We didn’t betray James Acaster, BBC insists: Producers criticised after Celebrity Traitors filming is halted due to star’s huge bombshell

The BBC has denied accusations today it ‘betrayed’ comedian James Acaster, after his bombshell banishment from its flagship show Celebrity Traitors last night.

The comedian and Off Menu co-host, 41, had been under increasing pressure after being recruited as a Traitor against his wishes after just one day in the Scottish Highlands castle.

And as attention finally turned on him at last night’s round table, Acaster struggled to battle accusations and ultimately revealed to the other players his identity in a show first.

But the smooth edit by show staff hid a large segment in which the comedian, who has openly discussed his mental health and autism, cracked, becoming extremely anxious and increasingly distressed.

Filming was paused and welfare teams rushed onto set, speaking at length with Acaster and his fellow castmates. Cameras did not roll again until teams had established all the contestants were happy to continue. 

After the break, there was a noticeable change in the mood around the table, and Acaster delivered a speech that will go down in TV history to his fellow celebrities.

‘I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be,’ he said, to gasps from the rest of the cast.

‘I’ve had a unique experience on this that no one has had before, where I wanted to be a Faithful; that’s all I wanted to be. I couldn’t just go, “Guys, it’s me, vote for me”. But that’s all I can do, really.’

The moment was watched by a peak audience of 10.7million live viewers on Thursday. 

Acaster reveals he is a Traitor before leaving the game for good during last night’s episode

The comic quickly received a unanimous vote from the rest of the players, and bowed out of the game.

But following the episode, questions have emerged about Acaster’s time in the castle and the level of support he received, especially given his frank conversations about his struggles with his mental health in the past.

Today, the BBC hit back at accusations it had not provided enough support to the comedian. A Celebrity Traitors spokesperson said: ‘Our highest priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part.

‘Players are closely monitored and supported throughout by production which includes a dedicated and experienced welfare team.’

It comes after Acaster has previously discussed suffering from severe anxiety and depression, and how, following the end of a relationship in 2017, he had a breakdown.

Acaster began therapy soon afterwards and with the help of regular sessions, and finding comfort in the music of 2016, he has told how he learned how to look after his mental health. 

And this year, the comic revealed he has autism, telling Clash during an interview about his new album, The Wow! Scenario: ‘I’ve always loved figuring out playlists, sequences of setlists, in that case with comedy as well – that really helps with making an album like this. In 2007 when we recorded seventeen tracks, we had it in a certain sequence, but I was really happy to create a different journey.

‘That’s a part of my brain that’s always been engaged with anything creative. It’s almost certainly a trait of my autism, but, as with a lot of autistic traits, it’s very fortunate to have.’

Acaster’s history of anxiety in particular could explain why he was one of just a handful of this year’s celebrities to tell host Claudia Winkleman that he wanted to be a faithful in the castle.

And while initially his wish was granted, few could have foreseen, least Acaster himself, that he would be faced with a dire choice after just a day in the castle – plead his case to become a traitor, or be killed by Maya Jama and Richard E Grant and become the first person to exit the castle.

Although he successfully stayed in the game, Acaster was open about wanting to stay as faithful as possible, and as the episodes passed, viewers were quick to notice how the toll of lying to his fellow players was leaving its mark.

Matters almost came to a head during last week’s episodes, when a risky mission involving the Traitors having to complete their own task while surrounded by blindfolded faithfuls in a crypt, saw Acaster crumble.

Outside the picturesque Ardross Castle, the remaining celebrities raised a glass to celebrate making it to the final alongside host Claudia Winkleman

Celebrity Traitors star James Acaster’s girlfriend has been revealed as senior television executive Hannah Rose – after the comedian became this series’ unexpected heartthrob

Acaster previously dated Louise Ford for two years, but they split and Ms Ford began dating Rowan Atkinson

He refused to even remove his blindfold or take part in the secret task over fear of being caught, meaning the celebrities did not add any money to the prize pot.

And the Daily Mail previously reported how Acaster struggled with fellow comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan’s teasing.

He is said to have told producers he was being ‘mocked’ by the pair, whose well-intentioned digs were getting to him during filming. 

Sources revealed Beckett and Ranganathan, who have been close friends for years, were accused of ‘going too far’ with some of their jokes. And on-set chatter suggested James ‘is much more sensitive than they are’.

One claims: ‘Rob and Romesh clearly thought they were having a bit of a laugh, but James began to feel quite a lot of it was at his expense, and away from the cameras he started to get annoyed and upset by it.

‘In the end, he spoke to the production team about it, saying he was unhappy and felt like he was being singled out.

‘When Rob and Romesh get going together they are unstoppable and hilarious, but not at all malicious – it was more a misunderstanding.’

Acaster somehow managed to avoid really coming under any suspicion until last night’s episode, when actor Michael Sheen turned the thumbscrews on both him and fellow traitor Maya Jama.

After his banishment, he spoke briefly to his fellow podcast presenter Ed Gamble, but was noticeably absent from the Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, the show fronted by Gamble which airs after each episode and typically sees all players who left during the episode make an appearance. 

And given his rapid cracking under the pressure, bosses are facing criticism over the high-intensity nature of the game and the amount of support available.

Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley, Consultant Psychologist and author, told the Daily Mail how the toll of being a traitor results in guilty, anxiety, and discomfort which Acaster would have had to manage.

‘The psychological toll can come from having to sustain a role that becomes increasingly uncomfortable. Being a Traitor requires constant self-monitoring: keeping track of conversations, concealing information and anticipating suspicion. That sustained vigilance can be exhausting,’ she said.

‘The game rewards deception while the relationships developing within it encourage trust and belonging.

‘Knowing it’s a game doesn’t make those feelings artificial. Deceiving someone who has shown genuine affection or confidence in you can create guilt and anxiety, particularly when the behaviour conflicts with how you understand yourself.’

She pointed to Acaster’s confession as highlighting ‘how clearly he distinguished the role he’d been given from the person he wanted to be within the group.’ 

‘It seems to illustrate how the pressure can involve more than fear of being caught. There can also be discomfort in continuing to be believed [whilst lying],’ she said.

‘Of course, being comfortable with deception is an advantage in this game. But I found something quite moving about watching someone admit that he wasn’t, and I felt a lot of empathy for him. 

‘Perhaps that’s part of why it was such brilliant television: being good at the game and feeling good about yourself within it aren’t necessarily the same thing.’ 

Acaster, just like his fellow traitors, would have had to balance these emotions and pressure whilst being isolated from their routine support networks. 

Famously, castmates are completely isolated from one another outside of filming, mostly confined to their hotel rooms, and for the regular series, are banned from contacting any friends or relatives during the process.

For the celebrity version, contestants are allowed a single ten-minute video call with a friend or relative each morning, with producer supervision.

Wellbeing staff are on hand, with two ‘welfare executives’ given end of episode credits, and psychologists are also available for players who need them.

It was previously reported how only Irish comedian Joanne McNally did not call on the show’s psychologists at least once, amid rumours of tensions off-screen and struggling stars. 

But fans are questioning whether the measures are enough for such a famously tense reality show, and hit back at accusations from some viewers that Acaster’s revelation had ‘ruined’ the episode.

‘James Acaster definitely had a panic attack at the round table and that’s why he outed himself as a traitor,’ one said. ‘It’s heavily edited and he just couldn’t take it anymore.

‘He’s done nothing wrong, he was true to himself. He never wanted to be a traitor.’

A second added: ‘Started watching thinking James being on such a popular programme would be encouraging for autistic people who feel like they can’t be themselves and all it’s proven is that if you put yourself out there unmasked you simply get stick for being different.’

A third accused producers of ‘letting James Acaster’s mental health awareness down’.

Meanwhile Labour MP for Bishop Auckland Sam Rushworth also praised the comic, sharing a clip of him speaking during an interview about his mental health.

Mr Rushworth said: ‘James Acaster is a fantastic male role model: decent, honest, and open. His discomfort at deceiving people on Celebrity Traitors was relatable for many and his roundtable confession made cracking TV.

‘Here he is discussing mental health with real maturity too.’ 

Acaster has also previously spoken about how the breakdown of relationships contributed to his mental health struggles.

He has been in a relationship with senior television executive Hannah Rose since 2022, but the couple do not push themselves into the limelight.

Previously, Acaster dated Louise Ford for two years, but their relationship came to an end after she grew close with actor Rowan Atkinson during a play they performed in together.

Despite his emotional exit from the castle, Acaster appeared in good spirits when he spoke to long-time friend Gamble, telling him: ‘That last round table, I went in thinking I’ve got no heat on me whatsoever. 

‘It was sprung on me, it was a surprise definitely. So that was like a shocker. But I was glad that they caught me.’

He has urged contestants and fans to remember ‘it’s just a game’. He continued: ‘As a Traitor sometimes, when you see people have real life reactions that are bigger than the game, you feel bad. 

‘I would have to remind myself they don’t have a game without you, literally, if no one’s doing this stuff, they can’t play, and they all want to play. So you are doing an important job here. When they catch you, they’ll be really happy and they’ll like it.’

Following the episode airing, his castmates also rushed to praise him. Speaking during the episode after Acaster was banished, Romesh Ranganathan shared his pride for his friend of ten years. 

‘The amazing thing about James is that he has done something that I don’t think I’ve seen anybody do,’ fellow comic Romesh told the camera.

‘He played a truly unique game, which was to accept his role, but to do it in as Faithful, helping a way as he possibly could, and that is kind of typical of the sort of thing that James A does, and I respect it a lot.’  

And Amol Rajan, who was murdered in episode two after Traitors Maya Jama and Richard E Grant chose to recruit Acaster over him, commented on a clip posted by the BBC, calling the comedian ‘a remarkable soul’.