Devoted fans of Channel 4's beloved comedy show Taskmaster have erupted in fury following a sudden and unexpected change to its broadcasting schedule. The programme, a staple of Friday night entertainment, was abruptly shifted from its prime 9pm slot to a later 10pm showing without prior warning.
This scheduling shake-up, which occurred on Friday, 10th May, left loyal viewers scrambling and has ignited a firestorm of criticism across social media platforms. Many fans, who had settled in for their weekly dose of absurd challenges set by Greg Davies and Alex Horne, found themselves confused and disappointed.
A Wave of Viewer Discontent
The backlash was immediate and vocal. One frustrated fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice a common concern, stating: "Moving #Taskmaster to 10pm on a Friday is a terrible idea. It's a family show!" This sentiment was echoed by hundreds of others who argued that the later time slot is entirely unsuitable for the show's broad, multi-generational appeal.
Many viewers expressed anxiety that this was not a one-off alteration but a permanent move, potentially signalling a downgrade in the channel's commitment to the hit series. The lack of any official communication from Channel 4 explaining the reason for the change only served to fuel speculation and anger.
Questioning the Logic Behind the Move
The rescheduling seems particularly puzzling given Taskmaster's consistent performance as a ratings winner for the channel. Its unique blend of witty comedians tackling bizarre tasks has made it a critical and commercial success since it moved from Dave to Channel 4.
Fans were quick to point out the irony of pre-empting the show with Eight In A Bed, a reality series they feel doesn't hold the same prestige or audience draw. The move has been widely perceived as a poor programming decision that undervalues one of the channel's most popular assets.
As the outrage continues to build online, all eyes are now on Channel 4 to see if they will respond to the complaints and revert to the original, family-friendly Friday night timing for future episodes.
