#s2e1 is also supposed to be a great starter episode because it was the first (significant?) example of lateral thinking

[meggannn]

This is a great list but I'm going to disagree with the last paragraph. If you're already open to the concept of a lighthearted but zany panel show of grown adults doing goofy things, go ahead and start with S1; you'll probably like every season anyway, and watching the show evolve over time and later seasons reference previous ones is imo part of the fun.

If you're on the fence or not sure if you'll like it, only then I would recommend seeing if someone you know has been on it, and start with their season. But I DO NOT recommend looking at the Wiki list linked above because the front page spoils all the winners; here is one that just summarizes who's in each season, including bonus eps.

These are some contestants that I (in the US) knew before they were on the show, so maybe other USAmericans might recognize them:

Ardal O'Hanlon as Eamonn from Derry Girls—S13

Mel Giedroyc from Great British Bake Off—S4

Mo Farah from the Olympics—New Year Treat 2023

Nicola Coughlan as Clare from Derry Girls—New Year Treat 2021

Noel Fielding from Great British Bake Off—S4

James Acaster of "Had a breakdown. Bon appétit" fame—S7

Sally Phillips as Minna Häkkinen from Veep—S5

Sue Perkins from Great British Bake Off—Season 16

If you want to watch TM with a specific mood, I'd recommend:

Sweet, wholesome cast: S4, S12, S16, AU S1

Chaotic cast: S7, S13, NZ S2

Simultaneously wholesome and chaotic: S9, S14

the best clips for introducing people to Taskmaster

these are not necessarily my favorite tasks overall; these are ones that a) stand alone well, b) can be summed up in a succinct hook, and c) feature an entertaining variety of approaches from the different contestants.

Destroy a cake as beautifully as possible (S4) Make the best music video for a nursery rhyme (S2) Make this Swedish person blush (S1) Bring Alex his dinner (S4) Make the most dramatic entrance (S9) Surprise Alex when he comes out of the shed (S3) Do the most surprising thing with a rubber duck (S4) Make something spin for the longest time (S6) Make something to engage this toddler (S8) Make a toy for the cute dog (S12) Make this coconut look like a businessman (S5) Have the longest phone call (S12) Build the best volcano (S8)

for full seasons I do not recommend starting at the beginning—I think S4, S7, and S9 are good options to start with, but the best way to decide is probably looking at the full list of contestants and picking a series that features a performer you already know and like.