Former Coronation Street actor Julie Hesmondhalgh has revealed she struggled with class anxiety while filming Celebrity Traitors, admitting she worried about her status among the famous contestants.
The 56-year-old, who also starred in ITV's Mr Bates vs the Post Office, was one of the first to be voted out of the castle. She was believed to be a Traitor but was in fact a Faithful, and left just after journalist Amol Rajan failed to be recruited as a Traitor.
Status anxiety among celebrities
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Hesmondhalgh said she felt anxious surrounded by so many famous people, despite being well known herself. She explained: “There are lots of psychological assessments before you start and you plunge into these accelerated relationships. I have huge status anxiety — who’s an A-lister, who’s a Z-lister?
“It’s mostly a class thing. I worry I’m not as well educated as other people. Everyone suffers anxiety, even if some of the other contestants showed it in a jarring way.”
Praise for fellow contestants
Despite her worries, Hesmondhalgh praised some of her fellow competitors, including Ross Kemp and Romesh Ranganathan, who she described as “brilliant allies in a situation that is properly scary”.
She also spoke warmly of 52-year-old singer James Blunt, saying he had “cornered the market in self-deprecating humour”.
Exit and invitation
Following her exit, Hesmondhalgh told BBC Radio Manchester: “I did feel it was my time. I left with my head held high... but I had some very gratifying apologetic texts on Friday night.”
She also revealed she was asked to join the second series while the first was airing in 2025. She added: “I got asked to do it at the height of last year's celebrity series I was doing a play in London. They came to see me in my dressing room and asked me. I couldn't believe it. I like fell on the floor. Keeping it a secret was so, so hard.”
