Taskmaster announces first live UK show in Manchester, plus Los Angeles date
Greg Davies and Alex Horne will stage Taskmaster Live On Stage at Manchester's AO Arena on 26 May and at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on 22 June. It follows a US run that sold out in 13 minutes.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Taskmaster will hold its first live show in the UK at the AO Arena in Manchester on 26 May next year. Evening StandardN “Taskmaster will hold its first UK live show in Manchester next year.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “Greg Davies, the show's host, and his assistant Alex Horne will perform at the AO Arena on 26 May next year.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2A second date follows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on 22 June. The IndependentLC “A second date follows at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on 22 June.” Read at The Independent ↗ Evening StandardN “followed by a show at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on June 22.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Host Greg Davies and his assistant Alex Horne, who created the format, will front both performances. Evening StandardN “Greg Davies and his assistant Alex Horne, who created the format, will perform on stage at the AO Arena on May 26” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “Davies and Horne will front both performances, with special guests and audience members making up the contestant line-up.” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2The production, titled Taskmaster Live On Stage, will have special guests as contestants, while the remaining places will be filled from the audience. Evening StandardN “Taskmaster Live On Stage will have special guests as contestants, while the remaining contestant places are up for grabs from the audience.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “The remaining contestant places will be up for grabs from the audience.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Davies said he was thrilled to bring Taskmaster to such illustrious venues, that it felt daunting but also like destiny, and joked that his judgements would stay even-handed with everyone having a good time "except Alex". Evening StandardN ““I am thrilled that my tiny assistant and I are to bring Taskmaster to such illustrious venues.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “every effort will be made for everyone to have a good time, except Alex.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Horne called it "one of the maddest moments of my life", saying the Hollywood Bowl means Monty Python to him and the Manchester arena means Oasis. Evening StandardN ““For me the Hollywood Bowl means Monty Python and the Manchester Arena means Oasis.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “This is one of the maddest moments of my life.” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Tickets go on pre-sale exclusively to the Taskmaster mailing list on 14 October, with general sale on 16 October. Evening StandardN “Tickets will be released for pre-sale exclusively on the Taskmaster mailing list on October 14, followed by general sale on October 16.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “General sale follows on October 16.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The live format debuted in America earlier this year, with tickets selling out in 13 minutes; Davies and Horne were joined there by John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Lisa Gilroy and Jason Mantzoukas as special guest contestants. Evening StandardN “Taskmaster Live On Stage debuted in America earlier this year, with tickets selling out in 13 minutes.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “Tickets for that run sold out in 13 minutes.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The TV series premiered in 2015 on Dave, moved to Channel 4 in 2020, and its 22nd series began airing in September 2026. Evening StandardN “The series premiered in 2015 on Dave before moving to Channel 4 in 2020. The 22nd series began airing in September 2026.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The IndependentLC “The 22nd series began airing in September 2026.” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent leads on the UK first and the 13-minute US sell-out as evidence of demand.
- Emphasis
- US sell-out, repeated recap of dates and ticket timings.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the show's Dave/Channel 4 history.
- For example
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“Taskmaster set for first-ever UK live show after selling out US debut in 13 minutes” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Evening Standard presents a straightforward announcement leading with the two venues and dates.
- Emphasis
- Venues, quotes and show background including Dave and Channel 4.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not stress the US sell-out in its headline.
- For example
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“Greg Davies and Alex Horne will perform on stage at the AO Arena on May 26, followed by The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on June 22.” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- First UK live Taskmaster show at the AO Arena, Manchester, on 26 May
- Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl date on 22 June
- Pre-sale on 14 October, general sale on 16 October
- US debut run sold out in 13 minutes
- Davies and Horne quoted with the same statements
Greg Davies person
Davies says he is thrilled and finds it both daunting and like destiny, joking about being even-handed except to Alex.
“Whilst on one hand it feels daunting, on the other it feels like destiny.” — Evening Standard
Alex Horne person
Horne calls it one of the maddest moments of his life and says he will be brave alongside Davies.
“This is one of the maddest moments of my life.” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
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Taskmaster set for first-ever UK live show after selling out US debut in 13 minutes
Neutral Announcement framed around the UK first and the US sell-out in 13 minutes.
Centre1 article
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Greg Davies and Alex Horne announce Taskmaster’s first live UK show
Neutral Plain announcement leading with venues and dates, with quotes and background.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 5 Oct 16:00 First Evening StandardN Greg Davies and Alex Horne announce Taskmaster’s first live UK show
- 5 Oct 16:00 +1m The IndependentLC Taskmaster set for first-ever UK live show after selling out US debut in 13 minutes
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.