Taskmaster has officially confirmed the lineup for its upcoming 22nd series, featuring comedians Matt Lucas and Richard Ayoade alongside Chloe Petts, Isy Suttie, and Nina Conti. The announcement follows the dramatic finale of series 21, where Joanna Page emerged victorious.
Series 21 Winner Joanna Page
Thursday night marked the conclusion of series 21, with Kumail Nanjiani, Armando Iannucci, Amy Gledhill, Joel Dommett, and Joanna Page competing for the golden bust of Greg Davies. In the end, the Gavin and Stacey star claimed the title, securing her place in Taskmaster history alongside past winners such as Mathew Baynton, Josh Widdicombe, and Mae Martin.
Page admitted that family pressure motivated her to participate. She told Metro: 'I thought: "For God's sake, [your family] will absolutely kill you if you do not do it. This would be the one thing that they would be like: "Oh my God, you are the best mother in the world."' Now, she can return to her children with pride.
Series 22 Cast Revealed
As one champion rises, another must follow. The new cohort includes Edinburgh Fringe favourite Chloe Petts, comic and writer Isy Suttie (known for Peep Show), ventriloquist Nina Conti, and the well-known duo Matt Lucas and Richard Ayoade.
Controversy Surrounding Lucas and Ayoade
Both Lucas and Ayoade have faced backlash from fans. Lucas has been criticized for his role in Little Britain, which included blackface and offensive sketches. In 2020, he apologized, stating: 'David and I have both spoken publicly in recent years of our regret that we played characters of other races. Once again, we want to make it clear that it was wrong and we are very sorry.'
Ayoade has drawn criticism for his support of IT Crowd writer Graham Linehan, who holds controversial views on the transgender community. It remains to be seen how this will affect viewership for the new season.
What Channel 4 Says
Channel 4 teased: 'Like so many before them, they all believe they can impress the Taskmaster, but only one can take home the glory.' A release date for series 22 has not yet been announced. Taskmaster is currently available to stream on Channel 4.
