James Acaster: Jerry Hall accused me of being a Traitor

James Acaster has revealed that Jerry Hall cornered him to accuse him of being a Traitor, an exchange the BBC cut from the final edit of Celebrity Traitors. According to the Daily Mail ^[2], the former supermodel approached the comedian face-to-face, declaring, “I think it’s James!” before Acaster responded, “I think it might be me as well, Jerry.”

Hall reportedly replied, “You’re very sneaky,” before walking away. Acaster admitted he expected the confrontation to air, but it remained on the cutting room floor. The Mirror ^[1] noted that Acaster discussed these edits on Alan Carr’s podcast, explaining that producers frequently removed his contributions to keep his voting intentions a surprise for viewers.

“I said a lot more around that roundtable than the edit would suggest,” Acaster explained ^[2]. He revealed that during the tense discussions, his comments were often trimmed to prevent hints about who he would vote for. This strategy helped him survive until the penultimate episode, where he orchestrated his own exit by voluntarily identifying as a Traitor.

Acaster also lifted the lid on the terrifying challenge where contestants were buried alive. He told Far Out Magazine ^[2] that he was “really scared” while lying in the coffin, a sentiment shared by co-star Bella Ramsey, who remarked, “Imagine if they can’t get us out.”

The ordeal dragged on after Jerry Hall shouted the safe word, “Haggis,” to be released. Acaster recalled hearing the commotion of Hall and Hannah Fry being dug out while the remaining players, including himself and Ramsey, were trapped underground. “We want to win Traitors in our coffins, idiots,” he joked, though he expressed respect for Hall’s decision to quit the mission.

After being released, the remaining contestants faced a physically demanding task digging up graves with solidified soil. Acaster described slamming his spade into the ground as “really hard,” contrasting with the loose soil they were promised.

Despite his exit, Acaster maintained he had been a “reluctant” Traitor, stating he had originally wanted to be a Faithful. While some fans accused him of ruining the game, insiders told the Daily Mail ^[2] that he did not break rules, as he compromised only himself. He admitted the pressure of the game, including Michael Sheen’s questioning about Ross Kemp’s murder, had made him anxious, leading to a pause in filming.