He’s the unassuming comedy brainiac who’s turned humble submission into a TV empire with Taskmaster – but now Alex Horne is gunning for a spot on one of the BBC’s most cut-throat shows, boldly declaring he’s the perfect recruit for the next series of Celebrity Traitors.

In a cheeky pitch that’s got fans buzzing, the 47-year-old creator and sidekick to Greg Davies has thrown his hat into the ring for the smash-hit psychological reality show, insisting: “Put me on the next series of Celebrity Traitors. I’m good at spotting liars.”

The hilarious plea comes hot on the heels of the blockbuster success of the first Celebrity Traitors in 2025 – which saw comedian Alan Carr crowned the ultimate backstabber after a series of jaw-dropping murders and round-table accusations hosted by the inimitable Claudia Winkleman.

And with BBC bosses already confirming a second celebrity series for later in 2026, Alex’s timing couldn’t be better. Insiders say producers are scrambling to lock in big names, and who better than the man who’s spent a decade watching comedians fib, flop and fake their way through absurd challenges?

Speaking in a candid new interview, Alex revealed his secret weapon: razor-sharp observational skills honed from years of dissecting human behaviour on Taskmaster.

“I’m also excellent at Where’s Wally and spotting if people are lying,” he quipped, before adding with perfect comic timing: “Which I suppose is my pitch for an invitation to appear on the next series of The Celebrity Traitors.”

Fans are already losing their minds at the prospect. Social media exploded with excitement, with one tweeting: “Alex Horne on Celebrity Traitors? He’d spot the Traitors from the breakfast table! BBC, make it happen! #Taskmaster #TheTraitors”

Another gushed: “Imagine Alex in that castle, quietly noting every twitch and fib. He’d be unstoppable as a Faithful – or terrifying as a Traitor!”

A third added: “Greg Davies as the host’s enforcer, Alex as the contestant… comedy gold. Claudia would love him!”

It’s easy to see why Alex fancies his chances in the treacherous Scottish castle. As the mastermind behind Taskmaster – the Bafta-winning juggernaut that’s now in its 18th series and sold to over 100 countries – he’s made a career out of putting celebrities through humiliating, mind-bending trials and watching them squirm.

From making contestants cheer as loudly as possible for 30 seconds to building the tallest tower out of household objects, Alex knows all about human deception. Contestants lie about their efforts, bluff their way through explanations, and desperately try to mask their incompetence – all under the watchful eye of “Little Alex Horne” and his towering taskmaster Greg Davies.

“Stand-up comedians are innately good at spotting things,” Alex explained. “I think I’d make an excellent detective.”

And he’s not wrong. Taskmaster has exposed countless fibs over the years – who can forget Mark Watson’s epic meltdown after Alex secretly tasked him with sending compliments to Greg every day for months?

Watson ended up staring daggers at Alex, prompting the creator to worry: “Have I gone too far with this whole ridiculous puppet master manipulating people’s emotions thing?”

But as Alex noted, everyone hugs it out in the end – proving he’s got the emotional intelligence to navigate the paranoia-fuelled minefield that is The Traitors.

The interview, promoting his new children’s book The Last Pebble, also saw Alex open up about his “borderline psychopathic” tendencies – a revelation that’s raised eyebrows and sparked endless memes.

“I’m borderline psychopathic,” he confessed. “I can go a whole day without thinking about my children or my wife… I worry sometimes that if I was a proper person, I’d be thinking about them all the time.”

But in classic self-deprecating style, he added: “The fact that I think that I think means that I’m not a psychopath.”

Fans lapped it up, with one joking: “Alex Horne admitting he’s borderline psychopathic? Perfect Traitor material – emotionless murder decisions incoming!”

Another quipped: “If Alex goes full psycho on Traitors, no one’s safe. But we’d watch every second.”

Born in Chichester in 1978, Alex’s path to comedy stardom was anything but straightforward. He read Classics at Cambridge, where he met lifelong collaborator Tim Key – a encounter he calls his “best moment” at university.

“Tim was so clearly funnier than anyone I’d ever met,” Alex recalled. “Collaborating with him changed everything for me.”

From Edinburgh Fringe nominations to forming his chaotic jazz-comedy band The Horne Section in 2010, Alex’s career has been a masterclass in quirky brilliance.

But nothing prepared him for the phenomenon of Taskmaster. Launched in 2015 on Dave before jumping to Channel 4, the show has become a cultural behemoth, with Greg Davies’ booming judgments and Alex’s deadpan assistance creating one of TV’s greatest double acts.

One of Alex’s favourite memories? A boozy camping trip with Greg near Whipsnade Zoo after lockdown.

“We massively overindulged on vodka Red Bulls,” he laughed. “Greg is pathologically incapable of not being funny… we turned into giddy little children.”

Family life keeps him grounded in Buckinghamshire with wife Rachel – a BBC business affairs executive he met at university – and their three sons Thomas, Barnaby and Dara.

His scariest moment? Losing one son (then aged two) at Melbourne Zoo for 20 agonising minutes.

“Your instant thought is ‘someone’s stolen him or he’s been eaten by a lion’,” he shuddered. “Things do normally work out.”

With Celebrity Traitors fever still gripping the nation after Alan Carr’s triumphant betrayal – fooling everyone right to the end and scooping the prize pot for charity – the race is on for series two’s lineup.

Rumours are swirling around comedy heavyweights like Bob Mortimer, Ricky Gervais and Russell Howard, but Alex’s self-nomination has shot him straight to the top of fans’ wish lists.

Taskmaster alumni would make killer contestants too – imagine Sophie Duker or Mae Martin scheming in hoods, or past winners like Dara Ó Briain turning detective.

But Alex? He’d be the quiet assassin, spotting lies while everyone else descends into chaos.

As one fan put it: “Alex Horne on Traitors would break the show – in the best way. He’d win without murdering anyone!”

BBC bosses, the ball’s in your court. Britain is ready for Little Alex Horne in the castle – just don’t let him recruit any Traitors. We all know he’d spot them a mile off.