James Acaster reveals why he capsized Celebrity Traitors after ‘becoming visibly stressed’

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Celebrity Traitors filming was reportedly paused during last night’s climactic roundtable, as James Acaster became ‘anxious’ ahead of delivering his momentous speech. The comedian, 41, shocked the castle at the end of last night’s episode when he revealed his own Traitor status ahead of the finale. Acaster was then banished from Thursday’s penultimate episode of the BBC show, after a discussion about Ross Kemp’s plain-sight murder, in which he said the Faithful had caught him. It has now been claimed that Acaster needed to ‘gather himself’ before unmasking himself to the Faithful. An insider told the Daily Mail: ‘The pressure got to him, and it was clear he was finding it difficult. Everyone agreed filming should be stopped before things got too heated. ‘Everyone was aware of the pressure getting to James throughout the series; it was difficult to watch him struggling.’ James Acaster shocked the castle at the end of last night’s episode (Picture: BBC) Some BBC viewers were left annoyed by the revelation, given that the Traitors were coasting to the final (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry) It had been reported ahead of this series that Acaster became ‘visibly stressed’, resulting in shooting being halted, but it had been unclear at which point in the filming this alleged moment occurred. It was claimed at the time that his Ardross Castle castmates raised concerns with the Studio Lambert production team, who paused the game to check on him. ‘It was good for James to have a breather, as everyone felt it was for the best,’ the source told The Sun at the time, adding that the break ‘didn’t affect the outcome of the game at all’. In a post-match interview, Acaster has explained that he had been contemplating that roundtable reveal for some time and explained how – despite some opinions online – it will be good for tonight’s concluding episode. ‘Now we’ve got a proper final on our hands,’ he said. ‘With three Traitors, it would have been a foregone conclusion that we were going to win. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was hilarious at one point that we were just going to walk our way to the final and win the whole thing, but this is much better, isn’t it?’ ‘Now we’ve got a proper final on our hands. With three Traitors, it would have been a foregone conclusion that we were going to win’ (Picture: Euan Cherry/Studio Lambert/BBC/Press Association) Explaining his decision to unmask himself to the Faithful, he continued: ‘The idea of doing that got me through the whole experience because you feel 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, so they all have something to do, and when they catch you, they’ll be really happy and they’ll like it, and it will feel good to just tell them and see that reaction.’ Acaster went on to say it was a ‘surprise’ when Michael Sheen turned the suspicion on him, given that he went into the roundtable with ‘no heat whatsoever’ but added: ‘I was glad that they caught me.’ The move has proven divisive among BBC viewers online, with @LFCLila writing on X: ‘Sorry Acaster has ruined the game.. it’s literally in the rules to not do what he did,’ in a tweet that has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Others including @neneswigglue said they were ‘annoyed’ he confessed, given the turret were coasting to an easy win ahead of the final. However, others pointed out that Richard E Grant’s own admission to Traitordom earlier this season was treated differently by viewers, with @dande_only writing: ‘Mind you Richard also spoiled the game but we all found that funny.’ Other fans of the show also pointed out that Acaster repeatedly indicated he was not happy playing as a Traitor and that having to do so as a neurodivergent person may be particularly difficult. ‘I can’t imagine how draining the production of the traitors must be but doubly so when you are neurodivergent and expected to lie when you hate lying, so I have massive respect for Acaster and if you hate on him I think you need to take a break and touch grass,’ wrote @neptunestardust on X. Metro contacted the BBC for comment on this story. 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