James Acaster has rejected reports that he complained to producers of The Celebrity Traitors about fellow contestants Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, calling the claims “completely fabricated” on Alan Carr’s Life’s A Beach Podcast.
The Mail on Sunday had reported that Acaster was uncomfortable with what it described as “macho banter” and had raised concerns that he was being singled out. Acaster said he had been friends with Beckett and Ranganathan for more than 10 years and that both were “lovely” during the show. He added that he had not complained about any of his fellow players.
Acaster said the newspaper contacted the agents for him, Beckett and Ranganathan, and that all of them said the allegation was untrue. The Mail on Sunday later reported that jokes about Acaster’s middle-class background had contributed to his frustration, citing an unnamed source.
The BBC also issued a denial, saying claims of teasing among the cast and complaints about teasing were “categorically untrue.” The broadcaster said there had been no incidents of that nature and no evidence to support the allegations.
On the podcast, Acaster also recalled telling fellow contestant Jerry Hall that he might be a traitor. He said the exchange did not appear in the final edit.
Sources: Deadline.