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Celia Imrie says she does not want to be defined by Celebrity Traitors fart

Actress Celia Imrie, 74, told The Times she did not mean to break wind during the first Celebrity Traitors series and does not want it to define her. Both outlets run near-identical copy.

2 outlets · 0L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Evening Standard
Image: Irish Independent

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Celia Imrie, 74, has said she does not want to be defined by breaking wind during the first series of The Celebrity Traitors. Mixed · 2Speaking to The Times, Imrie said: "I am guilty of doing anything for a laugh, but I didn't mean to fart." Imrie added that nerves were the cause and that they could not believe it became such a huge thing. Mixed · 2The moment happened during one of the challenges, was picked up by microphones, and left fellow contestants in fits of laughter. Presenter Claudia Winkleman asked "What just happened?" and Imrie replied: "I just farted, Claudia. It's nerves, but I always own up."

Mixed · 2Imrie appeared in the first series alongside Alan Carr, Paloma Faith and Stephen Fry. Assigned as a faithful, Imrie lasted halfway through the season before being murdered in episode eight, a result that still frustrates them: "I was a bit annoyed that I didn't win." Mixed · 2Clare Balding later called the fart the highlight of her time on the show, and Kate Garraway said on Good Morning Britain that it was "so loud" and her "favourite, favourite moment in that cabin". Centre · 1The second series was released last week, and Imrie said fellow actor Richard E Grant rang for advice; Imrie described the game as good fun but "very strict" with "an element of cruelty", and said the show brought a new, younger fan base.

Centre · 1The Evening Standard also reports that Traitors Uncloaked host Ed Gamble told BBC Breakfast the fart was his highlight of the season, and that Alan Carr, who won the series, joked about it at the Bafta TV Awards in May.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Light entertainment piece led by Imrie's reflection, with extra context on how others have celebrated the moment.
Emphasis
Reactions from Gamble, Carr (Bafta speech) and Garraway, plus Imrie's film credits.
Leaves out or plays down
None significant.
Charged language
“national treasure”
For example
“there’s nothing funnier than a fart, especially when it comes from a national treasure.” — Evening Standard

Right1 outlet

Framing
Same story with identical wording and byline, in a shorter version.
Emphasis
Imrie's quotes and Balding and Garraway's reactions.
Leaves out or plays down
Leaves out Ed Gamble's comments, Carr's Bafta joke and Imrie's film credits.
For example
“A year on, she has now reflected on how her flatulence became a defining moment of the series.” — Irish Independent