James Acaster Says He’s Too Scared to Google Himself After ‘The Celebrity Traitors’ Appearance
James Acaster said he has avoided searching for his name or reading press coverage since his appearance on The Celebrity Traitors, because he is “too scared” to see the reaction. The comedian discussed the attention and his round-table confession on the Table Manners podcast.
Comedian James Acaster said on the Table Manners podcast that he is “too scared” to search for himself online or read press coverage after his appearance on The Celebrity Traitors.
Acaster said he had not seen the public reaction to his role in the BBC show, where he became one of the most talked-about contestants after revealing he was a Traitor at the round table.
“I'm not on social media, I genuinely don't look at it,” Acaster said. “With a show as big as Traitors, I'm too scared to Google myself or look at the press. So I genuinely haven't seen any of it.”
Acaster expected strong reactions
Acaster spoke with presenter Jessie Ware and her mother, Lennie, on the podcast. Ware asked how he felt about becoming a heartthrob after his round-table appearance, saying she had found him attractive when he confessed.
Ware also pushed back against viewers who had called him a “villain.” “I know that lots of people have said you were a villain, which I think is ridiculous, and I found it very attractive as a woman,” she said.
Acaster said he learns about some coverage only when it is significant enough for his agent to bring it to his attention. He described feeling disconnected from discussion of the show and said he did not know how widespread it had become.
He said his decision to reveal himself was not planned. Once it happened, he realized the unprecedented moment would prompt a range of responses.
“I didn't go in planning to do it, but after it happened, you go, well, that's never happened on the show before, so there's going to be every opinion,” Acaster said.
He added that he was prepared to stand by his actions rather than dwell on criticism. “You can't worry about the people who don't like whatever it is that you've done,” he said.
Romesh Ranganathan discussed filming
The conversation comes after series winner Romesh Ranganathan spoke about Acaster’s behavior behind the scenes. Ranganathan won alongside actor Sebastian Croft, and the pair shared the £83,000 prize between their respective charities.
On The Romesh Ranganathan Show, host Alan Carr asked whether Acaster had been as quiet during filming as he appeared on screen. “I saw James Acaster was like a rabbit in headlights, but was he like that, or did they edit it? Was he quiet?” Carr asked.
Ranganathan replied, “I don't think he was quiet. He wasn't quiet. I think it's fair to say he was wrestling with being”
