In the first episode of the new series, with his simpering secretary Alex Horne in tow, Taskmaster Greg Davies beckons a fresh quintet of quivering comics into his world of misrule: Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Mathew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin. Their success in this series opener will rest on their skills in tasks involving vinegar, raisins and, as is traditional, peas.

The first team task of the series brings the usual awkwardness, but also the joys of Stevie Martin inventing a new way for humans to move, and Fatiha El-Ghorri sweeping the lawn with a small broom. Elsewhere, Rosie Ramsey has a visceral reaction to mental arithmetic, Mathew Baynton strikes his own face with a grape, and Jason Mantzoukas destroys a shower.

Fatiha El-Ghorri has concerns about aggressive waterfowl, while Rosie Ramsey goes flying, but it's Mathew Baynton crawling through a corridor that causes the largest commotion.

Greg Davies makes a regrettable promise involving his trousers, while Alex Horne has trouser issues of his own thanks to Rosie Ramsey. And Stevie Martin repeatedly punches a mannequin in the groin.

Jason Mantzoukas learns that lollipop ladies exist. Fatiha El-Ghorri tells a disturbing story about a goat. Alex Horne is compelled to join in with Mathew Baynton's ode to DIY.

Poor Alex Horne is poked, chased and repeatedly dunked in the comics' pursuit of glory, while an unhinged Jason Mantzoukas causes havoc in the once-harmonious Taskmaster House.

Our five fabulous comics continue their quest to impress the omniscient, omnipotent and omnibrilliant Taskmaster. Jason Mantzoukas tries to befriend a fisherman, Rosie Ramsey displays a talent for trotting, Fatiha El-Ghorri boasts about her seductive scent, Stevie Martin pitches for a role in Downton Abbey and Mathew Baynton spectacularly forfeits any remaining dignity. In a not-unrelated instance, Little Alex Horne's shoes are doused with yoghurt.

The contestants work through something resembling a school curriculum, as they face tasks involving physical education, art and science. Greg Davies pours scorn and drips praise where appropriate, as Stevie Martin relives a difficult childhood memory, Fatiha El-Ghorri retches into a balloon and Mathew Baynton misinterprets Rosie Ramsey's hip-swaying mime. Meanwhile, Alex Horne's meticulous records show that Jason Mantzoukas chooses violence as the solution to a task for the 12th time this series.