James Blunt says he spent much of The Celebrity Traitors hoping to be banished, despite making it to the final episode. The singer-songwriter told the BBC that contestants receive the same pay whether they stay for one day or 23, so he tried to leave — but neither the Traitors nor the other contestants eliminated him.
Blunt became known on the show for his bright 1980s-style outfits, elaborate theories and forceful presence at the round table. He said he knew outspoken players could attract suspicion, but chose to share theories rather than stay quiet. He compared himself to a “yapping terrier” alongside actor Michael Sheen’s “mature labrador” as they tried to identify the Traitors.
He also offered a more detailed account of the round-table confrontation that led comedian James Acaster to reveal he had become a Traitor. Blunt said the programme did not show the full interrogation, which he described as intense, and said Acaster had been caught in a lie involving a perfume bottle. Acaster later said the accusation came as a surprise, but that he was glad the group had worked it out.
Blunt said the show’s editing shapes what viewers see, noting that much of the footage cannot make it into the broadcast. He was eventually voted out after comedian Romesh Ranganathan suspected he was working with Traitor Maya Jama. Blunt said he had been blindsided, but was happy with the ending and its twists.
Asked why he signed up, Blunt joked that promoting his new music may have been the main reason; otherwise, he said, he would not have volunteered to be imprisoned in a castle in Scotland. His eighth album, Airplane Mode, is a more introspective record, drawing on difficult thoughts about growing older, responsibilities and uncertainty about the world.
Blunt said writing about those feelings was a relief after years of trying to create upbeat radio singles. He described songwriting as a way to express nostalgia, melancholy and the things he struggles with, and said the album reflects the conversations he has with himself.
He also said his voice changed after a 21-month tour marking the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Back to Bedlam. Blunt said he damaged his vocal cords by pushing too hard and has since taken singing lessons, including with an opera singer. The new sound, he joked, has given his voice some grit — “either that or my balls have dropped.”
Sources: BBC News UK.