Comedian and television personality Alan Carr has made a startling confession about how a seemingly harmless mobile game addiction caused him to miss a spectacular wildlife encounter during a special trip with his mother.
A Safari Spoiled by Swiping
The winner of BBC's Celebrity Traitors revealed that while other celebrities might battle substance issues, his own vice was the popular puzzle game Candy Crush. Speaking on Olivia Attwood's Olivia's House podcast, Carr explained the poignant moment his obsession had real-world consequences.
He had taken his mother on a safari holiday after a period of ill health, aiming for a memorable experience. However, Carr admitted he was so engrossed in the game on his phone that he failed to see one of the famed 'Big Five' animals – a rare white rhino – when it appeared.
"I'm an addict. I'm addicted to Candy Crush," Carr stated frankly. "I took my mum on a safari, because she’d not been well, and I missed one of the big five. I missed seeing a white rhino because I was playing Candy Crush."
Pretending to Marvel While Missing Out
The comedian described the awkward scene in detail. As his mother excitedly tried to point out the magnificent creature, Carr was sitting behind her in the safari jeep, pretending to look while actually staring at his phone screen.
He warned listeners that such a fixation is "no laughing matter," revealing he has even "lost friends" over his dedication to the game. The incident served as a wake-up call about how digital obsessions can detract from real-life moments.
Fellow podcast guest, comedian Lee Peart, joked that Candy Crush didn't seem "on-brand" for Carr, suggesting the vintage Nokia game Snake might be more his style. Carr, insulted by the implication he'd play such an outdated title, retorted by calling it "the c***piest game ever."
Traitors Fallout and Friendship
The conversation also turned to Carr's infamous betrayal of singer Paloma Faith on Celebrity Traitors. Carr recalled that while they didn't have a full-blown fall-out, Faith was rightfully "p**sed off" after he 'murdered' her and presented her with the symbolic lily.
"When I murdered her and gave her the lily then I came downstairs, I was so happy," he said. "She came down to breakfast and I went, ‘Oh, it hasn’t worked.’ Half an hour later we’re shoving her in a f***ing coffin."
A show insider told The Mirror that Paloma "threw a wobbly" about being the first contestant eliminated and was "fuming" when she discovered Carr's role in her exit.
Despite the on-screen deception, Carr revealed the experience ultimately strengthened their bond. "Before we were showbiz friends but since we've come out we're on the phone all the time," he explained, adding he felt genuine remorse, crying at the end of the process.
Carr, who describes himself as normally honest, said he "really got into lying" during the show, which he saw as fulfilling a childhood dream of being in a real-life murder mystery. He believes the show's impact was immense, calling it a "zeitgeist" moment that transformed his public recognition.
"I'll never be in anything so iconic again," Carr reflected. "I could walk down the street, if I'm being a d**k, people are like 'Alan, Alan, what's it like!' I'll never be in anything that big."
