Singer James Blunt has described his experience on the reality television show "Celebrity Traitors" as "traumatic" and "at times a terrible experience." Blunt, 52, stated that the show was not a "cosy TV show" and reflected on the intense psychological nature of the competition.
Blunt was banished in the penultimate episode of the show, with fellow Faithfuls Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft ultimately winning.
He shared that during filming, producers would play the song "The Hanging Tree" from "The Hunger Games" before round table discussions, a tactic he believes was intended to "psych them out." Blunt recounted an instance where hearing the song after the show caused him to sweat and shake, indicating the lingering psychological impact. He also described the strict living conditions for contestants, including guards outside rooms, blacked-out peepholes, disabled televisions, and a lack of room keys, contributing to the feeling of isolation and pressure.
Other contestants have also spoken out about the show's intensity. Comedian James Acaster compared the experience to "living in East Germany under Soviet control," and an unnamed participant described producers as being "like human traffickers."
Acaster's struggle with his role as a Traitor led him to reveal his identity during a round table, an act that has reportedly left him "destabilised" by the public reaction. Blunt, however, suggested that Acaster's confession was not a voluntary surrender, but rather the result of being "pinned to a post" after being caught in a lie during intense questioning that was not fully depicted in the broadcast edit. Blunt also mentioned that he signed up for the show primarily to promote his new music, noting that all contestants receive the same pay regardless of how long they participate.
The second series of "Celebrity Traitors" concluded with Ranganathan and Croft triumphing over Traitors Maya Jama and King Kenny.