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23 Taskmaster contestants to see at Edinburgh Fringe

  • 3 hours ago
  • 11 min read

Your next task? Catch them live.



Taskmaster is one of the biggest shows on television, with comedians fighting to take part, and one of its strong points is its mix of comedians you know and those you don't.


So if Taskmaster has introduced you to someone, or you were a really big fan of someone's performance on the show, I've taken a look through this year's Edinburgh Fringe programme to pick out which former contestants will be appearing at the festival this August.


Here are 23 former Taskmaster contestants to see at Edinburgh Fringe, including Rosie Jones, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Rose Matafeo and more...


ANIA MAGLIANO

PEACH FUZZ


7th to 22nd August (not 11, 18, 25) at 1.25pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


Ania Magliano appeared as a contestant on the 20th series of Taskmaster, alongside Maisie Adam, Phil Ellis, Reece Shearsmith and Sanjeev Bhaskar, finishing in joint first place with Maisie Adam and Phil Ellis, but after losing the tiebreak to Maisie Adam, ended up coming joint second.


She is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with Peach Fuzz, a new hour full of her signature laid-back storytelling style and relatable humour, as she discusses all of her unhinged and hinged inner thoughts.


BRIDGET CHRISTIE

WORK IN PROGRESS


5th and 6th August at 8.30pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


Bridget Christie appeared as a contestant on the 13th series of Taskmaster, alongside Ardal O'Hanlon, Chris Ramsey, Judi Love and Sophie Duker, finishing in third place.


She is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with a new work in progress show, promising new material from the Fringe favourite.


ED GAMBLE

WORK IN PROGRESS


19th to 24th August at 4pm at Pleasance Courtyard


Ed Gamble appeared as a contestant on the ninth series of Taskmaster, alongside David Baddiel, Jo Brand, Katy Wix and Rose Matafeo, finishing in first place. He later returned for Champion of Champions, where he came last, losing to Richard Herring. He is also the host of Taskmaster: The Podcast.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with a new work in progress show, promising topics, angels and takes. In the blurb for the show, he writes, "Come witness the sheer delight on my face as I nail a new routine / experience the crumbling realisation that a routine doesn’t work. Either way, it will be an event."


FATIHA EL-GHORRI

COCKNEY STACKING DOLL


17th to 30th August at 3.35pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


Fatiha El-Ghorri appeared as a contestant on the 19th series of Taskmaster, alongside Jason Mantzoukas, Mathew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin, finishing in last place.


She is making her Edinburgh Fringe debut this year with Cockney Stacking Doll, as she irons her swaggest hijab to serve up her one-of-a-kind stand-up. Expect strong language, stereotype-smashing, and to fall side-splittingly in love with this knock-out comic.


FRANK SKINNER

WORK IN PROGRESS


5th to 16th August at 6.10pm at Assembly George Square Gardens


CROWD WORK


17th to 26th August at 6.10pm at Assembly George Square Gardens


Frank Skinner appeared as a contestant on the first-ever series of Taskmaster, alongside Josh Widdicombe, Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan and Tim Key, finishing in joint second place with Romesh.


He is bringing two shows to the Edinburgh Fringe this year, including a new work in progress show, which is usually done in half-hidden rooms above pubs. But now, Skinner is bringing his stand-up laboratory to Edinburgh, and you too can witness his successes and failures as a new monster is put together.


Then in Crowd Work, which makes its Fringe debut, is an hour-long interactive show featuring Frank and two other guest comics working as a team, and flexing their comedy muscles by taking on whatever the audience throws at them each night.


JACK DEE

JACK'S JOKE SHOW


17th to 23rd August at 4.45pm at Assembly Rooms


Jack Dee appeared as a contestant on the 18th series of Taskmaster, alongside Andy Zaltzman, Babátúndé Aléshé, Emma Sidi and Rosie Jones, finishing in second place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with Jack's Joke Show, which sees Jack celebrate 40 years in stand-up comedy, taking audiences on a memoir of all his favourite old stories. Jokes and funny anecdotes have intrigued Jack for as long as he can remember.


Now he has assembled the best of them to form a new show that offers a glimpse of the influences that led him into and helped shape his comedy career. Guaranteed no new material.


JAMES ACASTER

JAMES ACASTER


4th August at 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 10pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


James Acaster appeared as a contestant on the seventh series of Taskmaster, alongside Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman, Phil Wang and Rhod Gilbert, finishing in fourth place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year for one day only with four performances of James Acaster, a brand-new show, which promises to be full of everything you love about James Acaster and more. These shows are being filmed for future release.


JOE LYCETT

JOE LYCETT AND FRIENDS


7th to 11th August at 3.30pm at Pleasance Courtyard


Joe Lycett appeared as a contestant on the fourth series of Taskmaster, alongside Hugh Dennis, Lolly Adefope, Mel Giedroyc and Noel Fielding, finishing in second place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year for Joe Lycett and Friends, a showcase of some of the most exciting talent at the Fringe for what promises to be an hour of laughter hosted by Joe.


JOHN KEARNS

TILTING AT WINDMILLS


18th to 30th August at 4.15pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


John Kearns appeared as a contestant on the 14th series of Taskmaster, alongside Dara Ó Briain, Fern Brady, Munya Chawawa and Sarah Millican, finishing in joint fourth place with Fern Brady.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with his new hour, Tilting at Windmills, which promises to be a fragmented, digressing portrayal of a 38-year-old man’s life, alluding to books he hasn't read and touching on the modern condition.


JULIAN CLARY

FULLY DILATED


14th to 23rd August at 5.30pm at Assembly Rooms


Julian Clary appeared as a contestant on the 16th series of Taskmaster, alongside Lucy Beaumont, Sam Campbell, Sue Perkins and Susan Wokoma, finishing in second place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with Fully Dilated, and has decided to open up to the public and reveal all. No more hiding behind a stage persona. He's going to be himself. But he asks, will you be able to tell the difference?


Fully Dilated promises to reveal intimate secrets of Julian's life as he shares the traumas that have led him to lead the life of a camp comic and renowned homosexual.


KIELL SMITH-BYNOE

KIELL SMITH-BYNOE'S KOOL STORY BRO


20th to 22nd August at 11.15pm at Pleasance Courtyard


Kiell Smith-Bynoe appeared as a contestant on the 15th series of Taskmaster, alongside Frankie Boyle, Ivo Graham, Jenny Eclair and Mae Martin, finishing in second place. Despite this, he later returned for Champion of Champions, instead of Mae Martin, and finished joint fourth with Sarah Kendall.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with Kool Story Bro, his smash-hit improv show, which features a celebrity guest every night. With stories from the audience inspiring the comedy for a cast of the UK's best improvisers.

MARK WATSON

TRIES TO IMPRESS CHILDREN, FOR SOME REASON


5th to 16th August at 2.45pm at Pleasance Courtyard


SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE BEING OVER-CAUTIOUS WHEN THEY SAY WORK-IN-PROGRESS, BUT THIS TRULY IS ROUGH


21st to 30th August at 2pm at The Stand Comedy Club


BEFORE IT OVERTAKES US


27th to 29th August at 11.15pm at Pleasance Courtyard



Mark Watson appeared as a contestant on the fifth series of Taskmaster, alongside Aisling Bea, Bob Mortimer, Nish Kumar and Sally Phillips, finishing in joint second place with Sally Phillips.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with not one, not two, but three brand new shows.


In Tries to Impress Children, for Some Reason, Mark has done almost everything in comedy, but not a kids' show. Until now.


Sometimes People Are Being Over-Cautious When They Say Work-In-Progress, But This Truly Is Rough, sees the Fringe favourite test new material on the loose subject of standing up for yourself.


And finally, following a sellout run at the Fringe in 2025 as well as a national tour and seasons at the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane Comedy Festivals, Mark is bringing Before It Overtakes Us back for three final performances.


The show sees Mark recount a recent encounter with a stranger, which caused him to spend some time pondering the uncertain future facing humanity.


MIKE WOZNIAK

THE BENCH


6th to 16th August at 10.40pm at Assembly Hall


Mike Wozniak appeared as a contestant on the 11th series of Taskmaster, alongside Charlotte Ritchie, Jamali Maddix, Lee Mack and Sarah Kendall, finishing in second place. Before that, he won the original version of Taskmaster at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010. He then went on to be Rose Matafeo's assistant on Junior Taskmaster.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with The Bench, in which a story about a bench will be prominent. Previous experience of or strong opinions about benches are not required. Let Mike worry about that.


NISH KUMAR

ANGRY HUMOUR FROM A REALLY NICE GUY (WORK IN PROGRESS)


5th to 30th August (not 19) at 10.40pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


Nish Kumar appeared as a contestant on the fifth series of Taskmaster, alongside Aisling Bea, Bob Mortimer, Mark Watson and Sally Phillips, finishing in last place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with a work-in-progress show, Angry Humour from a Really Nice Guy.


PHIL ELLIS

BATH MAT


3rd to 30th August at 1.55pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


Phil Ellis appeared as a contestant on the 20th series of Taskmaster, alongside Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Reece Shearsmith and Sanjeev Bhaskar, finishing in joint first place with Ania Magliano and Maisie Adam, but after losing the tiebreak to Maisie Adam, ended up coming joint second.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with his first full national stand-up tour, Bath Mat, which sees Phil revel in the joys of live performance, employing his unique brand of chaotic comedy, whip-smart, superbly crafted gags, and freewheeling spirit to deliver a celebratory show that promises to leave you aching with laughter and hungry for more.


PHIL WANG

UH OH


5th to 17th August (not 10) at 4.15pm at Monkey Barrel Comedy


Phil Wang appeared as a contestant on the seventh series of Taskmaster, alongside James Acaster, Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman and Rhod Gilbert, finishing in last place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with his new stand-up show Uh Oh. He’s older than ever before. He’s got a moustache now. Everyone’s an idiot but him. Nice is out. Right is in. The vibe shift is real. Old Wang’s riding it.


RICHARD HERRING

RHLSTP


5th to 16th August at 2pm at The Stand


Richard Herring appeared as a contestant on the 10th series of Taskmaster, alongside Daisy May Cooper, Johnny Vegas, Katherine Parkinson and Mawaan Rizwan, finishing in first place before returning for Champion of Champions and finishing in first place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year for his 28th Fringe and 45th show with the return of his Leicester Square Theatre Podcast. Expect daily chat with big Fringe names, emergency questions, impertinent questions, hilarity and embarrassment.


ROSE MATAFEO

WORK IN PROGRESS MORNING HOUR


17th to 30th August at 11.05am at Monkey Barrel Comedy


Rose Matafeo appeared as a contestant on the ninth series of Taskmaster, alongside David Baddiel, Ed Gamble, Jo Brand and Katy Wix, finishing in second place. She then went on to host Junior Taskmaster with Mike Wozniak as her assistant.


She is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with Work in Progress Morning Hour, which is described as an early work-in-progress show with a chill vibe. The blurb reads "In the Nintendo game Animal Crossing, there's a cafe in the basement of the museum where a dog plays new songs every week on his guitar while a pigeon makes everyone coffee. I would like it to have that vibe. No haters, bring cash."


ROSIE JONES

I CAN'T TELL WHAT SHE'S SAYING


5th to 30th August (not 17) at 4pm at Pleasance Courtyard


ANYONE BUT ME (WIP)


9th August at 8.30pm at Shedinburgh


Rosie Jones appeared as a contestant on the 18th series of Taskmaster, alongside Andy Zaltzman, Babátúndé Aléshé, Emma Sidi and Jack Dee, finishing in last place.


She is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with her latest tour, I Can't Tell What She's Saying, in which she talks about the big stuff: being single, the pressures of representing huge sections of the population, and gravy. Oh, and boobs.


Then on the 9th August, she'll be performing a new work in progress storytelling show, Anyone But Me (WIP) at Shedinburgh, about who gets to pretend/


It's described as - An audition. A challenge. A methodical approach. The role of a lifetime. When an exciting offer of a radical new role comes across her desk, and the potential promise of awards glory, Rosie has to figure out whether or not she is allowed to tell the story.


RUSSELL HOWARD

WORK IN PROGRESS


5th to 12th August at 4pm at Pleasance Courtyard


Russell Howard appeared as a contestant on the sixth series of Taskmaster, alongside Alice Levine, Asim Chaudhry, Liza Tarbuck and Tim Vine, finishing in third place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with eight intimate work-in-progress shows.


SARA PASCOE

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY


5th August at 7pm at Underbelly


JAZZ (WIP)


17th August at 3.15pm at Shedinburgh


Sara Pascoe appeared as a contestant on the third series of Taskmaster, alongside Al Murray, Dave Gorman, Paul Chowdhry and Rob Beckett, finishing in fourth place.


She is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with One Night Only, which, as the title would suggest, is one hilarious night only in the iconic McEwan Hall.


However, there will be another chance to see her at the Fringe, as she'll be performing a work-in-progress show Jazz (WIP) at Shedinburgh.


The blurb for the show reads... It’s really important to punch up these days, so much comedy is mean and choosing easy targets so please boycott that and come and see Sara Pascoe (daughter of a jazz man) slag off Jazz.


SOPHIE DUKER

HOT BEEF INJECTION


5th to 30th August (not 12, 19 and 26) at 8.30pm at Pleasance Courtyard


Sophie Duker appeared as a contestant on the 13th series of Taskmaster, alongside Ardal O'Hanlon, Bridget Christie, Chris Ramsey and Judi Love, finishing in first place, before returning for Champion of Champions and finishing in second place.


She is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with her latest hour, Hot Beef Injection, in which Sophie dares to get both sexy and political, flexing the subversive yet inclusive comedy style that has become her signature and seen her win over countless audiences worldwide.


She’ll be reflecting on hypermasculinity, heavy-handed handymen and that old chestnut, Would You Rather: ‘Man or Bear?’. Hot Beef Injection reckons with the primal fear driving Duker’s distrust of heterosexual he/hims, and out of a challenging comedy club encounter, a new question emerges: what would she say if she spoke to men instead of shutting them out?


TIM VINE

SILLYPUN VALLEY


24th to 30th August at 2.40pm at Pleasance Courtyard


Tim Vine appeared as a contestant on the sixth series of Taskmaster, alongside Alice Levine, Asim Chaudhry, Liza Tarbuck and Russell Howard, finishing in second place.


He is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with Sillypun Valley, which invites you to leave the real world behind and come to Sillypun Valley, promising Tim Vine with a barrage of new drivel. The joke conveyor belt is set to full speed. Expect daft gags by the handful, stupid props on an oblong table and a sprinkling of musical interloons.


It's a show without a message. It's Timmaterial. The Man with the Golden Pun has reloaded, and he's aiming at you. Stand by and sit down. Strap in and let go. Come Onnnnnnnnnn!

 
 
 

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