James Acaster on Celebrity Traitors exit and the buried-alive challenge
On the Table Manners podcast, comedian James Acaster said they avoid social media and press about their Celebrity Traitors exit. They also said they were annoyed at being talked into the buried-alive challenge.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from The Independent.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1James Acaster, 41, said on the Table Manners podcast that they were "too scared to google myself or look at the press" to see how the public reacted to their Celebrity Traitors exit. Evening StandardN “James Acaster said he was “too scared to google myself or look at the press” to find out how the public had reacted to his Celebrity Traitors exit.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Acaster outed themself as a traitor at the penultimate roundtable before votes were cast, which led to their banishment from the castle; the move shocked and divided viewers, according to the Evening Standard. Evening StandardN “His decision also shocked and divided viewers, but Acaster has said he was determined not to worry about those who disagreed with him.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The Standard said Acaster left during the semi-final after struggling to defend themself in a heated discussion about Ross Kemp's plain-sight murder, before revealing their identity. Evening StandardN “Acaster left The Celebrity Traitors during its semi-final, after struggling to defend himself during a heated discussion about former EastEnders star Ross Kemp’s plain-sight murder, before revealing his identity.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2Acaster said they are not on social media and "genuinely" don't look at it, so feel somewhat disconnected from the reaction and do not know how big it is. Evening StandardN ““I’m not on social media, and I genuinely don’t look at it.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “James also mentioned that he doesn't look at social media or press coverage about it, so he feels a bit disconnected from the public reaction.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Acaster said they had not planned the confession, but that afterwards they knew it had never happened on the show before and there would be "every opinion under the sun". Daily MailR “'I didn't go in planning to do it. But after it had happened, you go, well that's never happened on the show before.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “you go: Well, that’s never happened on the show before, so there’s going to be every opinion under the sun about that.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Acaster told the podcast they partly felt it would make "good telly" but also wanted to "stand by it", and that you "can't worry about the people who don't like whatever it is that you've done"; they also said they were "knackered" by the end. Evening StandardN “Acaster said he partly felt like his decision would make “good telly”, but he also wanted to “stand by it””“He also said he was “knackered” by the end of his experience on the show.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail focused on another part of the podcast: Acaster said they were "annoyed" at being talked into the buried-alive challenge and felt pressured because their partner Bella Ramsey's fate was tied to their own. Daily MailR “James Acaster has said he was 'annoyed' he was talked into being buried alive on the Celebrity Traitors and claimed he felt pressured into taking part in the challenge.”“because his partner Bella Ramsey's fate was tied to his own, he revealed he felt compelled to take part in the task” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1Acaster said they would have refused a solo version, and criticised producers for asking whether cast members were claustrophobic without making clear why, arguing that is "a different question" to whether they were OK with being buried alive. Daily MailR “'I'd argue that's a different question to "are you OK with being buried alive?", James told Jessie and Lennie Ware on their Table Manners podcast.”“said that if he had been a solo challenge he would have refused to do it” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1Acaster said the task took longer than the 15 minutes they were told, that a pipe let in air but they did not know it, and that Jerry Hall quit the challenge, which they said they should have followed. Daily MailR “Jerry Hall did quit the challenge and James believes he should have followed suit”“'They said 15 minutes, but it was a lot longer.”“Apparently there was a pipe to let air in. But I didn't know.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Centre · 1The Standard also reported that after the episode aired, filming was reportedly paused when Acaster became upset in their final scenes and was given a welfare check; Acaster's representative declined to comment, and a BBC spokesperson said its "highest priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part". Evening StandardN “it was reported that filming was paused after Acaster became upset during his final scenes, with the comedian reportedly given a welfare check before the roundtable began.”“a BBC spokesperson said in response that its “highest priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The series was won by Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft, who split an £83,000 prize between Choose Love and the Refugee Council. Evening StandardN “The latest series of The Celebrity Traitors was won by comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian Croft, who split the £83,000 prize money between their two charities: Choose Love and the Refugee Council.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, sees 21 contestants go to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, with a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity. Evening StandardN “Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the show sees 21 contestants head to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, with a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice up for grabs.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
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.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent leads on Acaster saying they have not seen any reaction to the "controversial" exit, closely tracking the Standard's account including the welfare-check reports and BBC response.
- Emphasis
- Acaster's avoidance of Google and press, standing by the decision, the reported filming pause and welfare check, and the series winners.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the buried-alive challenge criticism of producers.
- Charged language
- “controversial”“dramatic banishment”
- For example
-
“Comedian admits he’s ‘too scared to Google myself or look at the press’ following his dramatic banishment” — The Independent
“A BBC spokesperson said in response that its “highest priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part”.” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Focuses on Acaster's avoidance of public and press reaction to their exit, in a measured tone with context on the welfare-check reports and the BBC response.
- Emphasis
- Acaster's detachment from the reaction, standing by the decision, the reported filming pause and welfare check, and the series winners.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the buried-alive challenge criticism of producers.
- For example
-
“James Acaster said he was “too scared to google myself or look at the press” to find out how the public had reacted to his Celebrity Traitors exit.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the story as a comedian criticising producers, leading with the buried-alive challenge and pressure to take part; the confession and reaction are secondary.
- Emphasis
- Acaster's complaints about the challenge, claustrophobia question, duration, Jerry Hall quitting, and earlier Far Out magazine comments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the welfare-check reports, the BBC statement or the series winners; includes no response from producers or the BBC.
- For example
-
“James Acaster has said he was 'annoyed' he was walked into being buried alive on the Traitors and claimed he felt pressured into taking part in the challenge.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Acaster, 41, spoke on the Table Manners podcast.
- Acaster says they do not look at social media or press about their exit.
- Acaster says they did not plan the confession and expected strong public opinion.
Where accounts differ
-
What the story is about
- Centre
- The Evening Standard leads on Acaster's fear of the public reaction and their decision not to worry about critics, and adds the welfare-check reports with BBC and representative responses.
- Right
- The Daily Mail leads on Acaster hitting out at producers over the buried-alive challenge and feeling pressured, giving the reaction to the exit only a closing line.
-
Acaster has not looked at public or press reaction to his Celebrity Traitors exit
Reported- Reports 3
- The Independent, Evening Standard, Daily Mail
-
Acaster did not plan his confession; afterwards he knew it had never happened on the show and would draw every opinion
Reported- Supports 1
- Daily Mail
- Reports 2
- The Independent, Evening Standard
James Acaster person
Says they avoid social media and press, did not plan the confession, stands by it, and was annoyed at being talked into the buried-alive challenge, feeling pressured because of their partner.
““You can’t worry about the people who don’t like whatever it is that you’ve done.”” — Evening Standard
“'I was annoyed that I got talked into being buried alive.” — Daily Mail
Celebrity Traitors other
The BBC said its highest priority is the safety and welfare of everyone taking part, in response to reports of a filming pause and welfare check; the Daily Mail reports no production response to the challenge criticism.
“a BBC spokesperson said in response that its “highest priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part”.” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
-
James Acaster says he hasn't seen any reactions to his controversial Celebrity Traitors exit
Neutral Reports Acaster's podcast remarks on avoiding reaction to the exit, labelling it controversial, with the welfare-check reports and BBC response.
Centre1 article
-
James Acaster was ‘scared’ of public reaction to Celebrity Traitors exit
Neutral Reports Acaster's detachment from public reaction and adds welfare-check context and BBC response.
Right1 article
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Mixed Presents Acaster as hitting out at producers over the buried-alive challenge, with long quotes, and treats the confession and reaction as secondary.
- 11 Nov 12:51 First Evening StandardN James Acaster was ‘scared’ of public reaction to Celebrity Traitors exit
- 11 Nov 13:25 +34m Daily MailR Celebrity Traitors star James Acaster hits out at show producers for 'burying him alive' and says he felt pressured into taking part as he insists he didn't plan dramatic confession
- 11 Nov 14:59 +2h 8m The IndependentLC James Acaster says he hasn't seen any reactions to his controversial Celebrity Traitors exit
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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