Filming of Celebrity Traitors was reportedly halted during last night’s climactic roundtable because James Acaster became ‘concerned’ before giving his important speech.
The 41-year-old comedian shocked Mahal at the end of last night’s episode when he revealed his own traitorous status ahead of the finale.
Acaster was banished from Thursday’s final episode of the BBC show, following a discussion about Ross Kemp’s murder in plain sight, in which he said Faithfull had set him up.
It has now been claimed that Acaster needed to ‘collect himself’ before exposing himself to Faithful.
An insider told daily Mail: ‘The pressure got to him and it was clear he was finding it difficult. Everyone agreed that filming should be stopped before things got too heated.
‘Everyone was aware of the pressure James was under throughout the series; It was difficult to see him struggle.
Metro The BBC was contacted for comment and a spokesperson said: ‘Our top priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part.
‘Players are closely monitored and supported throughout production which includes a dedicated and experienced welfare team.’
It was reported prior to the series that Acaster had become ‘visibly stressed’, resulting in shooting being halted, but it was unclear at what point during filming this alleged moment occurred.
It was claimed at the time that his classmates at Ardross Castle had raised concerns with the Studio Lambert production team, who paused the game to investigate them.
‘It was good for James to get a breather, because 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 an interview after the match, Acaster explained that he had been considering that roundtable reveal for some time and explained how – despite some opinions online – it would be good for tonight’s finale episode.
He said, ‘Now we have a proper final in our hands.’ ‘With three traitors, it would be a foregone conclusion that we were going to win.
‘Don’t get me wrong, there was a time I thought it was ridiculous that we were going to the final and winning it all, but this is much better, isn’t it?’
Describing his decision to expose himself to Faithful, he added: ‘The idea of doing it made me feel like a traitor to the whole experience because you feel like a traitor sometimes, when you see people’s reactions in real life that are bigger than the game, you feel bad.
‘I have to remind myself that without you they don’t have a game, literally, if someone isn’t doing the work, they can’t play, and they all want to play.
‘So you’re doing an important thing here, so they’ll all have something to do, and when they catch you, they’ll be really happy and they’ll love it, and it’ll be nice to just tell them and see their reaction.’
Acaster further said that it was a ‘surprise’ when Michael Sheen doubted him, given that he went into the roundtable ‘with no heat’, but added: ‘I’m glad they caught me.’
The move has proved divisive among BBC viewers online, with @LFCLila writing on Twitter: ‘Sorry Acaster has ruined the game.. it’s literally in the rules not to do what he did,’ in a tweet which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
Others, including @neneswiggglee, said they were ‘pissed’ he confessed, noting that Burrows was headed for an easy win before the final.
However, others pointed out that Richard E Grant’s confession in the Traitordome earlier this season was treated differently by viewers, with @dande_only writing: ‘Remember Richard screwed up the game too but we all found it funny.’
Other fans of the show also pointed out that Acaster repeatedly indicated that he was not happy playing a traitor and that it might be especially difficult to do so as a neurodivergent person.
‘I can’t imagine how exhausting producing Traitors must be, but that goes double when you’re neurodivergent and you’re expected to lie even though you hate being lied to, so I have a lot of respect for Acaster and if you hate him I think you need to take a break and touch the grass,’ wrote @neptunestardust on X.
Metro has contacted the BBC for comment on this story.
The Celebrity Traitors final airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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