Pupils compete in Alex Horne's tasking competition

As comedian Alex Horne walks on stage to host a competition inspired by his hit TV show Taskmaster, an audience roars with deafening excitement.

It's a crowd of hundreds of pupils waiting to watch their primary school classmates compete in challenges like spoon throwing, balancing objects and bean bag tossing.

They're hoping to be crowned winners of the School Tasking Champion of Champions final at the University of Warwick, a project that introduces children to the law through problem-solving and teamwork.

"It's such a joy, children are learning through this event but ultimately they're having fun with ducks and thrones," the event founder, Dr Ali Struthers said.

Struthers founded the event as part of a university outreach project to help children from less-advantaged areas understand the world of higher education.

"If they choose to go onto university, great. If they don't, at least we know it's something they've thought about, and they've had the chance to build positive connections," she said.

This years winners' were the Smart Ones from Stanhope Street Primary School in Dublin, who flew over from Ireland for the final.

"We were feeling tired, {the pupils} were extremely excited and couldn't wait to come and see Alex Horne, just thrilled to be part of the other UK schools," teacher Emma McDonnell said.

She added that it was a "huge deal and a really great opportunity" for kids in a disadvantaged area of Dublin to fly away with their class and take part in the programme.

The School Tasking event could soon be bringing excitement to new countries as it expands into Iceland and Australia, alongside new disciplines like Stem School Tasking and History School tasking.

Comedian Alex Horne has hosted the event since it started four years ago and said that it was "so rewarding and gives you hope for the future".

"We judge the trophies the kids have brought in, they have no filters and they just say what they think and it's so refreshing," he said.

When Horne created Taskmaster in 2010, he had always hoped to visit schools for events but said that hosting a national school tasking event "wasn't the plan at all, it's got out of control".

"It's a really fun thing to do with kids because they use their imagination, creativity [and] work as a team. It feels really worthwhile," he said.

The 47-year-old from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, added that the event showed children what you could achieve and it was important to "be yourself".

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