Comedian James Acaster was spotted heading home from the gym on Thursday, hours before his unexpected confession as a Traitor aired in the penultimate episode of Celebrity Traitors.
The 41-year-old was seen wearing a T-shirt promoting an album by fellow comedian Paul Williams and a pair of large headphones. He carried a drink, appeared pensive and stopped to check his phone while walking home.
Later that evening, millions of viewers watched Acaster reveal his identity at the Round Table in a moment that prompted widespread discussion among fans.
Michael Sheen Challenges Acaster Over Ross Kemp’s Murder
The dramatic episode saw actor Michael Sheen, 57, question Acaster and fellow Traitor Maya Jama over the murder of Ross Kemp, which had taken place in plain sight.
Sheen challenged the pair over details surrounding the killing, telling them: “If you are Traitors, you’ve done it brilliantly.”
Acaster acknowledged that Sheen’s reasoning was plausible but denied carrying out the murder.
“I understand how you’ve put it all together. I can’t really argue that it sounds feasible, and that sounds like it could have happened. I can promise you that I didn’t spray him,” he said.
Acaster then addressed the group directly, revealing that he had been made a Traitor despite wanting to be a Faithful throughout the competition.
“I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be,” he said.
“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.”
Filming Paused as Acaster Struggled With the Pressure
An insider told the Daily Mail that filming was temporarily stopped after Acaster became anxious following his confession.
According to the source, the comedian needed time to gather himself before delivering his speech, and the programme’s welfare team was called in.
“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,” the insider said.
The source added that those involved in the production had been aware of the pressure Acaster was experiencing throughout the series.
“Everyone was aware of the pressure getting to James throughout the series; it was difficult to watch him struggling,” the insider said.
Acaster received every vote at the Round Table and was banished from the competition.
Comedian Says Revealing His Identity Lifted a Weight
During his departure speech, Acaster explained that he had entered the competition hoping to be a Faithful and help identify the Traitors.
“When I came into this experience, I told Claudia that all I wanted to be was a Faithful and all I wanted to do was go round this castle and help the Faithfuls as much as possible, catching Traitors,” he said.
“I’m really proud to say that’s what I’ve been able to do under the circumstances.”
He concluded: “I am, reluctantly, a Traitor,” adding that revealing his identity had lifted a weight off his shoulders.
In his exit interview, Acaster said the idea of eventually confessing had helped him cope with the experience.
“The idea of doing that got me through the whole experience,” he said.
He explained that he sometimes felt uncomfortable when other contestants had genuine emotional reactions to the game.
“You feel as a Traitor sometimes, when you see people have real-life reactions that are bigger than the game, you feel bad,” he said.
Acaster added that he reminded himself that the other contestants needed the Traitors for the competition to work and that being exposed was part of the experience.
He also said he had entered the Round Table believing he was not under suspicion.
“I went in thinking, ‘I’ve got no heat on me whatsoever.’ It was a surprise, but I was glad that they caught me,” he said.
Romesh Ranganathan Praises Acaster’s Unusual Strategy
Acaster’s confession prompted criticism from some viewers, who accused him of disrupting the competition just one episode before the finale. However, several colleagues and friends defended his approach.
Romesh Ranganathan, who has been friends with Acaster for around 10 years, praised the comedian’s handling of the role after his banishment.
“The amazing thing about James is that he has done something that I don’t think I’ve seen anybody do,” Ranganathan said.
“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.”
Amol Rajan, who was murdered in the second episode after Traitors Maya Jama and Richard E Grant chose to recruit Acaster instead of him, also praised the comedian.
Commenting on a clip shared by the BBC, Rajan described Acaster as “a remarkable soul”.
Josh Widdicombe, a close friend of Acaster and host of Strictly Come Dancing, responded to the post with a series of heart emojis.
Dan Walker and Richard Osman Defend the Decision
Broadcaster Dan Walker also defended Acaster’s gameplay in a post on X.
“I don’t know why people are angry about tonight’s Traitors,” Walker wrote.
He described the episode as “Great bit of telly” and suggested that the Faithfuls could have considered voting for another contestant to retain knowledge of one Traitor’s identity before the final.
Television producer and writer Richard Osman offered another explanation for the confession on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast.
Osman said Acaster had appeared to be looking for a way to leave the competition without bringing the entire game to an abrupt end.
“James Acaster throughout this whole process has been looking for an exit door where he doesn’t blow up the whole show, where he doesn’t just quit on the whole thing,” Osman said.
He suggested that Acaster did not want to continue into the final stage, where he would have had to face the other contestants and admit his role directly.
Osman said the comedian may have chosen that moment because it gave fellow contestants Maya Jama and King Kenny a chance to continue competing.
He described the confession as disruptive from a gameplay perspective but said he understood the decision and defended Acaster’s right to play the game in his own way.
Ed Gamble’s Exit Interview Draws Attention
Acaster’s close friend and podcast co-host Ed Gamble conducted his first interview after the banishment on the spin-off programme Uncloaked.
Some viewers noted that the interview was unusually short and that Gamble did not press Acaster extensively about his decision to reveal his identity.
The programme’s discussion of Acaster’s departure came amid wider debate over whether the confession had changed the competition shortly before the finale.
Acaster Has Previously Discussed Mental Health Struggles
Acaster has spoken publicly about experiencing anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts in the past.
In a 2020 interview with the BBC, he recalled experiencing persistent anxiety during a relationship with actress Louise Ford.
“I was in a relationship where I was extremely anxious all the time, for about five months. It was unbearable,” he said.
He explained that he initially attributed his feelings to difficulties in the relationship rather than recognising them as possible symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Acaster also spoke about experiencing suicidal thoughts in 2017 after separating from fellow comedian Rose Matafeo.
“I was in New York, the first time I’d ever been, which should have been really exciting. Instead I’d find myself thinking about ways I could kill myself…That scared me,” he said.
He added that he sought professional help after returning to England.
“I’m very lucky, personality-wise, that as soon as I recognise something needs doing, I’ll do it. So as soon as I got back to England I booked a therapy session,” he said.
At the time of the interview, Acaster said he was attending therapy twice a month. He also acknowledged that he could experience another period of depression or anxiety in the future.
“There have been three points in my life where things have fallen apart. At 35, I’d be pretty naïve to think it won’t happen again,” he said.
Maya Jama Reflects on Acaster’s Confession
Jama appeared subdued after Acaster revealed his identity, saying it had been the most difficult night of her experience on the programme.
“Tonight was the hardest night of the whole experience,” she said.
She added that she had known Acaster did not want to be a Traitor after the group selected him for the role.
Jama said she could not bring herself to react enthusiastically when he finally admitted the truth, despite having maintained her own deception throughout the competition.
Celebrity Traitors Cast Arrives for Finale Publicity
Acaster’s co-stars were seen arriving at the BBC on Friday morning for a photocall ahead of the finale.
Among those pictured were Leanne Pinnock, finalist James Blunt, Sebastian “Bash” Croft, presenter Claudia Winkleman, Jerry Hall, Miranda Hart, Ross Kemp, Amol Rajan and Uncloaked host Ed Gamble.
The appearances came hours before the final episode was due to air.
Viewers React to the Unexpected Confession
Acaster’s admission prompted a wave of reactions on social media, with some viewers describing it as one of the most unexpected twists in the programme’s history.
One viewer wrote: “Nah James A just gave up on the game completely what am I watching.”
Another posted: “JAMES JUST OUTING HIMSELF AS A TRAITOR AT THE ROUND TABLE.”
Others described the moment as “easily the most unprecedented twist in traitors history”.
The confession also prompted discussion among viewers watching the episode together, with one social media post describing the reaction in their living room when Acaster announced he was a Traitor before the vote.
Finalists Compete for £64,500 Charity Prize
The Celebrity Traitors finale is set to feature Maya Jama, King Kenny, Romesh Ranganathan, James Blunt, Leanne Pinnock and Sebastian Croft.
The contestants will compete for a prize pot currently standing at £64,500, which will go to their chosen charity.
