Taskmaster's New Year Treat 2026 line-up: Confirmed contestants
Five courageous celebrities are stepping up to the challenge.
A Taskmaster final is never without an exciting announcement afterwards!
Last month, audiences tuned into the dramatic final of the 20th season and witnessed Maisie Adam emerge victorious to earn a place in the upcoming instalment of Champion of Champions.
But that isn't all, with Taskmaster revealing a brand new quintet of star contestants for its New Year Treat, which is set to return over the festive period with a two-episode special – a first for Taskmaster.
The famous faces taking part in this year's edition are TV chef Big Zuu (Big Zuu's Big Eats, Celebrity Bear Hunt), former footballer Jill Scott (I'm a Celebrity), actress Rose Ayling-Ellis (Code of Silence, EastEnders), musician Sam Ryder (Eurovision) and lexicographer Susie Dent (Countdown).
As ever, the mighty Greg Davies will score the efforts of the stars as Little Alex Horne diligently keeps track of proceedings.
Out of the five special guests, only one can win the annual fight for Greg Davies's coveted Golden Eyebrows trophy.
But for some, you may be wondering just who these famous faces are? Read on for everything you need to know about the 2026 Taskmaster's New Year Treat line-up.
Taskmaster's New Year Treat 2026 line-up
- Big Zuu
- Jill Scott
- Rose Ayling-Ellis
- Sam Ryder
- Susie Dent
Read on to find out more about the new Taskmaster New Year's Treat line-up.
Big Zuu
Age: 30
Instagram: @itsbigzuu
Job: Chef and musician
BAFTA winner Big Zuu is a British TV personality, musician and chef, widely recognised for his BAFTA-nominated cooking series Big Zuu’s Big Eats.
He released his debut album Navigate in 2021 and won the first ever season of Celebrity Bear Hunt on Netflix.
Jill Scott
Age: 38
Instagram:@jillscottjs8
Job: Footballer
Jill Scott is former professional footballer who was part of the team who won the FA Women's Premier League Cup in 2008 and the FA Women's Cup in 2010.
She found a whole new wave of fans after being crowned Queen of the Jungle by winning the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2022.
Rose Ayling-Ellis
Age: 31
Instagram: @rose.a.e
Job: Actress
Rose Ayling-Ellis is an English actress best known for her roles as Frankie Lewis in EastEnders and Alison Brooks in ITV's Code of Silence.
In 2021, she became the first deaf contestant to take part in Strictly Come Dancing, which she then went on to win alongside professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
Sam Ryder
Age: 36
Instagram: @samhairwolfryder
Job: Musician
Sam Ryder is a musician most recognised for representing the UK at the Eurovision Song contest in 2022 with his song Space Man. He finished in second place and became the highest scoring UK entrant in history with 466 points.
He was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2023 Brit Awards, becoming the first Eurovision act to achieve this feat, and will make his West End debut in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar in 2026.
Susie Dent
Age: 61
Instagram: @susiedent
Job: Lexicographer and writer
Susie Dent is most well known for appearing in Dictionary Corner on the Channel 4 game show Countdown since 1992 and the comedy version 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
She has also published a whopping 17 books in her career. In 2024 she was awarded an MBE for services to literature and to language.
Taskmaster's New Year Treat will air on Friday 2nd January and Saturday 3rd January on Channel 4.
Add Taskmaster to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a Freelance Writer who covers pop culture and entertainment programmes for the Radio Times. She previously worked as the Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab where she managed its local department. She obtained a BA (Hons) in English Literature from University of Nottingham.
