By David Hepburn

Copyright scotsman

After a hilarious start last week, episode two of the 20th series of hit comedy Taskmaster will be on our screens this evening. Originally conceived as a live show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by Alex Horne, he now assists Taskmaster Greg Davies in the television version, which premiered on Dave, in 2014 before being poached by Channel 4 in 2020. The show sees (mainly) comedians take part in a range of challenges which are then marked by the hosts, usually (but not always) winning a maximum of five points per task. Earlier this yearHorrible Histories star Matthew Baynton became the latest contestant to raise the golden trophy of the Taskmaster’s head and another five famous faces are now hoping to succeed him. Here’s everything you need to know about the next episode The second episode of the new series of Taskmaster will be on at 9pm on Thursday, September 18, on Channel 4. It will then be available to watch on Channel 4’s on demand service and on YouTube – as are all episodes of the current and previous series. Here’s how things stood after the first episode: New episodes are being broadcast on Channel 4 every Thursday at 9pm, so here’s when you’ll be able to catch the remaining episodes: Here’s who will be competing for the Season 20 trophy – and what they’ve been in previously: Ania Magliano Acclaimed standup and former member of Cambridge Footlights who was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2023. She’s returned to Edinburgh in August with a Work in Progress show. She’s written for numerous television shows including Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, The Now Show and the Have I Got News for You Twitter account. TV appearances includeThe Stand Up Sketch Show andThe Comedy Guide to Life. Maisie Adam Maisie Adam’s first Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Vague, was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer prize in 2018. She has appeared on numerous television programmes and was recently seen playing in Soccer Aid. Other credits include 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie To You?, Richard Osman’s House of Games, Roast Battle, Celebrity Mastermind, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year and The Last Leg. Phil Ellis Yet another Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, Phil Ellis was shortlisted for the main award for his show Phil Ellis’s Excellent Comedy Show – which won the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality. He also won the Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel prize in 2014 for children’s game show (with adult content) Funz and Gamez. TV appearances include The Russell Howard Hour, Drunk History, Roast Battle, The Tez O’Clock Show, and Redknapp’s Big Night Out. He has also produced three series of Phil Ellis is Trying on BBC Radio 4. Reece Shearsmith Comedy superstar Reece Shearsmith was one of the founder members of The League of Gentlemen – who won the Edinburgh Comedy Award, then known as the Perrier, in 1997. The League of Gentlemen were a triple success – on radio, television and on the big screen. He went on to create, write and star in Psychoville and Inside No. 9. The stage version of the latter is coming to Edinburgh’s Playhouse later this year after finding success in London’s West End. He’s appeared in numerous other television shows and films, including Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Saltburn, The World’s End, See How They Run, Venon: Let There Be Carnage, and A Field in England. Sanjeev Bhaskar Sanjeev Bhaskar is best known for being part of the groundbreaking sketch comedy group Goodness Gracious Me, who were a hit on BBC radio and television. He went on to appear in sitcom The Kumars at No. 42 and presented a documentary series called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar. Film appearances include Paddington 2, Yesterday, The Flash and Notting Hill.