History Series / Taskmaster

* SuddenDeath: If two or more contestants are tied in first place, then a tiebreaker happens. All tie breakers are pre-recorded tasks, with the exception of the tie-breaker in "The Poet and the Egg". So far, this has happened in five episodes.

* AdBumpers: Each section ends with specially filmed ad bumpers; the first series used the same ones each week, but the second series onward has a different set of bumpers for each show. The common link is that each bumper leading into a break will feature Alex waving goodbye, and each bumper starting a new section will have Alex holding up a number of fingers to show which part of the show this is.

* TimeForPlanB:
** Roisin opts for this in one task. Instead of painting a horse while riding another horse, Roisin paints a horse while riding a mechanical horse.
** Lolly does this for the prize task in "Tony Three Pies". The winner was whoever bought in the most cash, so Lolly decided to put in the pot a cheque with a value of 1 pence more than the amount of whoever had bought in the most cash. Greg points out that they're looking for bank notes and coins, so Lolly opts for her backup plan--[[WhamLine an envelope containing £2,000 in cash]]. In comparison, Joe Lycett took second place by bringing in £250.

* RageQuit: Paul Chowdhry delivers one for the final task of Series 3.

The contestants participate in a series of odd tasks, which are then ranked (sometimes by Greg, depending on the nature of the task) from best to worst performance. The ranks translate into points, with 5 given to first place, 4 to second place, 3 to third place, 2 to fourth place, and 1 to last place, although any disqualified contestants score no points. Some of the challenges are team tasks instead, with the winners earning 5[[note]]only from the second series onwards; the winners in the first series won 2 points[[/note]] points each and the losers no points, but Greg can choose to split the points between the teams. The teams are:

* DisqualificationInducedVictory: In "The Leprechaun or the Lesbian", one of the tasks is to slice a loaf of bread with an item found in the caravan. Whilst neither Mark nor Nish do especially well, ''all three of the others'' are disqualified (Sally and Bob for using more than one item, and Aisling for falling for a RedHerring and [[ItMakesSenseInContext slicing the wrong loaf of bread]]), allowing them to take the top two places by default.

* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Applies to the first three series. The two hosts are male, as are four of the contestants, leaving Roisin, Katherine, and Sara the token women of their series.

** In "The Leprechaun Or The Lesbian", one of the tasks is to paint a rainbow in darkness. [[spoiler: Aisling, Sally, and Bob]] play this trope straight by painting without knowing what colours they were using. Subverted by [[spoiler: Nish]] who realises that the colours are infused with smells, e.g. the yellow paint smells of lemons, but [[spoiler: Mark]] is the only contestant who [[SubvertedTrope notices]] the light switch ([[spoiler: the task rules didn't specify that the painting had to actually be done in the dark]]).

** In "The Leprechaun Or The Lesbian", one of the tasks is to paint a rainbow in darkness. [[spoiler: Aisling, Sally, and Bob]] play this trope straight by painting without knowing what colours they were using. Subverted by [[spoiler: Nish]] who realises that the colours are infused with smells, e.g. the yellow paint smells of lemons, but [[spoiler: Mark]] is the only contestant who [[SubvertedTrope notices]] the light switch.

** In "The Leprechaun Or The Lesbian", one of the tasks is to paint a rainbow in darkness. [[spoiler: Aisling, Sally, and Bob]] play this trope straight by painting without knowing what colours they were using. [[spoiler: Nish]] [[AvertedTrope averts this trope]] by realising that the colours were infused with smells, e.g. the yellow paint smells of lemons, but [[spoiler: Mark]] is the only contestant who [[AvertedTrope notices]] the light switch.

* AndYourRewardIsClothes: Given that each contestant place an item into the prize pot, the winner of each episode wins about four objects. In "Pork Is A Sausage", the reward actually is clothes; specifically, the contestants were asked to put their "trendiest" item of clothing in the pot.

* Series Five[[note]]Airing fall 2017[[/note]]: Nish Kumar, Sally Phillips, Bob Mortimer, Aisling Bea, Mark Watson

** Never lie about doing something for charity as it will enrage everyone else, which both Tim and Joe Lycett found out to their cost. (Although in Joe's case, it was someone lying about it on his behalf, which he never asked them to do.)

** In "Spatchcock It", one of the tasks involves working out what is inside a zipped up sleeping bag. The contestants are not allowed to look inside the bag or take anything out. Hugh unzips the bag, and then lifts it upside down so the contents fall out; and he argues that he hadn't physically taken anything out. Greg disqualifies him.

** So far, each series has one contestant carrying out tasks that nobody else does. See ButtMonkey above for specific details.

* RedHerring: The entire Taskmaster squash task was one big red herring. The teams were sent to a squash court, and had to score 11 points as fast as possible. They were given things to aid them such as cakes, a bucket, and squash racket and ball, but in the end, all they had to do to score points was to touch their head.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Noel wears a dress and is referred to as the [[spoiler:"wife"]] at his [[spoiler:wedding to]] the duck.