Taskmaster is back and with it five new celebs (Joanne McNally, Nick Mohammed, John Robins, Steve Pemberton and Sophie Willan) who will be fighting it out for the honour of being named champion. The puzzles and games filled TV show has been going strong since 2015 and series 17 promises even more brain-teasers designed to stump and surprise.
Who will be this year’s outside the box thinker and join the likes of Bob Mortimer and Lou Sanders in the hall of fame?
Let’s take a closer look at those in the running to take home Greg’s golden head.
Who is Sophie?
Sophie Willan is a comedian, writer, and actress. Born in Bolton, she spent much of her childhood in and out of the care system, an experience which informed her writing and stand-up, including her debut show On Record.
She is also the founder of the non-profit, ‘Stories Of Care’ – a writing and outreach organisation that works with exceptional new writers, from diverse backgrounds.
Where do we know her from?
Sophie has appeared on TV in shows including Time and Still Open All Hours, but is perhaps best known for starring in Alma’s Not Normal.
The sitcom, which she also wrote and produced, takes a look at the life of a family impacted by austerity measures and the main character’s desire to give her life meaning. It premiered in 2021 and went on to collect numerous awards, including the BAFTA for Best Female Comedy Performance.
Our prediction
Sophie is sure to keep Alex guessing and we don’t imagine much will faze her. However, we predict a battle of wills when it comes to the Taskmaster’s studio analysis. Let’s hope this isn’t held against her when it comes time for the scores.
Follow Sophie on Instagram