James Acaster has revealed he was told off by producers on Celebrity Traitors during a supervised phone call with his partner. The 41-year-old comedian, currently playing a Traitor on the BBC show after starting as a Faithful, explained that contestants are limited to a 10-minute call with someone close to them while filming.
Speaking about the experience, Acaster said the call was monitored to ensure he did not reveal anything about the show. He described an awkward moment when his partner asked if he had caught the sun, to which he replied that they had been outside for a mission — a detail he was told he could not share.
Behind the scenes at the Travelodge
Acaster also lifted the lid on living arrangements during production. Although the show is set in a castle, the celebrities sleep in a Travelodge about 60 minutes from the filming location. He described the daily commute as “a trek each morning and night.”
While the show is being made, contestants are cut off from the outside world and cannot leave the hotel without a chaperone. The restrictions extend to the limited phone call, which Acaster said made it impossible to have an authentic conversation.
Clare Balding on the round table music
Acaster is not the only cast member to share behind-the-scenes details. Clare Balding, who appeared in the first series, spoke about the music played before the round table segment. On the Inheritance Tracks podcast, the 55-year-old said the music is designed to make players take the game seriously, preventing them from laughing at the situation.
Balding described the atmosphere the music creates as “a fascinating psychological experiment,” while acknowledging it is not always helpful. Celebrity Traitors returns to BBC One tonight at 8pm.
