Maya Jama Calls Recruiting James Acaster and Hannah Fry on 'Celebrity Traitors' a 'Stupid Decision'

Maya Jama, host of "Celebrity Traitors," has revealed that her decision to recruit James Acaster and Hannah Fry as Traitors was a "stupid decision." Jama, who has been playing as a Traitor on the BBC show, shared behind-the-scenes insights, admitting she was unaware that both Acaster and Fry had expressed reservations about taking on the role.

In a video shared on TikTok, Jama confessed that if she had known about their reluctance, she would not have suggested them to fellow Traitor Richard E. Grant. "What you're seeing on TV is the interview with Claudia, and obviously if I knew that I would never have agreed to recruit them because that's just stupid," she stated. Jama acknowledged that despite the situation, they had to "make the best of a bad situation" and that she found the experience stressful.

The Love Island host detailed the intensity of being a Traitor, including late nights in the turret and minimal sleep. She admitted to not washing her hair for several episodes due to lack of time in the mornings, prioritizing sleep over her appearance.

Jama also recalled a "wild" moment when she unintentionally walked into a room where contestant Sebastian Croft was discussing whether she was a Traitor. She expressed how much contestants are unaware of conversations happening behind their backs.

Reports suggest that the tension on "Celebrity Traitors" extended beyond the screen, with contestants reportedly "at one another's throats" off-camera. Unlike the previous celebrity version, which was described as fun, this season has been marked by stress and "utter paranoia." Insiders attribute this heightened tension to difficult decisions made at the round table, which led to the banishment of two Faithfuls.

Actress Myha'la and former "Coronation Street" star Julie Hesmondhalgh were banished in recent episodes, adding to the stressful atmosphere. A show insider told The Mail on Sunday that the environment was tense, and contestants struggled to disengage from the game, even in their private lodgings. "They were constantly thinking about the game."

Comedian Rob Beckett's high-energy behavior also reportedly strained relationships among contestants during filming in Scotland. Some participants found it difficult to cope with the intense pressure, with one contestant reportedly "really lost their nerve."

The pressure became particularly evident for James Acaster, who joined as a Traitor in the second episode. Acaster became "very anxious" on set at Ardross Castle, leading to filming pauses. Other contestants had to step in and request that the cameras stop rolling. Acaster has been vocal about his struggles with deception on the show, stating, "I'm not good at lying."

Even the Faithfuls experienced stress, with actor Ross Kemp becoming increasingly paranoid, reacting strongly to physical contact from other cast members.

The teams of the contestants, including their agents and publicists, were kept in the dark regarding their clients' progress and had no contact until they were eliminated from the game. These external teams had no influence over the broadcast content and could only hope for a favorable edit for their clients.