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Some of the most successful task-takers in the history of Taskmaster.Some of the most successful task-takers in the history of Taskmaster.
Some of the most successful task-takers in the history of Taskmaster.

Taskmaster Hall of Fame: Here are the 14 highest scoring celebrities of all time - from Sarah Millican to Bob Mortimer

The cast of series 17 of the show that sees comedians challenged to complete a host of strange tasks has been revealed – but will any of them join the ranks of the all-time best contestants?

By David Hepburn
Published 29th Nov 2022, 12:54 GMT
Updated 19th Jan 2024, 09:47 GMT

Presented by Greg Davies and Alex Horne (who also created the programme, originally as a show for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe), the first series of Taskmaster was broadcast in 2014 on comedy channel Dave, before expanding its audience after being poached by Channel 4 in 2020.

There have only been 16 series proper, along with three special one-off ‘Champion of Champion’ and four ‘New Year Treat’ programmes, comprising one or two episodes.

The show sees (mainly) comedians take part in a range of challenges which are then marked by the hosts, usually (but not always) winning a maximum of five points per task.

In order to judge which Taskmaster alumini have been most successful, and to take into account the often convoluted rules, we’ve taken the maximum amount of points available in each series and worked out what percentage each contestant has won – so if there were 20 points available in an episode and a contestant won 10 points, they would have a 50 per cent success rate.

For the purposes of this list we have restricted it to the 80 celebrities who have appeared on the 16 completed full series of the show – one-off special episodes don’t count.

So, here are – currently – the top 14 Taskmasters of all time.

With a huge 184 points, reigning Taskmaster champion Dara O'Briain is the most successful competitor of all time. His total equates to a 73.6 per cent points hit rate.

1. Dara O'Briain

With a huge 184 points, reigning Taskmaster champion Dara O'Briain is the most successful competitor of all time. His total equates to a 73.6 per cent points hit rate. Photo: Jeff Spicer

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Were Greg and Alex more generous in allocating points in season 14? It certainly seems so, as Sarah Millican's total of 174 points gives her a 69.6 per cent hit rate, second only to season champ Dara Ó Briain.

2. Sarah Millican

Were Greg and Alex more generous in allocating points in season 14? It certainly seems so, as Sarah Millican's total of 174 points gives her a 69.6 per cent hit rate, second only to season champ Dara Ó Briain. Photo: Tim P. Whitby

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Season 13 winner Sophie Duker is offically the third best competitor in Taskmaster history. Her 173 points may not be the highest score ever, but her success rate of 67.32 per cent was unbeaten until season 14.

3. Sophie Duker

Season 13 winner Sophie Duker is offically the third best competitor in Taskmaster history. Her 173 points may not be the highest score ever, but her success rate of 67.32 per cent was unbeaten until season 14. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell

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Before Sarah Millican Chris Ramsey is the most unlucky runner up in the show's history. His 66.15 per cent pints success rate is the fourth best of all time - but he had the misfortune to be on season 13 alongside Sophie Duker.

4. Chris Ramsey

Before Sarah Millican Chris Ramsey is the most unlucky runner up in the show's history. His 66.15 per cent pints success rate is the fourth best of all time - but he had the misfortune to be on season 13 alongside Sophie Duker. Photo: Contributed

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Related topics:Bob MortimerTaskmasterGreg DaviesChannel 4Dave