The lines between character and comedian have become so blurry so as to make it impossible to know when these two are joking about each other. In accordance with their behaviour, parasocial behaviour towards them has only intensified as it becomes more and more imperative (or less and less impossible not) to read into whatever nonsense they’re up to.
They are my favourite RPF couple forever. They’re so weird (as Greg loves to say— instead of just telling Alex he loves him, which he does) they’re so funny, they are perfect for each other. Idk what the fuck is actually going on or what to call them, but to me they are in love, and I am so happy for them.
Alex: People quite often do give us things, and we're very grateful. [...] The one that we like the best in our lives, we only found five minutes ago in the dressing room. It's a portrait of the two of us and it's so lifelike. They've caught us. They've caught the essence of us and our relationship, I think.
Greg: Oh, very much so. [...] It's pretty horny.
+ bonus (from the British Comedy Guide award acceptance vid):
Audience question: Greg and Alex, were you friends before Taskmaster?
Greg: We weren't. [...] It's beyond friendship now.
Alex: It is. That's exactly...
Greg: Skin on skin on the beach.
A few snippets from Taskmaster Live on Stage - New York
tonight I watched every single Taskmaster live task intro from series 13 on and typed them all out because I wanted to know how many cute ways Greg addressed Alex
so like
here they all are
the winner by a mile is “young fella m’lad” which Greg has used to address Alex 7 times, followed by “baby boy” which he has called Alex 5 times. then there a few he’s used twice, but mostly one-offs!
full list under the cut!
Greg’s cute terms of address in bold, (Alex’s response if any) in parentheses, the one time Greg flirts with someone else—Nick Mohammed—in italics!
series 13: 6/10
13x1: Hello, you sweet young prince! (Ohhh… hi…)
13x2: Right, who’s gonna read the task out, lovely pretty boy? (Thank you again, Greg, for my compliment)
13x3: Who’s gonna read it out?
13x4: Who will read the task out, Little Alex Horne?
13x5: Who’s gonna read the task out, silly boy?
13x6: Who will read the task?
13x7: All right, my love? (thumbs up)
13x8: Who’s gonna read the task out?
13x9: Hello, my sweet! (Hi, mate.)
13x10: Who’s gonna read the final task, you silly boy?
series 14: 0/10
14x1: Who’s gonna read the task out?
14x2: Alex, who’s gonna read the task out?
14x3: Hello. Who will read the task?
14x4: Who’s gonna read out the task?
14x5: Alex, who’s gonna read the task out, please?
14x6: Who’s gonna read the task, Alex?
14x7: Who will read the final task?
14x8: Who will be reading out the final task?
14x9: Who’s gonna read the final task out today?
14x10: Who will read the task out?
NYT3: Hello, you lovely little nerd.
series 15: 4/10
15x1: Five pots on a stick! (for me!) Anyway, let’s dance!
15x2: I’m already excited. (Oh, yes)
15x3: Who’s gonna read the task out?
15x4: Hello, Corporal Good Boy! (Good evening, Captain!)
15x5: Having a little stretch? (Gentle stretching)
15x6: Who’s going to read the task out, Alex?
15x7: Hello, young man! (My tongue is still sore)
15x8: Who’s gonna read the task?
15x9: Hello, young fella m’lad! (Hello, mate!)
15x10: (Hi, Greg!) Hello, mate!
CoC3: Young fella m’lad (Here I am!)
series 16: 4/10
16x1: Hello, young fella m’lad!
16x2: Hello, there, Sonny Jim!
16x3: Who’s gonna read the task out?
16x4: Who’s gonna read the task out?
16x5: Hello, my love. (Wotcher, mate)
16x6: Alex, who’s gonna read the task out?
16x7: Who will be reading the task?
16x8: Who’s gonna read the task out?
16x9: Hello, there. Who will be reading the task out?
16x10: Hi there, cutie! (Oooh, hello!)
NYT4: Young fella m’lad.
series 17: 6/10
17x1: Hi, Alex. (Oh hi, Greg!)
17x2: Hi there, babycakes. (That’s me!)
17x3: Who’s going to read the task out?
17x4: Hello, there, my old friend! (Wow! Let’s do this!)
17x5: What’s cooking, good-looking?
17x6: Hello, you lovely boy. (Ohhh, thanks, Greg)
17x7: (Hi, Greg!) Who’s gonna read the task out? (Nick is going to read the task) Read it out, you nimble mouse!
17x8: Hi there, good boy, who’s reading the task?
17x9: Hi, baby boy. (Ohhh, hi, Dad.)
17x10: Greetings. Who’s reading the final task of the series?
series 18: 3/10
18x1: Who’s reading the task out?
18x2: Hello, old friend!
18x3: WHAT is going on?
18x4: Who will be reading the task out, young fella m’lad?
18x5: Hey, you.
18x6: Rotate the human!
18x7: Hello, there.
18x8: (Hello, Greg!) Hello!
18x9: [voice cracks] Hell-o!
18x10: (Greg, we have a hot dog) We do.
NYT5: Hi, there, baby boy (thumbs up)
series 19: 7/10
19x1: Hello, there, sweetcheeks! (Hi, Greg!)
19x2: You’re the best boy in the land, you know that? (I’m good at jumping!)
19x3: What’s up, sweetcheeks! (Thank you!)
19x4: Hi there, baby boy! (Hello!)
19x5: What’s cooking, baby boy?
19x6: Hello, honey pie. (I like the hairy girl!)
19x7: Who’s going to read the task out?
19x8: Who’s going to read the task?
19x9: Hi, there, my dear friend. (Hey, Greg!)
19x10: I hoped we’d end on something big.
series 20: 5/10
20x1: Hello, young fella m’lad. (Hi, Greg!)
20x2: Hello, everyone.
20x3: Who will be reading the task out?
20x4: Hello, my tender friend.
20x5: Hello, you angel.
20x6: (so, Greg, I think Phil should read the task.)
20x7: Who will be reading the task?
20x8: Who will read the task, young fella m’lad?
20x9: My dear man, (You’re my guy!) who will read the task?
20x10: What a lovely collection of final pirates.
CoC4: Hello, baby boy. (Hello…)
NYT 6x1: Who’s gonna read the task out?
NYT 6x2: Hello, you lovely boy (Well, hello, you lovely man)
Still thinking about Greg and Alex playing We're Not Really Strangers
- Greg paying a compliment to Alex and not letting him get away with deflecting it. Alex's quiet "Thanks, Greg."
- when thinking about tattooing someone's name on him, the first name that pops up in Greg's head is Alex
- Greg not needing Alex to finish his sentences – Alex: "Is it a..." Greg: "It sort of is, yeah." Alex: "Are you one of the people that..." Greg: "No."
- them playing rock-paper-scissors and Alex laughing at Greg's "weak psychological game"
- Alex worried about whether Greg gets lonely when he's by himself and not surrounded by family/friends (because Alex himself is "not very good" at being alone). And Greg wanting to gift Alex a space of his own where he can do his creative things without interruptions (because having his own space, somewhere that's just his, is very important for Greg – he's said it in several interviews before – so he wants Alex to have that as well)
- Greg's continued obsession with Alex's relationship with his parents and his mum in particular (he's brought it up in other interviews too)
- Greg's delight at learning one of the naughty things Alex did in his childhood (the setting fire to a tennis ball game)
- "Gentle kisses" and Alex's comment about Greg being more vulnerable than people think (Alex saying something real and sincere about Greg!)
