James Acaster has explained why he and the other comedians on Celebrity Traitors deliberately toned down their humour, after the latest episode saw Joe Lycett leave and the Traitors attempt a murder in full view.
Speaking to Patrick Kielty on RTÉ's The Late Late Show, Acaster said Alan Carr's success as a Traitor in the first celebrity series had made being funny seem like a potential giveaway. He explained: "With each series it gets a bit harder because we were the one after... you know series one is Alan Carr is the big traitor and everyone is like, he is disarming, and that's why he won. And he's disarming because he's a comedian and he's joking."
Comedians wary of using charm
That left the comics wary of using their usual charm to win over the group on the BBC programme. Acaster continued: "And each series informs the next one so we end up, you know, day one we are there, and all the comics are like, 'Don't be funny. If we are funny they are going to suspect us.' We can't disarm anyone. So that's why we are all going around as serious as you've ever seen us."
The latest episode ended with Acaster, Maya Jama and King Kenny attempting to carry out the murder. The 41-year-old had desperately wanted to play as a Faithful, but original Traitors Maya Jama and Richard E Grant recruited him to their side.
Comic potential in unwanted turn
Asked whether part of him was nevertheless "delighted" to put on the iconic cloak, he admitted he could see the comic potential in an unwanted turn of events. He replied: "Yeah, I think it is funny. As a comic, if something bad happens to you, you go, 'I hate this, but this is good.'"
Away from the game's twists, reports have suggested filming was temporarily halted after Acaster became "very anxious" and felt overwhelmed as the programme began.
Mental health history
Acaster has previously spoken openly about his mental health, including a breakdown in 2017 following the end of a relationship, when he experienced suicidal thoughts. Discussing that period on the Perfect Sounds podcast, he described seeking help after returning from a trip to New York.
He said: "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 also explained why he continued with therapy: "I tend to go every other week. There is still some stuff I want to figure out and understand a bit more."
Reflecting on feeling happier, he said: "While I'm lucky enough to be in this happy period in my life, I'd like to understand those periods of my life when I wasn't happy, so I'm more prepared if it happens again."
