Filming of The Celebrity Traitors was brought to a halt after James Acaster revealed himself as a traitor during the semi-final round table, prompting the BBC to issue a statement on contestant welfare.
The comedian, 41, outed himself during Thursday night's episode and was subsequently banished after receiving the most votes. Reports emerged that production was paused when Acaster became upset during the dramatic finale, and the episode required significant editing as a result. He was also reportedly given a welfare check before the round table began.
Welfare intervention on set
A source told The Sun: "What you don't see is the moment when James got upset as he crumbled when he could see he was about to be caught. Both the producers and the other celebrities could see how he was struggling with the pressure of keeping his true identity secret and he reached some kind of breaking point when he was confronted."
"That saw the team feel compelled to intervene, and filming was brought to a halt as they assessed the situation. They spoke to both James and the rest of the stars and didn't allow filming to resume until they were sure everyone was in a fit state."
The BBC has now said contestants' welfare is their "highest priority". 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 at the round table
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 former EastEnders star Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight, 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, 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."
Acaster is the second traitor this series to reveal their true identity before getting caught, after Richard E Grant accidentally revealed he was a traitor moments after being chosen.
Final line-up and prize pot
Earlier in Thursday's episode, actress Sharon Rooney was murdered and comedian Joanne McNally was banished from the castle. 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.
