Viewers of the BBC series Celebrity Traitors have voiced concern after noticing that James Acaster was absent from the show's Uncloaked episode, which aired following the final. The comedian became one of the biggest talking points of Thursday night's (October 29) penultimate episode after making a shock confession at the round table, revealing he was a Traitor before being banished by his fellow contestants.
His confession reportedly led to filming being temporarily halted, with production staff stepping in to check on the comedian and the wider cast before filming resumed. There were reports that James had struggled with the pressure of the game, having previously expressed a preference to compete as a Faithful rather than a Traitor. His exit caused controversy and forced the BBC to issue a statement on the issue.
Absence from Uncloaked sparks concern
Following the final, which saw Romesh and Bash emerge as winners for the Faithfuls, viewers quickly noticed James A was missing from the show's Uncloaked episode - a reaction show aired following the show's final. He was among a number of stars who did not attend the after-show.
However, fans became more concerned after the comedian also seemingly went completely unmentioned following his dramatic exit from the competition. Some questioned why he had not appeared or even been mentioned during the programme.
Among those to raise concerns was Channel 5 news presenter Dan Walker, who took to social media to share his thoughts. "I hope James Acaster is ok. No appearance and not even mentioned on the uncloaked show," he wrote.
His comments prompted a response from followers, with several agreeing that the comedian's absence had been noticeable. One person replied: "Bro seeing a genuinely nice guy get dragged through endless hate for no real reason is so frustrating and you just hope he has a good support system."
James Acaster's dramatic exit
James' departure from the BBC competition came after actor Michael Sheen pointed the finger at him and fellow Traitor Maya Jama during a tense round table discussion. Rather than continue denying his involvement, James admitted he was a Traitor, explaining that he had never wanted to take on the role in the first place.
Speaking after departing the castle, he said: "Now we've got a proper final on our hands. With three Traitors, it would have been a foregone conclusion that we were going to win."
"Don't get me wrong, I thought it was hilarious at one point that we were just going to walk our way to the final and win the whole thing, but this is much better, isn't it?"
BBC response and series finale
The BBC has since addressed questions surrounding the welfare of contestants, saying: "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."
James' absence from Uncloaked has also prompted further discussion among viewers about how the comedian has been treated since leaving the castle. The final episode saw Faithfuls Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian 'Bash' Croft take home the win, bringing the hugely successful series to an end. They left with £41,500 each for their charities.
