Miranda Hart, known for her role in "Celebrity Traitors," has shared her experience of returning to television after a decade-long battle with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a condition she developed after contracting Lyme disease. The comedian described her body as being in "shock" during her first major television appearance since her sitcom "Miranda" concluded in 2015.
Speaking on "This Morning," Hart, 53, revealed that she had been "quite unwell" with ME for ten years, during which she was often bedridden and unable to leave her house. Her participation in "Celebrity Traitors" marked a significant step in her recovery, though she acknowledged the experience was emotionally taxing. She found herself particularly moved by the departure of fellow contestant Joe, with whom she had formed a strong connection.
"It was my first television back since I was feeling better and there were times where it was very emotional," Hart stated. "I got particularly emotional with Joe leaving because we had such a good time together. We played and connected."
Hart's reflections on the importance of friendship and connection during suffering have resonated widely, even becoming a viral voiceover trend on social media. She recounted a time when she couldn't even walk around her local park, underscoring the severity of her illness.
Despite initial nerves about returning to the screen, Hart explained that excitement for the show's format ultimately prevailed. She clarified that her return to television was not an immediate jump from being bedbound but a gradual process, involving a significant "crossover" of her body adjusting to the demands of filming.
Before filming commenced, Hart had anticipated that participating in "Celebrity Traitors" would be physically challenging due to the lingering "invisible" effects of ME. She detailed in her 2024 autobiography how the illness, stemming from Lyme disease, had rendered her "bedbound and without joy." However, she felt she had reached a point where she was ready to re-engage with work, viewing "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," she said.
Hart also noted that she continues to manage fatigue and pain associated with her chronic illness, but felt well enough to participate. She expressed that the "joy of mucking about on television again" would hopefully outweigh the challenges, acknowledging that the experience would require courage.
"When you live with a chronic illness, it's invisible, so people don't know that you're sitting there in pain. But then it reminds you that everybody's got their thing," she commented. "So, I'm also really looking forward to making friends and looking after each other and hopefully they can carry me up a hill or whatever we're going to have to do!"
It took medical professionals 33 years to diagnose Hart with Lyme disease, which was initially misidentified as agoraphobia. The subsequent diagnosis of ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome, identified a long-term illness characterized by debilitating fatigue unresponsive to rest.
Hart's participation in "Celebrity Traitors" also led to fans challenging her to perform her signature "gallop" from her sitcom, a dare she humorously accepted, contemplating how and when she might execute it.
During the filming of the show in Scotland, Hart was joined by her husband, Richard Fairs. The couple, who married in October 2024, arrived in Scotland via private jet.