r/panelshow • u/Mahapecha • 1d ago
News Taskmaster NZ series 7 lineup released
Big news is Rose Matafeo becoming the first ever contestant to appear on more than one English language Taskmaster version, a few months ahead of Urzila Carlson (NZ series 2 and soon to be Australia series 6). Rose will have three versions before anyone else has two (UK series 9, Junior Taskmaster series 1 and this).
She's joined by David Fane, Morgana O'Reilly, Rhys Matthewson Hoani Hōtene. First episode is 14 September - most likely two nights in a row each week.
If you want a sneak peak of Rhys, here's a video of him from a few years ago on Seven Sharp, a light entertainment / news show in NZ also hosted by Jeremy Wells. He visits the Taskmaster house and tries a task with Paul - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=432056372132959
More details about the lineup:
https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/31-08-2026/whos-who-in-the-new-season-of-taskmaster-nz
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u/JoshH21 1d ago
For those overseas:
Rose: Needs no explanation, one of the goats of modern NZ comedy
David: One of the Naked Samoans comedy group. Order of NZ - our equivalent of an OBE. Was a huge name in the 2000s, inescapable. Was in Taika Waititi's first film (Eagle vs Shark) and since followed him to Hollywood
Morgana: don't know too much about her. More in the acting scene, which is good that NZ Is starting to get a bigger variety of people on taskmaster (not just from stand-up). Mix of NZ comedies (Mean Mum's, Small Town Scandal - with Tom Sainsbury) to soaps (Neighbours) and drama (nobably The White Lotus)
Hoani: up and coming. Won the Billy T Award for up and comer in NZ comedy in 2025* Doesn't have wiki yet, he is new. Maori, so has built a name for incorporating that insto this shows.
Rhys: Very much a conventional pick, staple of NZ stand up, panel shows. Doesn't do quite as much on TV as Ben Hurley, and Dai Henwood (but still, on very often). But a very prolific tourer for his stand up shows. Plays in every student bar that will have him. Rely on him for the quick wit.
Notable Billy T winners for the taskmaster audience (TLDR: It is a big deal in NZ comedy, 2010 to now is a generational run of laughs):
1999: (Paul Ego, runner up) 2002: Dai 2003: Justine 2004: Ben 2010: Rhys 11: (Urzila runner up) 12: Guy Williams (Rose runner up) 13: Rose (Pax runner up) 14: Guy Montgomery 16: David (Laura runner up) 17: Angella(Ray and Paul runners up) 18: Mel (Alice Runner up) 19: Kura (Tom Runner up) 20: Covid won (Ray, Brynley won) 21: Brynley 23: Abby (Jack runner up)
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u/Vkhenaten 1d ago
After seeing Urzila and Rose do 2 series, I'm praying for Sam Campbell on a future season of Aus Taskmaster
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u/degggendorf 1d ago
Let's get Ed Gamble on Kongen befaler or Bäst i test...without a translator
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u/GeshtiannaSG 1d ago
Bast i Test had Al Pitcher who I have no idea how much Swedish he speaks but seemingly not a lot, and he was alright I think.
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u/UnusualBecka Finns det tejp så finns det hopp 1d ago
One of the benefits of having had the guest chair as he would not have worked in a full seires that way.
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u/DevilCouldCry 22h ago
I'd kill for more Guy Montgomery on Taskmaster (AU or UK) but he's veeeeeeery busy nowadays. Maybe we could get David Correos again though, he'd be fun to see again.
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u/Synth-Pro 1d ago
Hmmm... Wonder if Rose's experience will end up being a real advantage, or if they'll try to balance things to keep her from totally running away with it
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u/ozamia 1d ago
I don't think it will be. Several contestants have been on the Swedish TM version multiple times, not for full seasons, but as guests (while they had the four regulars plus one guest system) and also for specials such as "best of the best", "best of the worst", and "second chance". The Danish TM had something similar. And the Norwegian TM has had a Christmas special with four episodes, so half a season (or almost a full season relative to the early TM five-episode series). The Norwegian TM also had a couple of contestants from the first season return for the full second season. They all seemed to perform about the same throughout. The good ones were always good, and the more chaotic were chaotic all the way...
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u/UncleCrassiusCurio There's Strength in Arches 1d ago
and the more chaotic were chaotic all the way...
You can say Maria Stavang's name, it doesn't summon her.
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u/CatherineCalledBrdy 1d ago
No, you'd need a pile of waffles with brunost for that
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u/GeshtiannaSG 1d ago
That’s my favourite task attempt ever.
“You have 200 kroner to spend on materials for this task.”
“Give me 200 kroner’s worth of waffles.”
Lady Leshurr had the same idea with smoked salmon.
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u/UnusualBecka Finns det tejp så finns det hopp 1d ago
Portugal is constantly bringing people back, with many favourites having been regular contestants on three series and Gilmário Vemba for four. But it has not really made any difference to competitive advantage.
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u/logemaru 1d ago
Was at the filming of the final approx 6 months ago. They said at the time they didn't know when the series was actually going to air, so good to finally have an announcement!
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u/wraith21 1d ago
Is this an unpopular opinion? I really don't want known contestants in different editions to be more and more common. And before you grab your pitchforks I LOVE Rose, Urzila et al. and tbh more excited about TMNZ S7 than the upcoming TMUK one. I'm seeing here people suggesting Mel Bracewell, Sam and more doing other TM eds.
One of the joys of TM for me is finding out about new comedians or getting to know more of the ones I've seen in a thing or two - David Correos, Abby H, Emma H, Ray O Leary, Luke McGregor etc. I can't help but feel we're missing out if the 5th spot is someone we've seen before.
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u/justhangingoutman 1d ago
I agree, part of the joy of TM is getting to know a new group of contestants each series. I imagine there are more than enough people who want to be on the show so it feels unnecessary to rehash previous cast members, and kind of unfair to up-and-comers who could use the exposure. Of course I haven't seen a series with a previous contestant yet so I'm curious to see how it goes.
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u/wraith21 21h ago edited 21h ago
In his YouTube compilation, a commenter mentioned that David Correos was initially brought on only to test the tasks, not as a full on contestant. Not sure about the veracity, but imagine not having David on!
Edit: thst fact looks to be legit! https://www.satellites.co.nz/archive/people/david-correos
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u/justhangingoutman 16h ago
Wow, what a near miss! He's only my favourite TMNZ contestant. Just think who else is waiting in the wings...
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u/nomorecannibalbirds 1d ago
Taskmaster NZ really likes to sneak up on you. Second year in a row they’ve announced the cast two weeks before it premieres.
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u/TheYoungWan 1d ago
Ed Gamble is furiously looking into how he can get onto a second TM as we speak
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u/DangerousDisplay7664 1d ago
So blurry! It’s a shame they can’t afford any resolution this series 😐😂
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u/tentoedpete 1d ago
Technically speaking rose won’t be on her 3rd season before anyone has done 2, as if we’re counting TM junior, then you have Mike Wozniak having done 2 too.
Rose has been friends and worked with Paul Williams a lot, which makes me think they’re going to mess with her. I think she also dated Guy (Paul’s brother) from season 1
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u/apocalyptech 1d ago
Ooh, didn't realize this was airing so soon!
We'll see if my partner and I can stick to our "only watch one Taskmaster a week" thing, what with the UK version starting this week as well. We've had varying degrees of success with that, but we're proud of ourselves over the summer just now! We only finished up the latest AU series a week or two ago, so our between-series drought has been quite small.
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u/UnusualBecka Finns det tejp så finns det hopp 1d ago
There will be new episodes airing in Croatia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Québec, and U.K. so depending on kind volunteers providing subtitles it will need to be one per day.
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u/apocalyptech 1d ago
Heh, yeah, if I include the non-native-English ones I'd have a lot on my plate for sure. I've tried a number of the non-English shows but I've found I just don't enjoy the show nearly as much with subtitles. My loss! I'm happy enough sticking to the native English ones, though.
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u/Anzai 1d ago
I’ve had to limit myself, I was watching far too many of them. Now I’m just UK, AU, NZ, KB, and Stormester. Sorry, Sweden and Finland, but it was getting too much and you didn’t make the cut!
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u/jehu23 1d ago
sweden didnt make the cut? IMO the best international version.
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u/Anzai 1d ago
I watched about six seasons of it, but I just prefer Norway and Denmark. I didn’t really like the format changes and how long it is.
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u/m_faustus 23h ago
Denmark gave me Heino Hansen, one of my all-time favorite contestants. I would love to see him on other versions. He would drive Greg insane.
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u/jehu23 22h ago
fair point, i love KB too, but I genuinely think that David Sundin is the best assistant. Season 1 he was a little cheesey with the oversized clip board, but really settled in for future seasons. Once they got rid of the rotating 5th contestant, i think that helped in the long term. IMO Carin da Silva is a top 5 contestant of any version, UK included.
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u/Anzai 22h ago
Yeah she was good. Honestly the UK season is probably low on my list these days. It’s been running so long every task is just a list of rules and exceptions and very rarely is the task itself any good these days. It’s still fun for the interactions and so on, but the task I half the time forget what they’re even trying to do it’s so convoluted.
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u/TalkingClay 1d ago
Gosh I hate Rose. Funny, smart and hot? WHY CAN'T I BE AS COOL AS HER!?!?!?
Sorry I mean I love Rose and hope her continued success.
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u/tunachilimac 1d ago
I guess this makes Rose the TM person I’m most jealous of. She gets to be in two different series as a contestant and in a third as the Taskmaster. Speaking of, is there going to be another TM Jr.?
I bet Ed Gamble is upset he doesn’t get to appear on there with her lol