Alex Horne on his new book Bring Me The Head Of The Taskmaster: 101 Next-Level Tasks (and Clues) To Lead You To Victory

Virgin Radio

16 Sep 2021, 10:57

The comedian, creator of BAFTA award-winning Taskmaster and husband of our Rachel Horne joined the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky to talk about his new treasure hunt book and Taskmaster.

He told Chris about his upcoming birthday and learning to skateboard: “I’m 43 In six days now, so it's a personal best. I had a lesson and I held my own and I wasn't embarrassed, and then I practiced on the ramp in the garden and hurt my back and the next day it rained so I took that as a sign. You can't skateboard in the rain."

Busy shooting Taskmaster at Pinewood Studios, he said: “There's all sorts going on here. Around one corner there's James Bond… it feels exciting.

“I was filming something secret here last week...

“We've got an audience back today so we've got rehearsals. For the first time in two years we have humans in with us watching so it's such a joyful thing to see the back.

“Next week series 12 starts on the telly and that's our final socially distanced show one and then next year they'll all be back. It feels like we're on top of each other now because it's been such a long time so I am within touching distance of Greg [Davies] and we filmed  last night and he struck me twice."

Which celebs do they have coming on Taskmaster: Champion of Champions? He shared: "We've got Ed Gamble, Richard Herring, Liza Tarbuck, Lou Sanders and Kerry Godliman and they're trying to take the crown off your brilliant guest yesterday Josh Widdicombe. He’s the first Champion of Champions so another one will be crowned soon.”

On the race to find the silver Taskmaster trophy, he said: “The treasure hunt has started. People are already trying to solve it.

“The book’s out right now and you can get in all the shops and you've got to be quick otherwise someone else will solve it first. It's a treasure hunt. Remember in 1979 a book called Masquerade?

"Well, it's based loosely on that because I've always been obsessed with that, but there hasn't been anything like it since. So, finally 42 years later, the book is here.”

On rarely seeing his beloved wife Rachel, he said: “We - this sounds wrong - we feel each other. I was aware of her presence last night. We were just next to each other.

"We were just experiencing each other’s warmth. We can't do anything. We're trapped under that gravity blanket she insisted on buying."

Bring Me the Head of the Taskmaster, is out today.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.