The Taskmaster book, in front of the trademark curtains of the television show.

Taskmaster-main-image-1800×1200.jpg

Extracts

Five tasks to complete from Taskmaster

220 Extraordinary Tasks for Ordinary People

Taskmaster

The bestselling tie-in to Dave's runaway hit series now in paperback, and with brand new tasks by creator Alex Horne.

Alex Horne 
noun 
1. comedian, writer, gambler, taskmaster, podcaster, birdwatcher, potential neologist and father.

Build yourself a box and think outside of it. Your time starts now … 
 
In the TV show and on my marriage certificate, my job description is ‘Taskmaster’s Assistant’. That’s what I do and it’s an honour. I like Taskmaster a lot. And, of course, I love The Taskmaster. He’s mountainous. If you feel in any way the same as me then you should enjoy this paperback version of the official Taskmaster book. 
 
There are tasks for you, your friends and your family. There are new tasks, secret things and sneaky tricks. And there is one swear word. So it’s almost exactly like being on the show. 
 
Good luck. Make good choices. Let’s do Him proud. 
 
Alex Horne 
Taskmaster’s Assistant

The BBC Radio 4 comedy show

Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section: The Complete Series 1-3

Alex Horne and his five-piece jazz band combine comedy, improvisation, storytelling and music in the complete series 1-3 of The Horne Section

Alex Horne and his special guests bring together stand-up and live music in a free-wheeling and spontaneous combination. 
 
 Each episode sees Alex, his band and guests explore a different topic. These range from love to technology, the seasons to the body. 
 In this collection of the complete series 1-3 Alex is joined by comedians including David O’Doherty, Isy Suttie, Kevin Eldon, Phill Jupitus, Matt Lucas, Doc Brown, Sara Pascoe, James Acaster, Marcus Brigstocke and Adam Buxton. 
 They are also joined by Al Murray and Tim Key in their Edinburgh Special from 2012, and the band kick off celebrations in style with a New Year Special. 
 Come join Alex and his band Joe Auckland (trumpet and banjo), Mark Brown (sax and clarinet), Will Collier (double bass and guitar), Ben Reynolds (drums and percussion) and Joe Stilgoe and Ed Sheldrake (piano and keyboard) for some much needed joy and jolity.

Breaking into the Dictionary: It's His Word Against Theirs

Wordwatching

Join the hilarious Alex Horne on his quest for dictionary-based immortality

Review for 'Wordwatching' Edinburgh show, Time Out

Alex Horne loves words. He loves them so much, in fact, that he's decided to invent his own ... and get them into the dictionary. But, as Alex discovers, gaining entry into the official lexicon takes more than just a gentle word in the ear of the editor. Evidence is required - Alex needs proof that his words are being spoken by more people than just him and his mum. He needs what the dictionary authorities call a 'corpus' of examples, hard data showing that his new words are in widespread and long-term usage. So a corpus he resolves to create, no matter what obstacles he might meet on the way. This is the epic and ridiculous story of one man's struggle to break into the dictionary. 
From covert word-dropping on Countdown to wilfully misinforming schoolchildren, Alex tries it all in his quest for dictionary-based immortality. Does he succeed? Are you already using one of Alex's words without realising it? You won't regret spending your hard-earned honk on this hugely entertaining book.

One Year, Two Men, Three Rules, Ten Thousand Birds

Birdwatchingwatching

Join comedian Alex Horne on his epic year of competitive ornithology - a very funny true story of fathers, sons and the birds (not the bees)

Horne's observations are at once funny and fascinating

Rather like a rare bird - his ostensible subject - [Horne] is a fragile delight, covering any subject with a daft, surreal charm

The Sunday Times (Review for 'Birdwatching' show)

Remarkably touching, honest, and dryly witty

Alex Horne is not a birdwatcher. But his dad is, so with the prospect of fatherhood looming on his own horizon, Alex decided there was no better time to really get to know both his father and his father's favourite hobby. So he challenged his dad to a Big Year: from 1 January to 31 December they would each try to spot as many birds as possible; the one who spied the most species would be the victor. Along the way Alex would find out what makes his dad tick, pick up a bit of fatherly wisdom and perhaps even 'get into' birdwatching himself. 
 
Join Alex as he journeys from Barnes to Bahrain in this charming tale of obsession, manliness, fathers and sons, and the highly amusing twists and turns of a year-long bird race.

Alex Horne

101 next-level tasks (and clues) that will lead one ordinary person to some extraordinary Taskmaster treasure

Fastest wins. Your adventure starts now ... 
 
 This is a race. 
 
 It is not a race against the clock, because that would be a far easier race. Clocks can be fast, but clocks never win races. It's nearly always humans, sometimes horses, and occasionally dogs. 
 This is a race against your fellow Taskmaster players. 
 
 You are competing against everyone else who is reading this book. All you've got to do is find The Taskmaster's Head first. This is a race with many twists and turns, that requires very little running, much sideways thinking and quite a lot of patience. 
 
 Thankfully, there will be a shedload of tasks along the way to distract you. There are tasks to do on your own, tasks to do with your family and friends, and tasks for bigger groups too. Some of these distractions may slow you down, but some may help you get where you need to go. As always, enjoy them, do your best, make good choices. 
 
 So get going. Take on the tasks. All the information you need is in the book... 
 
 Alex Horne, 
 Taskmaster's Assistant

Alex Horne

Books by Alex Horne

Articles featuring Alex Horne

Five tasks to complete from Taskmaster

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