James Acaster, a contestant on the second series of Celebrity Traitors, has been told to 'toughen up' by podcast hosts Marina Hyde and Richard Osman after he complained about strict production rules on the BBC show.
The 41-year-old comedian, who was a Faithful before turning Traitor, told The Times that the production team became annoyed when he let slip to his partner that he had been filming outside.
Acaster's complaints about production
In the interview, James recalled: "A member of the production team is there with you, so you can't have an authentic conversation because you can't tell them anything that's happening."
He added: "At one point my partner said, 'Have you caught the sun?' I was saying, 'Oh yeah, we were outside for one of the missions.' I was told I couldn't even tell her that."
Podcast hosts respond
Following his revelation, James was criticised by Marina Hyde on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, which she co-hosts with Richard Osman. Both agreed that while some lines may have been overstepped, those playing had to accept it as part of being on the show.
Richard said: "When James says it's just a game and the production team would do well to remember that, the thing is it's not just a game, it's a television show about a game."
He added: "And I am absolutely certain that they would have overstepped lines which the talent would rather they hadn't overstepped because their job is incredibly difficult and you need to keep things as tight as you possibly can."
Marina Hyde's criticism
Marina, agreeing with Richard, replied: "You can't call your family because you've been told in the rubric of the show before you go on it and before you sign the contract that that's part of the game….You've got to toughen up."
She added: "You're being paid 40 grand for like 10 days work or something and you're doing it for disadvantaged people so try and remember your chosen charity and just push it down."
Marina continued: "I mean really. I honestly think that you know what it is, if you go into a game called Traitors, there is a chance you might be made a traitor, there is a chance things might happen to you…in the end you're a grown up and you've got to get through it."
Following her criticism, Richard responded jokingly: "This is because you went to boarding school."
In response, Marina said, before reaffirming her earlier point: "Yes it is. I think you've got to toughen up. Push it down man."
