James Acaster's Secret Comeback Plan After Celebrity Traitors Backlash

The unaired interrogation of James Acaster on Celebrity Traitors was far more brutal than viewers ever saw.

James Blunt has revealed details about the intense grilling that took place before Acaster's unexpected confession.

Blunt and Michael Sheen subjected the comedian to a heavy interrogation regarding a perfume bottle used in a secret murder task.

The questioning was described as courtroom-style.

It left Acaster with nowhere to hide.

Refuting claims that Acaster simply quit, Blunt insisted the interrogation left the comedian cornered.

Production on the episode was reportedly halted so producers could intervene.

Acaster became distressed during the roundtable.

The show had to step in before filming could resume.

Viewers saw Acaster confess to being a Traitor during the penultimate episode.

What they did not see was the full buildup to that moment.

Acaster had originally entered the castle as a Faithful.

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

He made it clear he never wanted the role.

"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."

The discussion at the roundtable had centered on Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight.

Michael Sheen pieced together which players had been present in the room at the time.

Acaster's inability to mount a convincing defense under sustained questioning ultimately led to his admission.

James Blunt offered a different perspective on Acaster's exit.

"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."

"It was heavy in there, and it was clear-cut. He was pinned to a post."

The confession did not sit well with everyone.

King Kenny, the 29-year-old YouTuber and boxer whose real name is Kenny Ojuederie, has publicly criticized Acaster.

Kenny came agonizingly close to winning the show but was ultimately banished after Sebastian Croft turned on him at the fire pit.

Speaking on The Fellas podcast, Kenny made clear he holds Acaster responsible for his downfall.

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

Kenny went further, stating plainly: "I think if James Acaster didn't say that, I would have won."

Kenny recalled how he immediately turned 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,'" Kenny 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 as a Traitor.

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