Jeremy Wells returns as your gloriously unimpressed overlord, presiding over NZ’s most delightfully pointless competition. Armed with a raised eyebrow and withering one-liners, the Taskmaster judges five new comedians as they butcher bizarre challenges with Kiwi ingenuity (or sheer desperation). Paul Williams remains the ever-suffering Assistant, dutifully herding cats and tallying scores while narrowly avoiding airborne cabbages. From cryptic instructions scrawled on sheep shears to tasks involving jandals and pineapple lumps, prepare for a fresh wave of Antipodean absurdity.

This season’s victims—ahem, contestants—include multi-hyphenate comic Alice Snedden, powerhouse performer Bree Tomasel, improv maestro Jack Ansett, filmmaker Jackie van Beek, and chaotic force Pax Assadi. Watch them interpret “Make the best noise using only a trampoline and a kūmara” in ways that defy physics and sanity. Expect spectacular fails, accidental genius, and Jeremy’s deadpan verdicts that cut deeper than a blunt Stanley knife. Dignity is optional. Laughter is guaranteed.

Taskmaster (NZ) Season 6 cast and roles

1: Jeremy Wells as Self (Taskmaster)

The unflappable Jeremy Wells (Seven Sharp, Eating Media Lunch) reprises his role as NZ’s arbiter of arbitrary judgment. With glacial calm and bone-dry wit, he dissects contestant chaos from his throne, dispensing points like a miserly banker. His genius lies in making “disappointed headmaster” an art form—silently judging a grown adult attempting to transport spaghetti in a leaf blower.

Wells’ stone-faced reactions amplify the madness. Whether witnessing Jackie van Beek wrestle a inflatable dinosaur or Pax Assadi interpret “impress the mayor” as interpretive dance, his monotone verdicts (“Two points… for existing”) remain the show’s brutally hilarious anchor.

2: Paul Williams as Self (Assistant)

Musical comic Paul Williams (Seven Days) endures another season as Jeremy’s human shield and task enforcer. Williams masters physical comedy as he demonstrates challenges with tragic optimism—only to watch contestants immediately ignore every rule. His resigned sighs and accidental maiming (courtesy of poorly thrown pavlovas) are legend.

Paul’s escalating trauma is our delight. Whether being buried in compost by Bree Tomasel or used as Jack Ansett’s reluctant “art canvas,” his patient suffering and futile attempts at order make him the show’s secret MVP.

3: Alice Snedden as Self (Contestant)

Writer/director/comedian Alice Snedden (Billy T Award winner, Bad News) brings razor-sharp wit and strategic panic. Expect meticulously planned tasks collapsing instantly, followed by withering self-roasts. Snedden’s brain works at 200km/h—unfortunately, her hands rarely keep up.

Her clashes with Jeremy promise gold: intellectual arrogance meets catastrophic execution. Whether debating task semantics or sobbing over a melted ice sculpture, Alice’s descent into beautiful frustration will be iconic.

4: Bree Tomasel as Self (Contestant)

Theatrical powerhouse Bree Tomasel (Funny Girls) thrives on unhinged commitment. Physical? She’ll backflip off a shed. Artistic? She’ll recreate The Last Supper using wetas. Expect maximalist chaos, contagious cackling, and tasks abandoned for impromptu dance breaks.

Bree’s joyful anarchy terrifies Paul and baffles Jeremy. Her willingness to humiliate herself (e.g., interpreting “seduce a lamppost” literally) makes her the wildcard who either wins big or scores negative points with glorious flair.

5: Jack Ansett as Self (Contestant)

Improv virtuoso Jack Ansett (Snort) relies on quick thinking and baffling lateral moves. His strength? Making bizarre connections (“Of course the teabag needs a parachute!”). His weakness? Forgetting the actual task. Jack turns simplicity into surreal performance art.

Ansett’s wholesome confusion is lethal. Watch him spend 20 minutes building a Rube Goldberg machine to “pop this balloon,” only to trip and pop it with his elbow. Jeremy’s pained silence will be deafening.

6: Jackie van Beek as Self (Contestant)

Actor/director Jackie van Beek (What We Do in the Shadows, The Inbetweeners 2) approaches tasks with deadly serious whimsy. Her vibe? A primary school teacher attempting neurosurgery. Expect eerily calm focus during disasters and crafts involving excessive glitter.

Van Beek’s quiet determination hides comedic genius. Whether meticulously folding origami from used chewing gum or attempting to hypnotize a chicken, her serene delivery amidst madness will be season-defining.

7: Pax Assadi as Self (Contestant)

Energetic force Pax Assadi (Have You Been Paying Attention?) is chaos incarnate. Rules are suggestions, time limits are myths, and props are meant for destruction. Pax’s strategy: brute force enthusiasm. Success is accidental; entertainment is guaranteed.

Assadi’s tasks descend into glorious carnage. Imagine him trying to “quietly transport this egg” via trampoline or “draw the biggest circle” by tying a marker to a runaway goat. Paul’s terrified face says it all.