Celebrity Traitors contestant James Acaster has revealed that players are played the song 'The Hanging Tree' from The Hunger Games before every roundtable vote, a moment he says leaves them 'blindsided'.
The tense scenes see contestants discuss their suspicions, examine clues and vote for who they believe is a Traitor, with one player then banished and forced to reveal their identity.
What happens at the roundtable
James, 41, who is playing the game as an unwilling Traitor, shared the show secret during a recent appearance, explaining that the song is played before each vote.
'You can in silence down the corridor, then you walk in and you all sit down. They don't announce that it's going to happen, the first time they completely blindside you, but they do it at every single roundtable,' the comedian said.
'They play that song from The Hunger Games, that "coming to the tree" song, like acapella, Jennifer Lawrence,' he added.
Contestants back the claim
James said the track was 'the only song we heard the whole time we were there, and all day I would have it in my head constantly. And everyone would.'
Former contestants supported his claims. Magician Tom Elderfield, who appeared on the civilian series in 2022, commented: 'This is true, and the song now gives me trauma.' Reece Ward, from series four, added: 'It's FACTS, and it catches you off guard every single time.' Dylan Reeve, a Faithful on New Zealand's version, said: 'Can confirm! And it's not just the UK version that does this!'
About the song
'The Hanging Tree' is a ballad from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, telling the story of a man sentenced to death who calls for his love to meet him at the tree. In the film, Katniss Everdeen learns it from her father, and it becomes a rallying anthem. Written by the Lumineers, it features vocals from Jennifer Lawrence.
The revelation comes after Friday night's episode ended on a cliffhanger, with actress Sharon Rooney and comedian Joanne McNally facing banishment before Traitor King Kenny could cast his deciding vote. Earlier, comedian Miranda Hart was killed off for being 'a good detective'.
The Celebrity Traitors returns on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday at 8pm.
