Tom Gleeson on Taskmaster: The days of network stars are over
“I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn to say we were very fortunate that he wanted to do it,” Sarah Thornton, head of unscripted for Paramount Australia, laughs. She is talking about luring ABC star Tom Gleeson across to commercial TV a few years ago to host Taskmaster Australia on Ten.
“The will was there,” she says of Gleeson’s motives. “But obviously, he’s very connected with the ABC. A lot of conversations were had between networks and management – and we got there eventually. I think comedy won in the end.”
It has clearly been a successful marriage. The fourth season of the show launched last Thursday to a total audience of 800,000, second in its timeslot only to the Thursday night football. It’s a good earner for all involved, but it wasn’t the cash that initially drew Gleeson across from the national broadcaster.
