Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan is taking on a whole different mission by the end of this year – as one of the latest contestants to take on Taskmaster.
Nicola, who first shot to fame in Derry Girls, has had a busy year – including the new major Netflix series – but explained she couldn’t say no when offered the chance to sign up to the Channel 4 series’ New Year’s Day special.
… Mainly because her brother would never forgive her if she turned the opportunity down.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk about the upcoming competition, Nicola explained: ‘It was a busy period of time when I was asked to do it but I absolutely had to do it. When you really genuinely love something, I can’t turn down that experience – and my brother is the biggest fan of the show of all time.
‘He was like “I’m more proud of you doing this than anything else” and I was like, “I was in a show nominated for a BAFTA and I am working with Shonda Rhimes but okay!”’
Joining Nicola to be crowned the New Year’s Day Taskmaster is Rylan Clark-Neal, Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, newscaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Sliding Doors star John Hannah.
With the Chiswick HQ renovated into a movie theme, Nicola declared the series the ‘most fun she’s ever had’ on a show which was a relief, considering she was such a fan.
However, she did tease she may unleash her dark side – as the competitiveness between the stars begins to kick in.
‘It’s insanely competitive,’ she laughed. ‘I can’t reveal too much but we were fighting it out for a point. There was definitely a distinct rivalry there between two people – I won’t say who!’
‘I was just so excited to meet Rylan because I’ve just adored him from afar for years and years,’ Nicola then admitted. ‘And then I remember watching when he was on X Factor I was like “he is just a national treasure. He’s just perfect.”
‘When I met him and I was like “oh you’re just as wonderful as I’d hoped”.’
https://videos.metro.co.uk/video/met/2020/12/29/2589375842121135221/480x270_MP4_2589375842121135221.mp4‘I’m not saying this because I’m on it now but I absolutely love this show,’ Nicola told us. ‘Sometimes things on TV that look really fun, in reality when you do them are not.
‘But this was one thing that was genuinely one of the most joyful days I’ve ever had at work, and I came home from filming the tasks and watched more Taskmaster, that’s how much I love this.
‘It was just a dream.’
Will Nicola have what it takes to take home the special edition version of Greg’s shiny head statue?
It would certainly be a talking point over her mantlepiece…
Taskmaster’s New Year Treat airs New Year’s Day at 9pm on Channel 4.
Credit: Original article published here.The post Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan warns her ‘competitive side’ will come out as she takes on Taskmaster appeared on My Celebrity Life.