I’ve never been Across The Pond, to the land of “chips” and “mates” and Lords and Queens. But I have previously admitted my love and romanticism of London and the UK, largely because of their TV Shows (Series). I also need having TV shows, and other noise-y stuff on in the background, as I work or paint or clean or whatever.
Something the YouTube algorithm served me up a few months ago has been life changing. London bus videos.
As a lover of buses and cities, it has been incredibly soothing and interesting watching the city of London from the top of a Double Decker bus. Seeing the communities, parks, people of London living their lives. And compared to America (Chicago), significantly less cars and significantly more density and public transportation. I can’t get enough.
My two current favorites are Wanderizm and Kidney Beans Global Check them out both below!
Wanderizm shares a few videos a week, and they are really high quality. I also like at the beginning each video he shows the date and time, temperature, and the route of the bus. A small thing that adds a lot of context to the videos. Here are two recent videos I have enjoyed.
London Route 189 – From Brent Cross to Marble Arch in Central London 🚌 (A night route!)
London Bus Ride, Route 27 from Camden to Hammersmith Point-of-view 🚌
They update every week or so with new videos. They also have a Live Stream of their videos which is good to pop into from time to time. Check out the live stream and another of the good routes they have up.
Live London Bus Stream
London Bus 57 🎾 Wimbledon Station To Streatham Hill 🎾 Wimbledon 2024 Bus Ride
Be sure to give them both a Subscribe. Happy Bus Watching.
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It turns out a show with comedians on it, doing funny things, is very enjoyable.
Let me be clear, none of these series are bad. I would happily watch any of them again. And I will. However some have more contestant chemistry, or better themes, or tasks that just hit harder. Oddly even the “bad” tasks provide the laughs. I’ve probably lol’ed (legit lol) in ever episode of Taskmaster I’ve watched, including all rewatches.
Live tasks were often low points for me so I do not include any in the top tasks. One caveat for that, the Knappett Fall in Series 7 is maybe one of the funniest things I’ve see on TV.
The starred ** contestants were my favorites, but again, there is not one I “hated”.
Best Task: Work out the circumference of the caravan in baked beans. Episode 1.
Best Gag: Phil Wang bartering for each prize task. James calling him a pussy while trying to open the box. James not saying “hi” to Alex ever. The Knappett Fall.
2. Series 16
Great tasks, contestants, and contestant chemistry.
Contestants: *Julian Clary*, Lucy Beaumont, *Sam Campbell*, Sue Perkins and Susan Wokoma
Best Episode: Episode 7: I’m off to find a robin.
Best Task: Present a piece called “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”. Episode 6.
Best Gag: Sue getting mad at Alex. Sam being a weird guy. The team of three is funny. Sam wearing all gray/grey outfits in every studio show.
3. Series 1
It’s only six episodes. It’s honestly surprising how good this series is, and how little the show actually changes over time. It’s a little clunky at points, but it holds up super well even 10 years later compared to the newer seasons.
Contestants: Frank Skinner, Josh Widdicombe, Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan and *Tim Key*
Best Episode: Episode 1: Melon buffet.
Best Task: In the lab, there is a watermelon. Eat as much watermelon as possible. Episode 1.
Best Gag: Tim Key getting caught cheating. Romesh getting mad at the prize tasks. Josh having to do counting tasks.
4. Series 14
Good tasks!
Contestants: Dara Ó Briain, *Fern Brady*, *John Kearns*, Munya Chawawa and Sarah Millican
Best Episode: Episode 5: Chip Biffington.
Best Task: Place one luggage trolley a certain distance away from the line. Then, starting behind the line, strike that trolley with another luggage trolley. Episode 5.
Best Gag: John having bad Prize Tasks.
5. Series 3
Only five episodes. Great tasks. It was really hard for me to choose top episode or task.
Contestants: *Al Murray*, Dave Gorman, *Paul Chowdhry*, Rob Beckett and Sara Pascoe
Best Episode: Episode 2: The dong and the gong.
Best Task: Get to the microwave in as few steps as possible and open the door before the microwave dings. Episode 1.
Best Gag: Paul’s deadpan humor and how Greg responds to it.
6. Series 4
A great season, with solid contestants. The first of the new standard of ten episodes.
Contestants: *Hugh Dennis*, Joe Lycett, Lolly Adefope, *Mel Giedroyc* and Noel Fielding
Best Episode: Episode 3: Hollowing out a baguette.
Best Task: Make a trailer for Taskmaster The Movie. Team task. Episode 3.
Best Gag: Hugh Dennis coming in last for the Prize task 6 out of the 8 episodes.
7. Series 8
This one grew on me more as I watched a second time while listening to the official podcast.
Contestants: Iain Stirling, Joe Thomas, *Lou Sanders*, Paul Sinha and Sian Gibson
Best Episode: Episode 3: Stuck in a mammal groove.
Best Task: Alex is on that bridge in the distance with lights on his head. Get as close as you can to Alex without him noticing you. Episode 1.
Best Gag: Alex asking Paul Sinha questions about history. Ian and Lou being confrontational on team tasks.
8. Series 11
Also a Covid Pandemic Series, and I think it hurts the tasks in this one, which is understandable.
Contestants: Charlotte Ritchie, Jamali Maddix, Lee Mack, *Mike Wozniak* and *Sarah Kendall*.
Best Episode: Episode 5: Slap and tong.
Best Task: Build a tower, then topple your tower so that yogurt lands in a numbered square. Episode 9.
Best Gag: Jamali getting irritated with Alex (and others) a lot.
9. Series 2
Only five episodes.
Contestants: Doc Brown, *Joe Wilkinson*, Jon Richardson, *Katherine Ryan* and Richard Osman
Best Episode: Episode 5: There’s strength in arches.
Best Task: Get this potato into the golf hole. You may not touch the red green. Episode 1.
Best Gag: Jon Richardson being embarrassed constantly.
10. Series 17
This is the first one I watched without bingeing, and I think that honestly hurt my viewing experience some. Great contestants and I had fun watching.
Contestants: Joanne McNally, John Robins, *Nick Mohammed*, *Sophie Willan*, and Steve Pemberton
Best Episode: Episode 8: The umbrella wink.
Best Task: Hoopla Gary before he crosses the finish line. Episode 1.
Best Gag: It was kind of annoying at first but Nick being dressed like Dracula.
11. Series 12
Another (and the last) Covid Pandemic series. Good tasks! They figured out the Covid Tasks.
Contestants: Alan Davies, Desiree Burch, *Guz Khan*, *Morgana Robinson* and Victoria Coren Mitchell
Best Episode: Episode 3: The end of the franchise.
Best Task: Write and perform a 30-second jingle. Episode 7.
Best Gag: Victoria being teased for being a nerd.
12. Series 9
It starts off a little slow, but increasingly gets better as the series goes on. The contestants have better chemistry at the end.
Contestants: David Baddiel, Ed Gamble, Jo Brand, *Katy Wix* and *Rose Matafeo*
Best Episode: Episode 6: Bready bready bready.
Best Task: Serenade yourself. Episode 6.
Best Gag:
13. Series 5
Contestants: *Aisling Bea*, Bob Mortimer, Mark Watson, *Nish Kumar* and Sally Phillips
Best Episode: Episode 5: A wind-dried puffin.
Best Task: Generate a watercooler moment involving this watercooler. Episode 5.
Best Gag: Mark Watson sending texts to Greg everyday for 5 months.
14. Series 15
Contestants: Frankie Boyle, Ivo Graham, Jenny Eclair, *Kiell Smith-Bynoe* and Mae Martin
Best Episode: Episode 6: It’s my milk now.
Best Task: Invent an imaginary companion, then complete a domestic task with your imaginary companion. Episode 6.
Best Gag: Kiell and Alex going at it. lol
15. Series 10
First Covid Pandemic series. I think it starts mid-filming tasks. Doesn’t affect it too much.
Contestants: *Daisy May Cooper*, Johnny Vegas, Katherine Parkinson, Mawaan Rizwan and Richard Herring
Best Episode: Episode 1: God’s haemorrhoid.
Best Task: Silently, make the tastiest and prettiest cocktail with the coolest name. Episode 6.
Best Gag: Katherine Parkinson saying “we” all the time and Alex correcting her.
16. Series 13
Good tasks and first post-Covid Pandemic series.
Contestants: *Ardal O’Hanlon*, Bridget Christie, Chris Ramsey, *Judi Love* and Sophie Duker
Best Episode: Episode 3: I think I’ve got this.
Best Task: Display the shoe Alex is thinking of. All the other shoes must be out of sight at the end of the attempt. Episode 4.
Best Gag: Judi getting Alex to do a bunch of stuff for him. Sophie being annoyed by Alex, and talking about death all the time. Judi never winning.
17. Series 6
Some good moments but overall one of the weaker series :(. Sorry :(.
Contestants: Alice Levine, Asim Chaudhry, Liza Tarbuck, Russell Howard and Tim Vine
Best Episode: Episode 10: He was a different man.
Best Task: Do something manly with this cardboard box. Episode 4.
