Which celebrities are doing Taskmaster's New Year Treat this year?

Alison Hammond, Chesney Hawkes, Francis Bourgeois, Maryam Moshiri and Rob Rinder are the five famous faces preparing to put their reputations on the line as they take part in the next edition of Taskmaster’s New Year Treat.

The eclectic quintet will be swapping their day jobs for a series of ridiculous challenges when the festive favourite returns to screens, with Greg Davies and his ever-dutiful assistant Little Alex Horne ready to put them through their paces.

The BAFTA and Rose D’Or-winning entertainment show will once again see Davies take charge as the all-powerful Taskmaster, judging the contestants’ efforts and deciding who deserves to emerge victorious. Meanwhile, Horne will be on hand to oversee proceedings, explain the often bizarre tasks and ensure that nobody gets an easy ride.

And with this year’s contestants coming from some very different walks of life, there should be plenty of opportunities for unexpected moments, questionable decision-making and some spectacularly misguided attempts to impress the Taskmaster.

Leading the line-up is television favourite Alison Hammond, the BAFTA-nominated presenter who has become one of the most recognisable faces on British television. Best known for her work on This Morning and Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off, Hammond’s infectious personality and larger-than-life presence should make her an entertaining addition to the Taskmaster house of horrors.

She will be joined by musician Chesney Hawkes, who became a household name in the early 1990s thanks to his chart-topping hit The One and Only. The singer will be hoping that his talents extend beyond the recording studio, although there is no guarantee that musical ability will prove particularly useful when faced with some of Horne’s more unconventional challenges.

Also taking part is Francis Bourgeois, the railway enthusiast, broadcaster and viral content creator who has built a huge following through his infectious enthusiasm for trains and his distinctive videos. Bourgeois has also appeared in Prime Video’s The Grand Tour, but whether his particular skill set will translate into Taskmaster success remains to be seen.

Completing the line-up are BBC Chief News Presenter Maryam Moshiri, familiar to audiences through her work on BBC News, and barrister, broadcaster and author Rob Rinder.

Moshiri will be swapping the newsroom for the Taskmaster’s unpredictable world, while Rinder will no doubt be hoping that his legal expertise, powers of persuasion and quick thinking can help him navigate the challenges. However, even the most accomplished barrister may struggle to construct a convincing defence when faced with Davies’ judging.

As always, the contestants will receive no special treatment, with the five celebrities having to tackle a ludicrous collection of tasks designed to test their creativity, ingenuity, patience and ability to think outside the box.

Only one can emerge as the overall winner and claim the very special New Year Treat Trophy – a coveted set of Greg’s Golden Eyebrows.

The festive edition has become an established part of the Taskmaster calendar, giving viewers the chance to see familiar faces from outside the usual comedy circuit thrown into the show’s wonderfully absurd world. Previous specials have demonstrated that celebrity status, professional experience and even an impressive CV offer little protection when Davies is in charge.

The latest announcement also comes as the Taskmaster brand continues to demonstrate its considerable popularity beyond the television screen, with the franchise enjoying remarkable success internationally.

Its live incarnation, Taskmaster Live On Stage, has recently achieved a major milestone, selling out two nights at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in the United States. The scale of the venue underlines just how far the British entertainment format has travelled since its original launch.

There has also been an extraordinary response closer to home. A performance at Manchester’s AO Arena, one of Europe’s largest indoor arenas, sold out just moments after tickets went on sale.

The live spectacular is scheduled to take place in June 2027, with further information expected for fans keen to experience the format in an entirely different setting. Those interested in receiving updates can sign up to the official mailing list via the Taskmaster website.

With its combination of ingenious challenges, unpredictable celebrity performances and Davies’ increasingly merciless verdicts, Taskmaster continues to prove that there is plenty of life in one of television’s most distinctive entertainment formats.

And with Hammond, Hawkes, Bourgeois, Moshiri and Rinder now confirmed, the next New Year Treat promises a particularly entertaining mix of personalities.

The festive specials will return with a double helping, although viewers will have to wait a little longer to discover exactly when they will air.

Transmission details for Taskmaster’s New Year Treat will be announced in due course.

Choose an article to read now…