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seven-year-old Callie from Manchester wins Kids Invent Stuff and Taskmaster Education Competition supported by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
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winning invention combines task-dispensing equipment with innovative rubber duck dispenser
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over 1,600 inventors aged 4 to 11 from across the UK submitted creative solutions
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invention unveiling coincides with British Science Week celebrations and will be displayed at the Get up to Speed with STEM event later this month
A seven-year-old inventor from Manchester has won a nationwide competition to help Little Alex Horne become the best Taskmaster’s Assistant. Callie’s winning invention, named the ‘Task Firing Driveable Bath,’ cleverly transforms an everyday bathtub into an innovative task-dispensing machine.
The IPO-supported competition invited young people to submit invention ideas, with the winning concept to be built in real life. The winner was selected from more than 1,600 entries from across the UK, with some entries received from across the globe.
Line drawing by Callie showing Alex Horne sitting in a bathtub surrounded by papers representing tasks floating in the air and several rubber ducks.
The IPO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adam Williams said
Through this competition, we’ve seen extraordinary creativity from young minds across the UK. Callie’s invention combines practical problem-solving with playful imagination – exactly the kind of innovative thinking that bodes well for the future.
Little Alex Horne said
This remarkable invention manages to be both brilliantly practical and sublimely silly – the perfect Taskmaster-assisting combination! I enjoyed putting the bathtub through its paces and think it would definitely be an effective way of keeping our Taskmaster contestants on their toes. Let’s face it, if you can’t catch a task being shot out of a moving bathtub, are you really Taskmaster contestant material?
Ruth Amos, Inventor & Director at Kids Invent Stuff said
We’ve had an amazing time working on this project alongside the IPO and Taskmaster Education! It’s been incredible to see such creative and imaginative invention ideas from so many young people across the country. Bringing an idea to life is always exciting, and working with Little Alex Horne made the whole experience even more fun and engaging!
Dr Ali Struthers, Co-Founder of Taskmaster Education said
Children have the most brilliant imaginations and it’s so exciting to have been part of this process from idea to invention! Watching this superb Taskmaster-assisting invention come to life, and to have a sneaky go ourselves, has been such a joy. Taskmaster Education has loved collaborating and giving young people the opportunity to celebrate their creativity.
You can watch Callie’s invention being built on the Kids Invent Stuff’s YouTube channel, with Little Alex Horne testing it at the Taskmaster house. The video launches alongside free educational resources designed to inspire and develop skills in the next generation of inventors.
Photograph of Alex Horne sitting in a custom-built bathtub invention, smiling at the camera. Ruth Amos, the inventor who built the bathtub, stands behind him also smiling.
Notes to editors
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Taskmaster Education adapts the format of Channel 4’s Taskmaster to create fun and educational experiences for children and young people. In the show, the Taskmaster and his assistant Little Alex Horne challenge comedians with creative tasks. Taskmaster Education uses similar activities to develop important skills in children. These skills include problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking. Taskmaster Education provides a flexible and engaging way to inspire learning in classrooms and beyond
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Kids Invent Stuff is an innovative YouTube channel that brings young people’s inventions to life. Founded by engineers Ruth and Shawn, Kids Invent Stuff offers children aged 4 to 11 the opportunity to see their creative ideas transformed into reality
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the IPO has curated a Youtube playlist showcasing the incredible inventions from past IPO and Kids Invent Stuff competitions
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young inventors can also experience the creation in person at ‘Get up to Speed with STEM 2025’ at Magna Science Adventure Centre, South Yorkshire, on 19-20 March 2025
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the IPO has developed tools, guidance and teaching resources for primary, secondary, further and higher education, researchers and university management
