The comedy hit conquered the UK, then the world, and now it’s taking over the nation’s youth. Its co-host Mike Wozniak talks being mercilessly mocked, fart mishaps and why kids make the best contestants

At one point in the first episode of Junior Taskmaster, a child takes a felt-tip pen to Mike Wozniak’s face. It’s quite the feat, seeing as they’re standing 6ft away, using a long-handled litter picker to grip the marker. But what’s even more impressive is that facial graffiti is in no way a requirement of the task at hand. “But why not abuse the assistant Taskmaster?” they chuckle.

“Some of them had the urge to kick me in the shins,” says Wozniak. “Some would verbally abuse me. But I wasn’t subjected to violence, largely speaking. There was probably only one moment when I thought I was in any real danger – but I live to tell the tale.”