipper", "flippers" or…
Dribble a technicolour picture of your hero
Dribble a Technicolour picture of your hero. Your Technicolour picture must only be made from things that have travelled directly from your…
Drink almost all the apple juice
Drink almost all the apple juice. You must not touch the cup and the cup must not move. Fastest wins. Your time starts now.
NYT 2026
Throw one or more dice to get a number, then clap, cough, nod and blink that number of times before the next flash
Throw one or more dice to get a number, then clap, cough, nod and blink that number of times before the next flash. If you do not complete…
Paint two identical and flattering self-portraits
Hold a number of yellow balls in your hand. You have one minute. Your time starts now. Part 2: Paint two identical and flattering…
Series 21
Do exactly what your reflection does
Do exactly what your reflection does. You must decide what Alex does, then mirror him. Most ambitious but also accurate mirroring wins. You…
Complete all three tasks
Complete all three tasks. Fastest wins. You must end every sentence with the word 'Mate' [Amy only]/inflect your voice at the end of every…