Tim Key is getting paid for doing nothing as the ‘task consultant’ on Taskmaster.

The comic – a friend of series creator Alex Horne who was a contestant on the very first series – appears in the credits of every episode.

But while he’s still on the payroll,  Horne admits he does absolutely nothing for his annual stipend – of just £50.

Asked by the Polygon website about Key’s specific role, Horne said: ‘He has no role whatsoever. 

‘The truth is, what happened was he did the show, and then I talked to him a lot, because he is a good friend, about what would be a good contest, what would be a good task, and I kind of wanted to pay him for it. And it's nice to have his name attached!

‘The first few series, he did help, but he's since bargained his way down. He's argued that his payment should be smaller. So I think it was £500 a series, now it's £50. If I want to get advice, I'll call him, but I haven't for about four years.’

When Taskmaster Greg Davies pointed out it was money for nothing, Horne replied: ‘I think he would argue that the hassle of paying tax on that £50 and all that, he would rather not get the £50 a year.'

The news comes as series 21 drew to an end last night and the line-up for series 22 was officially revealed to be Chole Petts, Isy Suttie, Matt Lucas, Nina Conti and Richard Ayoade,