Miranda Hart Details 'Challenging' Return to TV Amid Invisible Illness
The comedian discusses the physical and mental demands of 'Celebrity Traitors' while managing the ongoing effects of ME and Lyme disease.
Miranda Hart is returning to television in the physically and mentally demanding reality show "Celebrity Traitors," a move she acknowledges will be "challenging on her body" as she continues to live with the effects of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, and Lyme disease.
In her 2024 autobiography, Hart, 53, recounted a three-decade health battle that she said left her "bedbound and without joy." Despite these challenges, she feels ready to return to work, seeing "Celebrity Traitors" as an ideal opportunity.
"I haven't done much TV work for a long time, having only recently come out of long-term ill health issues, and when I was offered this, my whole body sort of relaxed, I smiled, and I just wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy," Hart said in an interview with the BBC prior to entering the show's location in Scotland.
Hart explained that while she still experiences fatigue and pain from her chronic illness, she has reached a point where she feels well enough to participate. "The joy of mucking about on television again will hopefully outweigh some of the challenges. And I think it will be challenging on my body, so it'll be interesting, and it'll take some courage as this is a big next step," she stated. She added that living with an invisible illness means others may not be aware of her pain, but she looks forward to connecting with her fellow contestants.
It took medical professionals 33 years to diagnose Hart with Lyme disease, a bacterial infection, after initially misdiagnosing her with agoraphobia. She was later also diagnosed with ME.
Hart has largely remained out of the spotlight in recent years, with limited television appearances. Fans have playfully challenged her to replicate her sitcom character's signature "gallop" in the castle, a dare she humorously accepted.
"The Celebrity Traitors" features a lineup including Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, among others. The contestants will compete in a game of detection, trust, and betrayal for a chance to win up to £100,000 for charity. The show premiered on Thursday, October 1, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.