This is not a chocolate advent calendar. It says so on the back of the box, in capitals. What it is instead is a 24-day puzzle game: open a door, find a room of the Taskmaster house and a task, and complete it to work out where tomorrow's door is hidden.
The premise is that the Taskmaster has locked Little Alex Horne up until the house is festive to his exacting standards, and you have until Christmas Day to get him out. Get a task right and you're a step closer. Get it wrong and Greg will be disappointed in you, quietly but thoroughly.
It is Volume 2, the 2026 edition, and it is the official Channel 4 licensed calendar with bonus content written by Alex Horne himself. Inside there are 24 daily tasks, 6 bonus tasks, 24 rooms, 2 secret rooms, one hidden Alex and — for reasons that become clear — 41 ducks.
Suggested age is 14+, which is worth saying plainly: the tasks are written for teenagers and adults, not small children, and some of them are genuinely hard. It plays solo or as a household, and if a puzzle beats you there are hints online.
Advent calendars are a one-shot each year — once December starts, a calendar bought late is a calendar half wasted. We have these in stock now at 22 Burgate in Canterbury, and you're welcome to come and have a proper look at the box before you commit. Order online for UK delivery.
What's in the box
- 1 advent calendar
- 24 daily tasks
- 6 bonus tasks
- 24 rooms
- 2 secret rooms
- 1 hidden Alex
- 41 ducks
- 1 very merry Christmas
- Exclusive bonus content from Alex Horne
- No chocolate, and nothing else edible
Key features
- The official Taskmaster advent calendar, Volume 2 — as seen on Channel 4
- 24 days, 24 doors, one continuous game
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Suggested age: 14+
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Players: 1+ — designed to be played alone or as a team
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Size: 42.1 x 29.6 x 4.7cm
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100% recyclable and plastic free, FSC certified board
- Online hints available if you get stuck
- Designed in the UK by Puzzle Post
- © Avalon Television
FAQ
Is there chocolate in it?
No. The box states "does not contain chocolate" in capital letters, and there is nothing edible inside at all. It's a puzzle game in advent calendar form.
How does it actually work?
Each day you open one door. Behind it is a room of the Taskmaster house and a task. Completing the task tells you where the next day's door is hidden, so you can't skip ahead or open them in order — you have to solve your way through.
What age is it for?
Puzzle Post suggest 14 and over. The tasks are pitched at teenagers and adults. It isn't a children's calendar.
Can more than one person do it?
Yes. It's marked 1+ players and designed to work either solo or as a team, which makes it a good one for a household or a shared flat to do together over breakfast.
Do I need to have watched Taskmaster?
No. Knowing the show makes the jokes land harder, but the tasks are self-contained puzzles and the story is explained as you go.
What if we get stuck on a day?
Puzzle Post publish hints online, so a hard day doesn't end the whole thing.
How big is it?
42.1cm by 29.6cm and about 4.7cm deep — substantially bigger than a supermarket chocolate calendar, and solid enough to stand on a shelf or hang.
Is it recyclable?
Yes — it's plastic free and 100% recyclable, on FSC certified board.
