Starburst Magazine roams conventions and festivals looking for the most exciting talent to showcase both in print and online. Taskmaster is a cult comedy TV show that also showcases talent, new and old. With a new series of Taskmaster on the way, we thought it was time to drop our 2026 of folk we’d love to see on Taskmaster.
Juliette Burton
Known for their incredible positivity, brutal honesty and fabulous outfits, Juliette is one of the most exciting stand-up comedians on the scene right now. Armed with an easy-going, infectious charm and a quick observational wit, Juliette is also very up-front about who they are and the challenges they’ve encountered through life. It’s one of the things that makes Burton’s act so very funny, and also the sort of energy that would bring hilarious solutions to Alex Horne’s many tasks.
Chris Grace
In recent series, Taskmaster has invited an American along to join in the fun. ( The US version Taskmaster didn’t make it past season one, though a reboot is rumoured to be on its way.) Chris Grace is one of the most flexible comic talents we’ve ever seen with a seemingly endless knack for creativity and fun. Chris has had a very wide and varied career, and would bring a studied yet sarcastic energy to the show. They’re also a gamer; Chris is a fan of games such as Blood on the Clocktower and would surely bring novelty and personality to the show’s tasks.
Bec Hill
Perhaps best known for their ‘prop comedy’ which uses pop music, a cleverly set-up flip chart and some terrible puns, Bec has an incredible chaotic energy to them which is absurdly charming. Hill is also a talented artist and a former presenter of kids’ art show, Makeaway Takeaway, a show with strong Art Attack and Vision On vibes. This makes Bec a perfect pick for Taskmaster’s many creative challenges, and combined with their charm and ‘imminent disaster’ vibes, we are sort of surprised we’ve not seen them already.
Tom Crosbie
Taskmaster is well known for bringing out the full character of its contestants, and it would be fascinating to see kind-hearted genius Tom Crosbie take on the challenges set by Greg and Alex. Tom’s act is a combination of feats of mental agility, unusual skills and incredibly thoughtful planning. An amazing mind always makes for a great gameshow contestant, and it would rather lovely to see Tom in the Taskmaster house.
Sooz Kempner
We aren’t sure how the phenomenally talented Sooz isn’t more famous, but then we might be biased because their cat was in the movie Aliens. She wouldn’t be the first time a Doctor Who alumnus joined the Taskmaster team, and would certainly be a welcome addition. Sooz spins an incredibly good yarn. They would shine in the Prize Task because anything they brought to the studio would have some ridiculous story attached. Combined with a canny attitude to failure and some great timing, we think they’d make a fantastic contestant.
Joseph Martin
Taskmaster started originally as a show on the Edinburgh Fringe. Joseph married his now husband, Linus Karp, at the Edinburgh Fringe (in a sell-out show, as it happens). So they at least have that connection. Joseph would bring a triple threat of sorts to the Taskmaster house; style, sophistication and total panic. A sharp wit who also very good at looking calm as chaos ensues.
Anna Akana
Another American, Anna, is a comedian and actor who will be familiar to STARBURST readers for their work on shows like Adventure Time. Their stand-up comedy work is wicked and personal, with a talent for finding the funniest things in the darkest, most sensitive material. If anyone can make a Taskmaster style household disaster incredibly funny, it’s Anna. Their approach to the Prize Task could well be incredibly strange and hilarious.
Ayo Adenekan
Currently a writer for SNL UK, Ayo is a bright young talent who also happens to be an enormous fan of all things Science Fiction (so we might be a little biased). Awkward yet confident, charming yet approachable, Ayo is the full package and would be simply wonderful to watch as he tries to figure out the catch behind various deeply silly Taskmaster challenges.
Hannah Platt
Hannah’s stand-up work is charming, clever and refreshing. One of the UK’s current ‘rising stars’ of British comedy, Platt’s work combines social critique with a wicked sense of self, as well as a Scouse sense of humour and some cutting self-reflection. It would be brilliant to see how this fiercely clever talent tackles the absurdity of Taskmaster.
Season 21 of Taskmaster can be found on Channel Four in the UK, with BTS clips on their Youtube channel. International fans can find the show on Taskmaster Supermax+.
Starburst Magazine will be roaming 2026’s Edinburgh Fringe looking for the best shows. Watch this space for more details.
