Taskmaster’s Mawaan Rizwan says he was ‘probably the most stupid contestant they ever had’

Virgin Radio

9 Aug 2024, 10:16

Mawaan Rizwan has recounted his time on Taskmaster, and admitted: “I didn't know how much people were obsessed with the show.”

The actor, writer and comedian joined The Chris Evans Breakfast Show ahead of starring in the Rocky Horror Show at London’s Dominion Theatre this September, when talk turned to his time on Taskmaster in 2020.

Speaking to Angela Scanlon, who is hosting for a couple of weeks while Chris is on his summer holiday, Mawaan said: “I was probably the most stupid contestant they ever had.”

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Mawaan faced Daisy May Cooper, Johnny Vegas, Katherine Parkinson and Richard Herring in series 10 of Little Alex Horne’s massively popular show, eventually coming third. “People said to me, I was either genius or I was really thick, and it was one or the other. Never in the middle. So I don't know what that says about me,” he told Angela.

He revealed: “I had people sending me spreadsheets of my personality predictions for the next 10 years… I didn't know how much people were obsessed with the show, you know? They really buy into your choices as a person. It makes you question all with the choices you've made in life!”

When Angela asked: “So they read into decisions and things that you make in a very deep way?”, the Taskmaster contestant responded: “Yeah, and then compare them to Johnny Vegas!”

Mawaan is starring as The Narrator in Richard O’Brien’s classic rock ‘n’ roll musical the Rocky Horror Show, and will be playing the role for two weeks only, from the 6th-20th September. 

Speaking about his love of the musical, he said: “It's still a cult classic 50 years on. It's the number one for me, really. I don't know if anything could top it.

“I got into it late. I was 20 years old or something. And it changed everything. I was like, ‘This is what a musical could be.’ The songs are just good rock ‘n’ roll songs. The story is really fun. And this is the only musical where people actually come to the show, and they're as much part of the show as the performers on stage.”

Regarding his role in the stage show, he told Angela: “What I love about the narrator is he's the only one that really interacts with the audience. And people are shouting stuff out. It's a hoot. It's a proper night out. So, obviously, being a stand up, I love that stuff. That's what makes my job exciting, not knowing what's gonna happen every night.

“I'm in a tuxedo, it's all very buttoned up. It's not my usual singing and dancing everywhere on stage, which I like. It's something different, but there's a lot of naughtiness within the lines that the narrator is colouring in with. There's a lot of cheeky interactions that, night-to-night, will be different. So that I'm really excited about.”

Neighbours star Jason Donovan reprises his role as Frank ‘N’ Furter, following a sold-out Australian Tour. “I've actually not met him yet,” Mawaan revealed. “Jason is an institution within himself, let alone the show. So I'm really looking forward to it, and I hear amazing things. I've only just started rehearsals. 

“It's really fun so far, like I'm already having too much fun.”

And regarding the future of his own BAFTA-winning comedy, Juice, he said: “I'm writing series two.”

The Rocky Horror Show plays at London’s Dominion Theatre from the 6th-20th September, and then goes on tour. For tickets visit rockyhorror.co.uk.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.