King Kenny takes thinly-veiled swipe at James Acaster over BBC Celebrity Traitors exit controversy

Speaking on The Fellas podcast, Kenny made clear he holds Mr Acaster responsible for his downfall.

“I was shocked,” he said of the 41-year-old’s decision to reveal himself as a Traitor during the penultimate episode.

Kenny went further, stating plainly: “I think if James Acaster didn’t say that, I would have won.”

The 29-year-old recalled how he immediately turned to Maya Jama once it became apparent that Mr Acaster was about to expose himself.

“I said to Maya, ‘Time’s coming, but we’re going to have to fight for our lives and try and win this,'” he explained.

The discussion at the roundtable had centred on Ross Kemp’s murder in plain sight, with Michael Sheen piecing together which players had been present in the room at the time.

Mr Acaster’s inability to mount a convincing defence under sustained questioning ultimately led to his admission.

Beyond his direct criticism of Mr Acaster, Kenny also suggested the show’s producers should take some responsibility for what unfolded.

“I think the producers should make sure that everyone wants to play the game effectively,” he told The Fellas podcast.

“Whether you’re a Traitor or a Faithful, everyone’s happy to do whatever. It makes the game much more fun.”

The remark appeared to be a pointed reference to Mr Acaster’s reluctance to embrace his role after being recruited as a Traitor.

The comedian had originally entered the castle as a Faithful and was recruited in the second episode by Ms Jama and Richard E Grant.

“I was made a Traitor without wanting to be,” Mr Acaster had told his fellow contestants at the roundtable. “I wanted to be a Faithful; that’s all I wanted to be.”

Elsewhere, singer James Blunt, who competed as a Faithful, offered a different perspective on Mr Acaster’s exit.

“He didn’t fall on his sword. That’s what you saw, that’s what you feel, but he didn’t,” Mr Blunt told BBC News. “It was heavy in there, and it was clear-cut. He was pinned to a post.”

Kenny has also addressed speculation about his relationship with fellow Traitor Ms Jama, with fans tipping a potential romance.

“We just laugh at it, to be honest,” he said. “That’s just what happens, innit, when you’re in the limelight? You’ve just got to laugh at it and move on.”

The series was ultimately won by Faithfuls Sebastian Croft and Romesh Ranganathan, who divided the £83,000 prize fund between their respective charities. Heartstopper star Mr Croft directed his £41,500 share to Choose Love, while Mr Ranganathan chose the Refugee Council.