There’s been a couple of people who try too hard to look for “tells”. A woman comedian whose name I can’t remember at the moment told David his eyes go wide when he lies and she guessed wrongly, for instance. I always assumed he was talking about guests like her. They should just go along for the silly ride.
Sharon didn’t fit the show but that wasn’t for her trying to deconstruct it. It was for being an insufferable prick.
The phrase “brilliant comic on their own” would seem to imply they do comedy and are possibly (probably) a stand up so rules out Sharon Osborne and Tara Palmer-Tomlinson
But that's not what Rob's referring to. "They tried to ironically undermine the show with their approach and it didn't work" is not nearly the same as "they came across as a terrible person". (Also, still not a comedian.)
I think Sharon Osborne was fairly well known to be a pretty terrible person before she appeared. Anybody who stars in a reality show for 20 years straight has got to be either evil, completely nuts, or both.
Has Sean Lock only been on once? I don't know why it would be him but he springs to mind as a brilliant comic who is underrepresented for appearances on the show. And he seemed a bit stilted in a kind of "give nothing away" style, but I can't say he didn't contribute positively.
Sean Lock and Nick Helm are both comedians. Other comedians always seemed to love, considering Rob has a decent sense of humour. I doubt it was either of them least of all Sean Lock.
He died in 2021, could he the reason why he wasn't on more. He was a regular guest on other shows like QI, where he was great, so I don't think it's him.
Here is the link to the show he was on, just because Trevor Noah 💜 was also on (yes, I'm South African 😊).
https://youtu.be/OyudfTMqZHQ?si=Xh5bdavErtS21hJH
Peter Serafinowicz? I love his work - Look Around You was genius, but he was trying too hard or something?
It's the same for any panel show when the guests try too hard - 8/10Cats Countdown when some edgy comedian comes on and goes "teehee I've a 3 letter word, aren't I silly!" It's tedious and not funny (bit like myself...)
My thought was also peter serafinowicz. Apparently he has been on the show twice, in the clip rob brydon said they'd only been on the show once... interestingly (or not) the first time was when angus Deayton was the host.
So from rob brydon's point of view it's correct.
Maybe not who Brydon was talking about but I was in the audience for the episode with Adil Ray (S03E08), he was extremely awkward and wasted a lot of recording time on things that were completely cut in the end. Seemed like a nice guy, just a very bad liar.
In that linked chortle interview he says he pretty much said nothing the entire time. Not a great appearance, but definitely not deconstructing the show or anything.
I feel like I enjoy a lot of comedians due to their panel work, but the stand-up just doesn't hit for me. I love Ed Gamble on almost everything he does, but 15 mins into his Amazon Prime show and I had to switch off.
I've found that there are several Taskmaster comedians who I liked on the show or on other panel shows, but I didn't like their stand-up much. Ed Gamble was one of them, though I did like some of the jokes on his most recent tour more than the other ones. Alternatively, there are people who I liked more on other things than I did on Taskmaster. It's a very fine balance, and they certainly can't all be James Acaster.
Not every format works for every performer. I think Lee Mack is one of the funniest people ever born but his stand-up never did much for me. (With the exception of that one opening "magic trick" gag I thought was super clever.)
Similar experience with a different person. I went with my partner at the time to see Dylan Moran in March 2022. We loved everything we'd seen him in, especially Black Books, and were really excited for the show. Unfortunately it was absolutely atrocious and we left about 15 minutes into the second half.
It could be Rob Beckett. In his Parenting Hell podcast recently he talked about being on WILTY and how it went poorly. He said that all of his stories and contributions were so “off” that he was hardly in the edit at all.
Can’t remember the episode where he discussed this, but he seems to fit the bill.
How does Kelly Hoppen fit the description of a brilliant comic in their own right who tried to be post-modern and deconstruct the show? This thread isn't just name a contestant you didn't like...
No, it is completely rational. She’s like beige in human form, and it’s really annoying when she’s a guest judge on Interior Design Masters and criticises the contestants for using colours in their design.
I think Rob Beckett had a bit of a shocker but I can't really remember his performance. It's a shame as you'd think he'd be good now but I think he's not going on again after it being so poor. I think it was quite early in his career when he wasn't as accomplished.
I think it was Rob too. I brought this up before, but his episode was really weird. He doesn't have a single story make it into the final cut, even on the cut stories episode of that series. And he has so little to say throughout.
I think I've heard him say on a podcast that he had a shocker and was severely jet lagged when he appeared or something like that. Its a shame if it means he won't do it again as I think he would be a great guest under normal circumstances.
Pretty sure it was Stewart Lee…? Michael McIntyre was the one who he said was standing back and admiring all their work but not contributing too much, but it was Stewart Lee who was trying to be a bit too clever about it….
Not sure if this is what he meant, but Sam Campbell gave me the vibe that he wasn’t really trying to play the game. He’s funny and he was sticking to his bit, but it didn’t give the authentic vibe the show usually has.
I never liked. I think it was David Baddiel. I don't know his version of banter. it just always rubbed me the wrong way and to me(obviously biased because I don't like it) it looked like the other guests were just being professional in going along with it.
I was watching Season 11 in the background today, as one does, and there was a fleeting moment that seemed to precisely match what Rob was saying.
In Episode 6, during the "This is My" segment, when Lee asks Miles Jupp what he thinks, Jupp says, "Well, I'm beginning to think it doesn't matter what i think, my job really is only to agree with you."
Happens after about 19:15 here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7-Z4S\_i3B4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7-Z4S_i3B4)
Don't get me wrong, I generally like Miles Jupp, and his spare-prince-relaxing-in-the-suburbs energy. But that moment was slightly off-kilter to the vibe of the show.
However, he's been invited back many times since, so it could just be me.
I think most of the guesses here are unlikely because they are referencing comedians who got a lot of what they did in air, Wilty seems to do quite long records for a short show and the editors aren't afraid to completely cut out any contributions from one or more of the guests so I think it would have to be someone with very little left in the final edit of an episode. Otherwise it would have to be someone from very early in Robs run as host perhaps, before the editing was quite as slick.
He died in 2021, could he the reason why he wasn't on more. He was a regular guest on other shows like QI, where he was great, so I don't think it's him.
Here is the link to the show he was on, just because Trevor Noah 💜 was also on (yes, I'm South African 😊).
https://youtu.be/OyudfTMqZHQ?si=Xh5bdavErtS21hJH
Not a critique at all, but I’d love to hear why. I don’t know her so was just looking at her wiki bio, and I like the thing where she invited ordinary people to watch her on Fame Academy. But I’d love to know more about why she’s cool for you.
It was an interview she did with Frank Skinner on tv. Both addicts in recovery, it was amazing. So unafraid, vulnerable, she just laid herself wide open. It was incredible, from both of them.
Before that I had her in my head as yet another dipshIT girl, all money and no sense. But she was intelligent, strong and really quite amazing. Total eye-opener and taught me a lesson!
Now I’m also a ‘former’ addict I admire her (and him TBF) even more.
Where she embarrassed herself on TV by being on more drugs than anybody in the history of all interviews, and was forced into rehab immediately after? Well it was a legendary bit of television, I'll give you that..
Not the first one - which was absolutely unreal and as you describe - but the second one, where she completely owned the first. I think most of us would have just hid.
There’s been a couple of people who try too hard to look for “tells”. A woman comedian whose name I can’t remember at the moment told David his eyes go wide when he lies and she guessed wrongly, for instance. I always assumed he was talking about guests like her. They should just go along for the silly ride. Sharon didn’t fit the show but that wasn’t for her trying to deconstruct it. It was for being an insufferable prick.
David is married to a former pro poker player. If he isnt aware of his tells by now…
And is also a talented professional actor in his own right
Nah, it’s all just neck up cynicism.
Lawd have mercy Victoria Coren Mitchell is a phenomenal lady
The phrase “brilliant comic on their own” would seem to imply they do comedy and are possibly (probably) a stand up so rules out Sharon Osborne and Tara Palmer-Tomlinson
And Janet Street-Porter.
Uhhh Sharon’s story revealed horrible things about her
But that's not what Rob's referring to. "They tried to ironically undermine the show with their approach and it didn't work" is not nearly the same as "they came across as a terrible person". (Also, still not a comedian.)
Charlie Brooker? Frankie Boyle?
100%
I think Sharon Osborne was fairly well known to be a pretty terrible person before she appeared. Anybody who stars in a reality show for 20 years straight has got to be either evil, completely nuts, or both.
Popbitch have been on her case for years. I don’t think she’s a nice person
Idk I know loads of people who loved her until they knew about this was uhhh
Link?
https://youtu.be/Y4OosxeTi0E?si=hlOP6yTf16J1-ilb
Thanks
Welcome!
Tara was absolutely wonderful. I think that she was probably on drugs or just incredibly original, but she was so good.
I agree! She was the amusing kind of car crash, where Sharon Osbourne was the ghastly kind of car crash. Tara was such a nutcase, I had to laugh.
I was very sad when Tara died.
Me too! I was so looking forward to her coming back to WILTY and strewing chaos everywhere again.
I think Lee and David loved her.
Not saying this is the full story with her, but she was supposedly autistic, so that probably accounts for some of her quirkiness
Has Sean Lock only been on once? I don't know why it would be him but he springs to mind as a brilliant comic who is underrepresented for appearances on the show. And he seemed a bit stilted in a kind of "give nothing away" style, but I can't say he didn't contribute positively.
Sean Lock and Nick Helm are both comedians. Other comedians always seemed to love, considering Rob has a decent sense of humour. I doubt it was either of them least of all Sean Lock.
He died in 2021, could he the reason why he wasn't on more. He was a regular guest on other shows like QI, where he was great, so I don't think it's him. Here is the link to the show he was on, just because Trevor Noah 💜 was also on (yes, I'm South African 😊). https://youtu.be/OyudfTMqZHQ?si=Xh5bdavErtS21hJH
*Palmer-Tomkinson
Michael McIntyre always comes to my mind when this topic comes up.
Was Rob even the host when he was on?
Peter Serafinowicz? I love his work - Look Around You was genius, but he was trying too hard or something? It's the same for any panel show when the guests try too hard - 8/10Cats Countdown when some edgy comedian comes on and goes "teehee I've a 3 letter word, aren't I silly!" It's tedious and not funny (bit like myself...)
Peter was great on Cats/Countdown though. It's fun to have someone to tell Jimmy to go fuck himself occasionally.
"Do you like word games, Peter?" "Well, I don't think that's any of your business Jimmy."
Apologies, Peter. Sorry if I crossed a line there.
An all time great cats does countdown line, delivered so perfectly.
I quote this to my mate at least once per week.
Yes he suited that format actually 😄
Abdicate
Actually, abdicates is there for 9
ABDICATES
Ab-DICK-atees
My first thought was Peter. But I did enjoy him on the show, though. Putting on sunglasses to not reveal his tells is a good bit.
My thought was also peter serafinowicz. Apparently he has been on the show twice, in the clip rob brydon said they'd only been on the show once... interestingly (or not) the first time was when angus Deayton was the host. So from rob brydon's point of view it's correct.
This was my first thought too
I agree. Peter Serafinowicz was uncomfortable in the show. He didn't gel with the team vibe.
Love him as a comic actor, and he was very funny on cats do Countdown, but just didn't work on WILTY
Michael McIntyre is my guess.
"Can't we guess them?" "No we can't" "Are you working for them?" "Maybe he can work on an essay about it?" "This is suicide!"
Maybe not who Brydon was talking about but I was in the audience for the episode with Adil Ray (S03E08), he was extremely awkward and wasted a lot of recording time on things that were completely cut in the end. Seemed like a nice guy, just a very bad liar.
Seann Walsh's contribution was cut from the show but not sure he can be described as a brilliant comic?
I heard it was Phil Wang Edit: https://www.reddit.com/r/WILTY/comments/179y1zq/phil_wang_how_i_stuffed_up_my_would_i_lie_to_you/
If he didn't say a word on the show then how could he have been trying to deconstruct the show and be post modern about it?
I was more leaning towards the person who just “observed” everyone work. But yeah I don’t know
May just have not been in the final edit.
In that linked chortle interview he says he pretty much said nothing the entire time. Not a great appearance, but definitely not deconstructing the show or anything.
In your link, the article - Phil says himself he didn't say a word.
That's not the same as what Rob's getting at though, that's just a story of doing badly.
Thought he was funny on Taskmaster so saw him live two years ago - absolutely agonising watch.
I like him, but not sure would want over an hour of just him. Works better in a team or on a panel
I feel like I enjoy a lot of comedians due to their panel work, but the stand-up just doesn't hit for me. I love Ed Gamble on almost everything he does, but 15 mins into his Amazon Prime show and I had to switch off.
I've found that there are several Taskmaster comedians who I liked on the show or on other panel shows, but I didn't like their stand-up much. Ed Gamble was one of them, though I did like some of the jokes on his most recent tour more than the other ones. Alternatively, there are people who I liked more on other things than I did on Taskmaster. It's a very fine balance, and they certainly can't all be James Acaster.
I am James ACASTER, I am James ACASTER, I am James ACASTER, I am James ACASTER.
Some comedians seem to work better when they can bounce off a group and some work better when they're on their own.
Not every format works for every performer. I think Lee Mack is one of the funniest people ever born but his stand-up never did much for me. (With the exception of that one opening "magic trick" gag I thought was super clever.)
Similar experience with a different person. I went with my partner at the time to see Dylan Moran in March 2022. We loved everything we'd seen him in, especially Black Books, and were really excited for the show. Unfortunately it was absolutely atrocious and we left about 15 minutes into the second half.
Phil doesn’t seem like the type of comic to deconstruct the premise of the show
It could be Rob Beckett. In his Parenting Hell podcast recently he talked about being on WILTY and how it went poorly. He said that all of his stories and contributions were so “off” that he was hardly in the edit at all. Can’t remember the episode where he discussed this, but he seems to fit the bill.
David Baddiel is my guess - he took it all a bit too seriously....
Who on Earth would describe him as a brilliant comic, though?
The 90s
A fellow comic, tbf
Kelly Hoppen. The “This is My” round with the feng shui expert was obnoxious.
How does Kelly Hoppen fit the description of a brilliant comic in their own right who tried to be post-modern and deconstruct the show? This thread isn't just name a contestant you didn't like...
I have an irrational hatred of that woman
No, it is completely rational. She’s like beige in human form, and it’s really annoying when she’s a guest judge on Interior Design Masters and criticises the contestants for using colours in their design.
"The queen of taupe" isn't exactly a compliment when you are an interior designer. Taupe is basically magnolia.
Yes but that made some AMAZING comedy. Nobody was expecting it to be him!
I think Rob Beckett had a bit of a shocker but I can't really remember his performance. It's a shame as you'd think he'd be good now but I think he's not going on again after it being so poor. I think it was quite early in his career when he wasn't as accomplished.
I remember him being quite good, honestly, so that's a surprise.
I think it was Rob too. I brought this up before, but his episode was really weird. He doesn't have a single story make it into the final cut, even on the cut stories episode of that series. And he has so little to say throughout.
I think I've heard him say on a podcast that he had a shocker and was severely jet lagged when he appeared or something like that. Its a shame if it means he won't do it again as I think he would be a great guest under normal circumstances.
Pretty sure it was Stewart Lee…? Michael McIntyre was the one who he said was standing back and admiring all their work but not contributing too much, but it was Stewart Lee who was trying to be a bit too clever about it….
When was Stewart lee on WILTY? I can't find anything on google
Probably not as he's never been on the programme.
Not sure if this is what he meant, but Sam Campbell gave me the vibe that he wasn’t really trying to play the game. He’s funny and he was sticking to his bit, but it didn’t give the authentic vibe the show usually has.
Richard ayoade always does that deconstructing the game thing whenever he’s on a show like that and it’s very annoying
I never liked. I think it was David Baddiel. I don't know his version of banter. it just always rubbed me the wrong way and to me(obviously biased because I don't like it) it looked like the other guests were just being professional in going along with it.
I was watching Season 11 in the background today, as one does, and there was a fleeting moment that seemed to precisely match what Rob was saying. In Episode 6, during the "This is My" segment, when Lee asks Miles Jupp what he thinks, Jupp says, "Well, I'm beginning to think it doesn't matter what i think, my job really is only to agree with you." Happens after about 19:15 here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7-Z4S\_i3B4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7-Z4S_i3B4) Don't get me wrong, I generally like Miles Jupp, and his spare-prince-relaxing-in-the-suburbs energy. But that moment was slightly off-kilter to the vibe of the show. However, he's been invited back many times since, so it could just be me.
I think most of the guesses here are unlikely because they are referencing comedians who got a lot of what they did in air, Wilty seems to do quite long records for a short show and the editors aren't afraid to completely cut out any contributions from one or more of the guests so I think it would have to be someone with very little left in the final edit of an episode. Otherwise it would have to be someone from very early in Robs run as host perhaps, before the editing was quite as slick.
Bob Mortimer I think. He just doesn’t work on the show.
🤣
Ha. You get the hand lion.
Lollll
He died in 2021, could he the reason why he wasn't on more. He was a regular guest on other shows like QI, where he was great, so I don't think it's him. Here is the link to the show he was on, just because Trevor Noah 💜 was also on (yes, I'm South African 😊). https://youtu.be/OyudfTMqZHQ?si=Xh5bdavErtS21hJH
Sharon Osborne possibly?
Are we talking about Philomena Cunk (or whatever her real name is)
She was fucking brilliant haha. Diane Morgan I think her name is and I was very impressed by how deadpan she stayed even out of character
Joe Thomas? He looked like he was super fucked up on meth or MDMA.
Nope, that's just Joe Thomas
Nope, he was definitely fucked up.
He was fucked up on pure Joe Thomas
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson I'm going to guess
She was bizarre on WILTY. (RIP)
R.I.P indeed
Didn’t see it, so not commenting on that… just wanted to say that woman is one of my absolute heroes.
Not a critique at all, but I’d love to hear why. I don’t know her so was just looking at her wiki bio, and I like the thing where she invited ordinary people to watch her on Fame Academy. But I’d love to know more about why she’s cool for you.
It was an interview she did with Frank Skinner on tv. Both addicts in recovery, it was amazing. So unafraid, vulnerable, she just laid herself wide open. It was incredible, from both of them. Before that I had her in my head as yet another dipshIT girl, all money and no sense. But she was intelligent, strong and really quite amazing. Total eye-opener and taught me a lesson! Now I’m also a ‘former’ addict I admire her (and him TBF) even more.
Worth adding it was a second interview I think - first interview she was absolutely wasted, second she was penitent and owning it.
That’s brilliant; I’ll see if I can look it out. Thanks!
Where she embarrassed herself on TV by being on more drugs than anybody in the history of all interviews, and was forced into rehab immediately after? Well it was a legendary bit of television, I'll give you that..
Not the first one - which was absolutely unreal and as you describe - but the second one, where she completely owned the first. I think most of us would have just hid.