Taskmaster star Mike Wozniak has revealed that he thought being offered his new hosting role was "some sort of prank".
The comedian has returned to the franchise as Rose Matafeo's assistant for the kid-centred spin-off show Junior Taskmaster, which premiered on Friday (November 8).
Wozniak previously competed in the eleventh season of the adult series, alongside Charlotte Ritchie, Jamali Maddix, Lee Mack and champion Sarah Kendall.
Speaking to Radio Times, Wozniak explained that he assumed he was part of a practical joke when he received the call to work on the show.
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"I was almost disappointingly lackadaisical to the point where I just assumed [that] this is some sort of prank. I'm part of a prank," he said.
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"But I'll say, 'Yes, of course I will', because I'm not doing anything useful. I'm just doing the odd gig and walking my dog, Johnny, and [I'm] absolutely available.
"And then to my amazement, it was a real job, and it did happen, and there was a start date, and I had to wipe the egg stains off my suit, go back to work."
The spin-off series features a group of children, aged between 9 and 11, who are put through a series of heats – a slight difference to the show's original format.
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"In terms of just the viewing experience, the big one is it's a tournament [in Junior Taskmaster]," Wozniak said of the show's biggest change.
"So there's five heats, there's 25 contestants in total and then two semis and a final, so that gives it something else."
The comedian went on to hint that viewers will be entertained by how fast "the competitive streaks totally begin to declare themselves" once the tasks begin.
"[The kids are] able to be competitive and supportive at the same time, which adults very rarely can hold," he added.
The first episode of Junior Taskmaster saw the contestants sniff mashed potato and throw a variety of items into a large hat in the hopes of making it through to the semi-finals.
Taskmaster season 18 airs Thursdays and streams on Channel 4. Junior Taskmaster airs Fridays and streams on Channel 4.
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Sara is an entertainment journalist who specialises in TV and film. After studying journalism at the University of Roehampton, Sara joined Digital Spy in 2023, writing news (and the occasional feature) on all things entertainment. She has also written for the culture desk at The Evening Standard. A lover of all things TV and film, Sara can wax lyrical about everything from Bridgerton to The Witcher. She can also recite entire episodes of New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation. In her spare time, Sara loves to knit, crochet and cross-stitch. Also a musical theatre aficionado, Sara counts Samantha Barks as one of her heroes and is a loyal fan of Jodie Comer.
