BBC One launches family-friendly take on Taskmaster
- BBC One is to broadcast its own family-friendly version of Taskmaster
- The Button will see families compete against each other in quirky challenges to win money
- Taskmaster creator Alex Horne and producers Avalon are also behind the new show
Alex Horne and Andy Devonshire, creator and producer of the hit Dave series Taskmaster, have created a new format for BBC One.
The Button, an entertainment game show format due to launch later this year, sees five groups - families and friends - set a series of bizarre challenges in order to win cash prizes.
Also made by Taskmaster producer Avalon Television, the new show sees each groups with a box in their living room, including a screen on one side and large button on top. The button can, at any point and without notice, begin flashing, at which point the team's time begins. As soon as they notice the flashing, they must press the button in order to receive their task. Each group competes against each other, and the clock, in completing the challenges satisfactorily.
Amongst the challenges that will be seen in the series are completely wrapping up two people in toilet roll; and transferring a collection of large novelty inflatable objects into their living rooms as quickly as possible.
The BBC says: "The Button will visit five families or friends each week and place a talking button at the heart of their front room where the teams face spontaneous challenges against the clock to win a cash prize.
"The teams must keep a beady eye on the button which turns from green to red when it's time to play. They miss it at their peril as it's a race against the clock to hit the button and start the game. The Button delivers the task they must complete in the quickest time, interacts with them, and also reveals their rival teams on screen and the results."
Involving adults, teens and children, the 8-part family game show draws heavily from Dave's successful post-watershed challenge format, which sees 5 comedians in each series competing against each other in a series of similarly odd and thought-process-challenging tasks. Whilst Taskmaster is hosted in a TV studio by Greg Davies with Alex Horne as his assistant, The Button is filmed entirely in the families' homes, and features Horne as the voice of the Button itself.
Kate Phillips, Controller of BBC Entertainment said: "This new show absolutely pushes all the right buttons for us. It's a funny, frantic, competitive romp and a great snapshot of family life across the UK."
Jon Thoday, Executive Producer from Avalon says: "I am excited to be working with the BBC and the team behind Taskmaster on this exciting new project."
Whilst The Button is expected to debut in a prime-time BBC One slot later this year, Taskmaster returns for its fifth series on 13th September.