James Acaster Exposes the Brutal Celebrity Traitors Scene They Cut

James Blunt has revealed that James Acaster faced an intense, unaired interrogation on Celebrity Traitors that was far heavier than what viewers saw on screen.

According to Blunt, the comedian did not simply confess during the penultimate episode.

Instead, he was subjected to a courtroom-style grilling by Blunt and Michael Sheen over a perfume bottle used in a secret murder task.

"He didn't fall on his sword," Blunt told BBC News.

"That's what you saw, that's what you feel, but he didn't."

Blunt said the confrontation left Acaster with nowhere to hide.

"You didn't see the full extent of the interrogation," Blunt explained.

"It was heavy in there and it was clear-cut. He was pinned to the post. We got him. We really, really got him."

The singer added that the edited version gave viewers a misleading impression.

"I think how that played out hasn't really been revealed to you, but he didn't just say, 'Oh guys, you got me,'" Blunt said.

He suggested all contestants were "a victim to the edit."

Production on the episode was reportedly halted so producers could intervene when Acaster became distressed during the roundtable.

The unaired interrogation centered on the murder of Ross Kemp, which took place in plain sight.

Michael Sheen had identified Acaster and Maya Jama as his leading suspects during the penultimate Round Table.

Sheen noted he had previously overlooked Acaster because the comedian had managed to keep such a low profile.

With suspicion mounting, Acaster admitted he had been recruited as a Traitor despite originally hoping to play as a Faithful.

"I was made a Traitor without wanting to be," Acaster told his fellow contestants at the roundtable.

"I wanted to be a Faithful; that's all I wanted to be."

He maintained he had done his best to support the Faithfuls throughout the game.

But his explanation was not enough to save him.

Every remaining contestant voted for his banishment.

Reflecting on the experience in his exit interview, Acaster said: "It was sprung on me, it was a surprise. But I was glad that..."

Since the episode aired, tabloid reports have suggested Acaster simply quit or was involved in a feud with other contestants.

Acaster has now slammed those reports as false.

The comedian has not given a detailed public statement about the unaired scenes.

But Blunt's account contradicts the narrative that Acaster gave up willingly.

"He didn't fall on his sword," Blunt repeated.

"We got him. We really, really got him."

Meanwhile, fellow contestant King Kenny — real name Kenny Ojuederie, a 29-year-old YouTuber and boxer — has taken a different view.

Speaking on The Fellas podcast, Kenny said he holds Acaster responsible for his own downfall.

"I was shocked," Kenny said of Acaster's decision to reveal himself as a Traitor during the penultimate episode.

"I think if James Acaster didn't say that, I would have won," Kenny stated.

Kenny recalled turning to Maya Jama once it became apparent that Acaster was about to expose himself.

"I said to Maya, 'Time's coming, but we're going to have to fight for our lives and try and win this,'" he explained.

Beyond his direct criticism of Acaster, Kenny also suggested the show's producers should take some responsibility.

"I think the producers should make sure that everyone wants to play the game effectively," Kenny told The Fellas podcast.

"Whether you're a Traitor or a Faithful, everyone's happy to do whatever. It makes the game much more fun."

The remark appeared to be a pointed reference to Acaster's reluctance to embrace his role after being recruited.

Acaster had originally entered the castle as a Faithful.

He was recruited in the second episode by Maya Jama and Richard E Grant.

The series concluded with Faithfuls Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft splitting the £83,000 prize pot.

The finale aired in front of a record 11.2 million viewers.

Celebrity Traitors is a spin-off of the BBC's popular reality competition series The Traitors.

In the game, contestants are divided into Faithfuls and Traitors.

The Traitors secretly "murder" contestants each night, while the Faithfuls try to identify and banish them during roundtable discussions.