The BBC has responded to reports that filming of Celebrity Traitors was paused during a heated roundtable, insisting that the safety and welfare of contestants is its "highest priority."
The statement follows claims that comedian James Acaster, 41, became upset during Thursday night's semi-final after he confessed to being a traitor, prompting producers to step in. According to The Sun, filming was halted and Acaster was given a welfare check before the roundtable began.
BBC's welfare statement
A BBC spokesperson said: "Our highest priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part. Players are closely monitored and supported throughout by production which includes a dedicated and experienced welfare team."
A representative for Acaster declined to comment.
Acaster's confession
Acaster began the game as a faithful but was recruited as a traitor and struggled with the new role. He fell under suspicion after a discussion about the murder of former EastEnders star Ross Kemp, in which he struggled to defend himself.
He told the contestants: "I just want to explain my situation, I was made a traitor without wanting to be. I've had a unique experience on this that no-one's had before, where I wanted to be a faithful and that's all I've wanted to be. I couldn't just go 'guys it's me, vote for me', but that's all I can do really."
Acaster said he had pointed out the perfume bottles, which killed Kemp, on purpose. After receiving the most votes at the roundtable, he said: "When I came into this experience I told Claudia (Winkleman, the show's presenter) that all I wanted to be was a faithful, and all I wanted to do is go around this castle and try and help the faithfuls as much as possible catching traitors. I'm really proud to say that's what I've been able to do, under the circumstances. I am, reluctantly, a traitor."
Other events and final details
Acaster is the second traitor this series to reveal their identity before being caught, after Richard E Grant accidentally revealed he was a traitor moments after being chosen. Earlier in Thursday's episode, actress Sharon Rooney was murdered and comedian Joanne McNally was banished.
Traitors, TV presenter Maya Jama and social media star King Kenny, and faithfuls, singer James Blunt, Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock, actor Michael Sheen, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, and actor Sebastian Croft, are left to compete in Friday's final. Viewers did not get an indication of who Jama and King Kenny were planning to murder at the end of Thursday's show.
Jama attracted heat during the beginning of the episode when she toasted her fellow contestants by saying: "To killing them, banishing them even." During Thursday's mission, contestants collected £5,000 for the prize pot, bringing it to a total of £64,500.
Twenty one celebrity contestants take part in the show, with those assigned faithful attempting to identify the contestants who have been made traitors. The traitors "kill off" players in the middle of the night. They are playing the game at Ardross Castle in the Highlands, with a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice up for grabs. The Celebrity Traitors final will air on BBC One at 8pm on Friday.
