Warning: this article contains absolutely huge spoilers for season two, episode nine of The Celebrity Traitors

When rumours suggesting The Celebrity Traitors was about to see a more “unthinkable” twist than Richard E Grant‘s unbelievably chaotic day one admission began to swirl, it was hard to imagine how they might manifest.

But by the end October 29’s bombshell episode, it’s safe to say most viewers’ jaws were firmly on the floor.

Comedian James Acaster outed himself as a reluctant Traitor in the deliberation stage of roundtable discussions, after contestants like Michael Sheen began to question his presence in the library during Ross Kemp’s murder in plain sight.

In the staggering episode, James said to his fellow players: “I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be. I’ve had a unique experience on this that no one has had before.”

After that, his co-stars unanimously voted the 41-year-old comedian out.

Since then, James said on The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked: “I feel pretty good getting to episode nine, and now we’ve got a proper final on our hands.

“With three Traitors, it would have been a foregone conclusion that we were going to win. Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was hilarious at one point that we were just going to walk our way to the final and win the whole thing, but this is much better, isn’t it?”

The comic and actor, who shares the podcast Off Menu with Uncloaked host Ed Gamble, added: “As a Traitor sometimes, when you see people have real-life reactions that are bigger than the game, you feel bad. I would have to remind myself they don’t have a game without you, literally; if no one’s doing this stuff, they can’t play, and they all want to play.

“So you are doing an important job here. When they catch you, they’ll be really happy, and they’ll like it.”

He even went so far as to say that the idea of confessing comforted him throughout the stressful series.

“The idea of doing that got me through the whole experience because you feel as a traitor sometimes, when you see people have real-life reactions that are bigger than the game, you feel bad,” he explained.

“And I would have to remind myself they don’t have a game without you, literally, if no one’s doing this stuff, they can’t play, and they all want to play.

“So you are doing an important job here, so they all have something to do, and when they catch you, they’ll be really happy and they’ll like it, and it will feel good to just tell them and see that reaction.”

He told the BBC in an interview, “I’m not good at lying, and I don’t make a habit of it. Maybe the biggest lie I’ve ever got away with was telling Ed Gamble I’m not doing The Celebrity Traitors”.

The Sun has also claimed that production had to stop filming for the 41-year-old comedian’s safety after he became upset, and that he had received a welfare check before the roundtable.

The BBC has since said, “Our highest priority is always the safety and welfare of everyone taking part.

“Players are closely monitored and supported throughout by production, which includes a dedicated and experienced welfare team”.

The Celebrity Traitors season 2 concludes tonight, Friday 30 October. It will air on BBC 1 at 8pm.