Greg Davies and Alex Horne are taking Taskmaster on tour in the US.

 Special guests and audience members will compete in live tasks at the dates in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York. And the pair promise to spill ‘insider knowledge’ from the British show and show 'never before seen footage'.

 It is the latest effort to both cater for and build on the cult success the show has in the States.

The 17th and 19th seasons both had premieres in New York before being seen in the UK, with the pair making US talk show appearances to promote the show. 

Series 19  series also featured the first American-based contestant in the shape of Jason Mantzoukas, helping Taskmaster’s YouTube channel put on an extra 200,000 US-based subscribers. It currently has more than 2million subscribers worldwide.

The latest series, the 20th, was streamed on YouTube  for viewers in America and elsewhere immediately after it aired on Channel 4. The programme has not aired on  an American network since being pulled from The CW’s schedule in 2020. 

Horne has previously spoken about his hope of getting an American version of the show off the ground, with Davies reprising his role as the Taskmaster.

A 2018 US remake headed by Reggie Watts – but with Horne still the sidekick – was dropped by Comedy Central after just one series.

Last year, Horne told author Chris Duke on his podcast The Peer Project: ‘With a bit of luck we're going to try again. But ideally with Greg and me, or two American hosts. I just think we would have more control over it.’

He has added that he was in no rush to break America, saying: ‘I don't really want to be launched anywhere. I'm happy where I am. But if we could have a go, I think we would say yes, as long as the conditions were right.’

Last month, production company Avalon revealed they were looking to put together a Taskmaster tour ‘to bring the chaos, tasks and laughter to fans everywhere’ – and launched a survey asking where they should visit. 

News of the US dates come after Channel 4 confirmed the broadcast dates for the next Champions Of Champions and New Year Treat specials, as well as releasing some pictures from the former.

Subscribers to Taskmaster’s mailing list will get first dibs on the American tickets from Monday before they go on general sale on Tuesday.

Taskmaster US tour dates

January 15: Chicago Riviera Theatre
January 17: Boston The Wilbur
January 19: Philadelphia Miller Theater
January 21: Washington, D.C. Warner Theatre
January 22: New York Town Hall
January 23: New YorkTown Hall