James Acaster explains unique strategy to playing a Traitor and why he made the choice he did

James Acaster has opened up on how his decision to play The Traitors as honestly as possible may impact the show going forward.

The comedian left both his fellow contestants and viewers at home stunned last night (29 October) after admitting his role as a Traitor during the roundtable while facing heat from Michael Sheen.

Cornered alongside Maya Jama after the group revisited the events of Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight, Acaster cracked under the pressure and confessed that he was made a Traitor against his will.

"I was made a Traitor without wanting to be," he told the group, before congratulating the group for catching him 'logically'.

"I'm glad that I've got to play this game on my own terms," James said in his confessional afterwards, adding: "I've told the truth, I've tried to help them, and I've supported my fellow Traitors as well."

The comedian confessed after facing heat from Michael Sheen (BBC)

Reflecting on his game plan after exiting the castle, the self-confessed reluctant Traitor explained why he continued to play the game as a Faithful after being recruited.

"I think what I proved is that you don’t have to be anything in particular to be a traitor," he said.

“The way that I chose to do it was just by behaving as I was planning to, which was as a faithful."

Acaster went on to share his opinions on how previous Traitors have shot themselves in the foot trying to overcomplicate things, adding that by playing the game as a Faithful, the other contestants 'don't have anything to go off'.

"I’ve always watched the show and thought that, and thought, why are you getting made traitors and then going around lying to everyone and then being like devious and then they figure out it’s you," he said.

“Why not just go around and play the game as a faithful, and then they won’t have anything to go off of.

"So that’s the way I chose to play it."

Viewers at home were split on his confession (BBC)

Acaster's bold strategy was also applauded by his fellow contestants, with Romesh Ranganathan noting that the 41-year-old had played a 'truly unique game'.

"To accept his role but to do it the most Faithful-helping way as possible," he said. "I respect it a lot."

Did James Acaster break the rules on The Traitors?

While Acaster's actions were well-received by the fellow contestants, viewers at home had a more mixed reaction, with some people accusing him of 'ruining' the game.

"Richard E. Grant blurting out that he's a traitor, Joe Lycett begging to be recruited, James Acaster giving up and ruining the penultimate roundtable. All three things broke the game. Farce of a series. BBC producers had a nightmare," read one viewer's complaint.

Viewers also pointed out that Traitors are all asked to say an oath, which includes agreeing to 'keep[ing] your identity and the identity of your fellow players a secret', before accepting their role and debated whether or not James had broken the rules in outing himself.

"Dear BBC, before recruiting for Celebrity Traitors 3, please reiterate the rules of the game to all players. Yours sincerely, everyone who has wasted five weeks watching this series," read a second reaction.

The Celebrity Traitors concludes tonight on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.