Rival broadcasters set to circle format if broadcaster and indie cannot agree terms

UKTV and Avalon are understood to have reached an impasse over the future of Taskmaster – with other broadcasters thought to be eying Dave’s hit format.

There is industry speculation that Channel 4 is “actively engaged” in early-stage talks with the production company about picking up the five-year old show if an agreement with UKTV cannot be reached.

ITV has also made no secret of its admiration for the innovative format, which has spawned a number of international remakes and won best entertainment programme at the Broadcast Awards 2018.

Both terrestrial channels are known to covet the format, which has generated audiences of up to 1.5m this year and accounts for the channel’s 15 top-performing shows.

The show, fronted by Greg Davies and co-creator Alex Horne, has run for nine series on Dave but no agreement has been reached ahead of this Wednesday’s conclusion of the current run, the last of a two-year, four-series deal.

“It’s a huge hit on the channel but UKTV can’t accept that it needs to re-negotiate properly,” said an industry source. “Independent production companies have to make money out of shows when they’re hits, otherwise they can’t keep going.”

In 2016, C4 caused uproar after it ended up as home of The Great British Bake Off following a breakdown in negotiations between Love Productions and the BBC.

It resulted in strained relations between the BBC and the Sky-owned indie for some two years.

UKTV and Avalon, which are regular collaborators with a host of shows including Dave Gorman: Terms and Conditions Apply and Unspun with Matt Forde, will be keen to avoid a similar level of acrimony.

In April, Avalon co-executive chairman Jon Thoday raised fears about a reduction in spend on third-party shows after the BBC took full control of the commercial broadcaster.

The story was first reported by TBI.

Avalon, C4 and UKTV declined to comment.