James Acaster reveals the moment he and his Celebrity Traitors co-stars 'should have walked out' of the show before he halted filming during semi final bombshell

James Acaster has revealed there was a moment he should have 'walked out' of Celebrity Traitors even before his semi-final bombshell.

The comedian left viewers aghast in the series' penultimate episode when he revealed himself to be a Traitor during the roundtable.

The pressure of the show got too much for James following his admission, as sources said he became 'anxious', and bosses were forced to pause filming.

Now, James has shared that he had considered quitting the castle even earlier in the series, when he and the other players took part in a mission that forced them to be buried alive in coffins.

Indeed, the funnyman also battled a feud with two fellow players while he was on the 'toxic' show. You can read Katie Hind's report on his 'bullying' ordeal here.

James has shared that he was 'really scared' during the coffin mission, with actress Jerry Hall even refusing to continue in the challenge.

He told Far Out Magazine: 'I was lying there thinking, actually, I think I'm really scared of this. As soon as the soil was heaped on top, Bella did say, ''Imagine if they can't get us out'.''

Referencing Jerry's decision to quit the mission, he added: 'She didn't like it. She didn't like, well, none of us liked it. 

'No, I respect Jerry the most because Jerry just went, 'I'm not doing this.' Like, are you kidding me? And the rest of us were just like, 'We want to win Traitors in our coffins, idiots.'

'We should have just done what - as soon as I heard Jerry got out, I should have said to Bella, ''I'm getting out, forget it. If it's a free-for-all now, we should all get out. They can't stop us all. We could all do it.''

James was absent from Uncloaked following his dramatic exit from the show on Thursday night's episode.

At the round table during that episode, Michael Sheen turned to James and quizzed him on the specifics of Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight, including how he knew about the deadly perfume bottle.

'I understand how you've put it all together,' James responded, adding: 'I can't really argue that it sounds feasible, and that sounds like it could have happened. I can promise you that I didn't spray him.'

Then, speaking to the group, he shockingly said: 'I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be.

'I've had a unique experience on this that no one has had before, where I wanted to be a Faithful; that's all I wanted to be. I couldn't just go, "Guys, it's me, vote for me". But that's all I can do, really.'

Filming was paused as James became 'anxious' and had to gather himself before making his speech.

'The pressure got to him, and it was clear he was finding it difficult. Everyone agreed filming should be stopped before things got too heated,' one insider told the Daily Mail.

'Everyone was aware of the pressure getting to James throughout the series; it was difficult to watch him struggling.'

James received all of the votes, and before his exit told his fellow celebrities: 'When I came into this experience, I told Claudia that all I wanted to be was a Faithful and all I wanted to do was go round this castle and help the Faithfuls as much as possible, catching Traitors. 

'I'm really proud to say that's what I've been able to do under the circumstances.

'I am, reluctantly, a Traitor,' he added, admitting that a 'weight has been lifted off his shoulders'.

The comedian has previously referenced his autism diagnosis in his stand-up shows, discussing how neurodivergence shapes his perspective and creative process. 

While some fans have called out Acaster for 'ruining' the game just one episode before the finale, his co-stars and comedy circuit pals have rushed to defend him – while his close friends have revealed their shock at his unexpected move.

A source close to him admitted on Friday that they had no clue about Thursday night's admission on the show or how it had affected him.

They told the Daily Mail: 'He is obviously bound to silence in advance so we have not bothered him. We have not spoken to him about the show.'

James has been open about his mental health struggles in the past, bravely sharing his experiences with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts in an interview with the BBC in 2020.

He explained how he first started noticing his anxiety during his relationship with actress Louise Ford, who famously left him for Rowan Atkinson in 2013.

'I was in a relationship where I was extremely anxious all the time, for about five months. It was unbearable,' he said. 'But because the relationship was going badly, I thought, "Well, the relationship's bad and that's why I feel like this. It's not a puzzle. I haven't got anxiety or depression".'

In 2017, the comedian experienced suicidal thoughts for the first time after splitting from his girlfriend, fellow comedian Rose Matafeo. 

Noting that 'I didn't attempt it,' James said: 'I was in New York, the first time I'd ever been, which should have been really exciting. Instead I'd find myself thinking about ways I could kill myself…That scared me.'

'I'm very lucky, personality-wise, that as soon as I recognise something needs doing, I'll do it. So as soon as I got back to England I booked a therapy session.'

During an appearance on Celebrity Bake Off in 2019, the star went viral after quipping of his failed attempt at Cherry Bakewell flapjacks: 'I started making it, had a breakdown, bon appétit!'

It was only later that he revealed that he was in the middle of a mental health crisis and hadn't slept for over 40 hours at the time of filming. After the episode, he reached out to the Samaritans.

In 2020, Acaster said he was attending therapy twice a month and admitted he was prepared for another period of depression or anxiety in the future.

'There have been three points in my life where things have fallen apart. At 35, I'd be pretty naïve to think it won't happen again,' he said. 'What I'd like is to understand why those three times happened, so if it happens again I can be more on top of it.'