Taskmaster has issued an apology as ongoing technical issues at Channel 4 continue to plague the third episode of the current series. Viewers have expressed frustration since the 12th season began two weeks ago, with problems including blurred visuals, excessive brightness, distorted audio, and missing subtitles.
The premiere episode accidentally aired a censored version typically reserved for All 4. Subsequent episodes have suffered from contrast and brightness issues, which viewers described as 'uncomfortable' to watch. Subtitles have also been unavailable, causing accessibility concerns for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
Greg Davies and Alex Horne addressed the situation on Twitter. Davies wrote: 'I'm so delighted to see so many people livid about a lack of bad language.' The official Taskmaster account stated: 'We know some of you have experienced problems watching the show this series. This is due to the ongoing technical issues at Channel 4.'
The technical difficulties have also affected other Channel 4 programmes, including The Great British Bake Off, First Dates, and Married at First Sight UK. Some issues are believed to stem from a fire on September 25 at Red Bee Media's broadcast centre, which provides access services for Channel 4.
Red Bee Media confirmed they are 'continuing to work to restore all services and remedy any issues'. Channel 4 has repeatedly apologised for the problems, particularly regarding accessible versions of shows. Taskmaster airs Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4.
