James Acaster has dismissed reports that he complained about his fellow contestants on The Celebrity Traitors, calling the claims “completely fabricated.” The comedian had an eventful stint on the BBC reality competition, where familiar faces, suspicious alliances, and the occasional bit of banter came with the territory. However, a story about his experience behind the scenes has prompted him to set the record straight, particularly when it comes to his longtime friends Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.

For a comedian whose humor often thrives on awkwardness, deadpan delivery, and wonderfully unexpected observations, Acaster is no stranger to turning an uncomfortable situation into a punchline. This time, though, he was not laughing off the story.

Speaking on Alan Carr's podcast, Life's a Beach, on Monday, James Acaster addressed a report published by the Daily Mail that claimed he had complained to producers about Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan teasing him during filming. Acaster firmly rejected that account, explaining that he had never previously experienced something being made up about him in the press. 

“I’ve never had stuff made up about me before. I didn’t complain about any of my fellow players. It’s so completely fabricated,” he shared.

The report suggested that their so-called macho banter had made him uncomfortable, prompting him to raise the matter with the show's production team. He also pointed out, on the podcast that he had known Beckett and Ranganathan for more than a decade and that both had been lovely throughout the show. The denial also comes amid renewed attention on Acaster's unusual journey through the castle, which produced one of the season's most talked-about moments.  

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 Acaster's experience was not short on surprises, even by the standards of a game built around deception and theatrical suspicion.

During the same podcast conversation, James Acaster discussed another detail from his time on the show that viewers never got to see. He recalled an encounter with Jerry Hall, who confronted him about potentially being a Traitor. Rather than attempting a convincing denial, Acaster lead her on. 

“I think it might be me as well, Jerry,” he said.

He expected the exchange to make the final cut, but it never appeared in the broadcast.

His eventual confession at the penultimate roundtable became another defining moment of the series. Acaster openly admitted that he was a Traitor, leaving his fellow contestants stunned and ultimately getting himself banished. The season ended with Faithfuls Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft winning the £83,000 prize for their respective charities, Choose Love and the Refugee Council.

For Acaster, whose comedy specials Repertoire and Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 showcase his knack for turning unconventional observations into elaborate comic material, the latest headlines have brought an unexpected real-life twist.

Ultimately, Acaster has made his position clear: the reported fallout with his fellow comedians did not happen. 

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What did the audience make of his time in the castle and his latest clarification? Share your thoughts in the comments.