The Dave channel has commissioned two more series of Taskmaster with Greg Davies and Alex Horne.

UKTV announced the news with a tweet this morning, saying simply: 'Hurrah! @gdavies will be returning as #Taskmaster with his sidekick @AlexHorne for 2 more series on @Join_Dave!'

The broadcaster says there will be 'a brand-new group of comedians' taking part. In series 1, the line-up was Roisin Conaty, Tim Key, Romesh Ranganathan, Frank Skinner and Josh Widdicombe. They were set bizarre tasks such as eating a watermelon as fast as possible or painting a picture of a horse while riding a horse.

The new series will air in 2016 and 2017, each comprising five hour-long episodes.

Horne said: 'This news is both exciting and appropriate; the Taskmaster still has many tasks he needs completing – almost all of which are either far-fetched or still unconcocted – and who better to attempt such challenges than a fresh bunch of ill-equipped and unhealthily competitive comedians”

Dave’s General Manager, Steve North added: 'We are thrilled to continue this hilarious show on Dave. I’m particularly excited to see what genius tasks the mind of Alex Horne has in store for the next two series.'

The format was based on challenges Horne set during the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010 and 2011.

• 'I looked like a bellend: Comics talk about Taskmaster Series 1.

Published: 24 Sep 2015