BBC denies claim Celebrity Traitors duo made James Acaster ‘uncomfortable’
James Acaster on The Celebrity Traitors (BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
The BBC has denied claims that comedian James Acaster complained to producers about being teased by fellow comics Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan on The Celebrity Traitors, calling the allegations “categorically untrue”.
Over the weekend, a Mail on Sunday report alleged Acaster, 41, raised concerns with the production team at Studio Lambert after feeling uncomfortable with Beckett and Ranganathan’s off-camera “macho banter”. The show is made by Studio Lambert for the BBC.
An unnamed source claimed: “Rob and Romesh clearly thought they were having a bit of a laugh, but James began to feel quite a lot of it was at his expense, and away from the cameras he started to get annoyed and upset by it. In the end, he spoke to the production team about it, saying he was unhappy and felt like he was being singled out.”
A BBC spokesperson denied this, telling The Independent: “Claims of teasing amongst the cast on the show and claims of complaints about teasing are categorically untrue. There were no incidents of this nature and there is no evidence to support these allegations.”
‘Couldn’t be further from the truth’
The report alleged Acaster complained he was being “teased and mocked” on set, and that the dynamic between the three comedians shifted away from the cameras.
Representatives for Beckett and Ranganathan also said the claims were “completely untrue and couldn’t be further from the truth”. Meanwhile, a representative for Acaster also told Radio Times the report was untrue.
Acaster, Beckett and Ranganathan on Celebrity Traitors
In the current series, Acaster remains in the competition, as does Ranganathan. Beckett has already been eliminated, after being ‘murdered’ face-to-face in episode five.
Acaster was recruited as a Traitor early in the series, despite having said he’d wanted to be a Faithful. Both Ranganathan and Beckett were Faithfuls.
Last week, banished Traitor Hannah Fry claimed Maya Jama and Acaster had given themselves away as Traitors, after examining patterns from past series.
Away from the castle, Acaster is known for his meticulous, surreal stand-up style and for Netflix specials including Repertoire. He also co-hosts the food podcast Off Menu with Ed Gamble, and has spoken publicly about anxiety and mental health. In 2022, he said it was “important” that comedians challenge other comics who constantly “punch down” at trans people, adding: “They’ll be checking their privilege on the way home now thanks to you, ya brave little cis boy!”
The Celebrity Traitors continues Thursday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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