If you’ve ever watched Taskmaster and wondered, “Who comes up with this stuff?”, the answer might just be: a bunch of children.
In the latest episode of The Dadsnet Podcast, Alex Horne shares how his three sons have become an unexpected creative team behind some of the show’s most beloved and bizarre challenges. Whether they’re testing tasks in the garden or sparking ideas on camping trips, their imagination has been central to the Taskmaster world.
“One of the best kids’ tasks we do came straight from watching a youth club game. Kids were running across a field screaming until they ran out of breath—and it became a real task.”
Alex is quick to admit that his children’s minds work differently than adults’. They don’t overthink. They don’t second-guess. They come up with the kind of pure, chaotic brilliance that only kids can.
“I tested a blinking task on them. My youngest just shut his eyes and didn’t open them for ages. That was genius. None of the adults thought of it.”
This kind of lateral thinking, Alex says, is what Taskmaster is all about. And having kids as part of the idea pipeline keeps the show rooted in fun, spontaneity, and a sense of play that resonates across all ages.
But it’s not just about the show. It’s about connection. Testing silly games, laughing at ridiculous rules, and seeing what ideas stick—these are the moments that strengthen family bonds in surprisingly profound ways.
“I love that they influence my work. I love that they surprise me. And I love that they remind me not to take anything too seriously.”
The episode offers a heartfelt reminder that our kids don’t just learn from us—we learn from them. Their creativity, curiosity, and way of seeing the world can reignite our own sense of wonder, especially when we’re buried under the responsibilities of parenthood.
So next time your kids invent a ridiculous game or set you a strange challenge—lean into it. You never know, it might end up on telly.
🎧 To hear how Alex Horne turned family fun into a global comedy hit—and why parenting might be the best creative spark of all—listen now to The Dadsnet Podcast.
