Celebrity Traitors star suggests identity of traitor after Alan Carr ‘tainted’ comedians
James Acaster is on Celebrity Traitors 2026 (BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative)
James Acaster has suggested the large contingent of comedians heading into Celebrity Traitors could quickly become obvious suspects, and might even try to form an alliance if they are not split up early on.
Acaster, 41, is set to appear on the upcoming run of the BBC celebrity spin-off. With several comics in the line-up, he described the numbers as a “concern”, adding: “There will be suspicions that it’s going to be at least one of these guys, that we might form an alliance if we’re not broken apart.”
He continued: “I think we’re going to be the first ones under the magnifying glass being looked at.”
Acaster said that was especially true early on: “Particularly at the beginning when you have absolutely nothing to go on.”
The comedian also pointed to last year’s result as a reason the group could be viewed warily, saying: “And then you consider that a comedian won last year with Alan Carr disarming everyone with jokes the whole time.”
Celebrity Traitors 2026 start date and schedule
Celebrity Traitors is due to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Thursday, 1 October. Episodes are set to air two nights a week on Thursdays and Fridays, starting at 8pm.
The 2026 cast also includes comedians Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett, Miranda Hart and Romesh Ranganathan, alongside Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, Dr Hannah Fry, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Myha’la, Richard E. Grant, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft and Sharon Rooney.
Earlier this month, Pedro Pascal said his non-binary Last Of Us co-star Ramsey would “slay” on the show.
‘If maths turns against us we’re in big trouble’
Acaster also joked about the odds being stacked against the comics: “Even though it could obviously easily be three people who aren’t comedians…” before adding: “I don’t know how it works out, but if maths turns against us we’re in big trouble.”
The comedian is best known for his Netflix specials Repertoire and Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999, and co-hosts the food podcast Off Menu with Ed Gamble.
Fellow contestant Joe Lycett has also spoken about assumptions he faces as the “gay comedian off the telly” heading into the castle.
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