- Miranda Hart was brought to tears on The Celebrity Traitors following Joe Lycett’s banishment, reflecting on how chronic illness previously isolated her from connection and laughter.
- The comedian was diagnosed with Lyme disease contracted as a teenager in Virginia, which later led to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) and left her “basically bedbound.”
- Hart’s appearance on the BBC reality series marks a courageous return to television following a long hiatus from the spotlight to manage fatigue and chronic pain.
An Emotional Farewell on The Celebrity Traitors
Emotions ran exceptionally high on BBC’s The Celebrity Traitors on Friday (16 October) as comedian and actor Miranda Hart broke down in tears following the banishment of her close companion, Joe Lycett. While serving as a dedicated Faithful, Hart reflected on the deep “connection, laughter and joy” the two shared during the psychological reality series, explaining that severe health complications had long kept her from experiencing those lighthearted moments in daily life.
The departure of Lycett prompted an outpouring of emotion from Hart, who embraced fellow contestant James Acaster as she processed the exit. Upon his banishment, Hart said: “I can’t believe how emotional I’m getting. Wow. Connection and laughter and joy are bigger than this game and to meet someone and just play and laugh – it’s all us humans need.” She elaborated on how her long-term battle with illness resurfaced these intense feelings, stating: “I’ve had times in my life when I haven’t had that through illness and it’s brought up that in a silly sensitive soul.” She added: “I haven’t played like that in so long. The floodgates just opened i guess, it suddenly wasn’t about a silly Faithful or Traitor.”
Decades-Long Health Struggles: Lyme Disease and ME
Hart, 53, has previously spoken candidly about her decades of debilitating physical challenges. The star believes she initially contracted Lyme disease at the age of 14 during a trip to the US state of Virginia. According to NHS guidance, Lyme disease is transmitted through infected tick bites and can cause lingering exhaustion, aches, and energy depletion that persist for years. Medical experts note that “It’s not clear why this happens to some people and not others,” which consequently means “there’s also no agreed treatment.”
Following her struggles with Lyme disease, the Miranda sitcom creator was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), widely referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The condition involves severe, unrelenting exhaustion alongside flu-like feelings, sleep disturbances, and cognitive “brain fog.” In her 2024 memoir, I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You, Hart documented experiencing “unnerving neurological symptoms” in her youth that subsequently “got considerably worse” when she reached age 40, writing: “As did the fatigue from the cell depletion. Yup, all delightful.”
Overcoming Isolation and Stepping Back into Television
The debilitating reality of ME forced Hart into an extended television hiatus after she became “basically bedbound.” Speaking to the BBC in 2024, Hart shared the isolating reality of coping with chronic fatigue: “Once youâve been bed and housebound with a fatigue-based chronic illness that takes a long time to be diagnosed – which sadly I know a lot of people will know – you miss life a lot.” Hart continued: “Unless youâve had fatigue [like that], you donât understand what literally not getting off the floor is. Thereâd be times where I’d look at a glass of water, and think, I donât know how to pick that up. All anyone wants is to be heard, accepted, loved and seen… and when youâre not – particularly in a medical situation – itâs the worst.”
Deciding to participate in The Celebrity Traitors represented a significant physical and personal milestone for the performer, who admitted she was “still living with elements of ME.” Despite the lingering symptoms, she felt ready to test her stamina in the castle, noting: “And that brings fatigue and pain to manage, but I have come to a point where I feel well enough to step out, and thatâs also partly why Iâm doing this. 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 itâll be interesting, and itâll take some courage as this is a big next step.”
Why This Matters
Hart’s vulnerability on a mainstream broadcast sheds light on the reality of navigating invisible illnesses in competitive or high-energy work environments. Highlighting chronic fatigue and post-infectious conditions such as Lyme disease helps demystify medical challenges that frequently go unseen by the general public. As Hart pointed out: “When you live with a chronic illness, itâs invisible, so people donât know that youâre sitting there in pain. But then it reminds you that everybodyâs got their thing. So Iâm also really looking forward to making friends and looking after each other and hopefully they can carry me up a hill or whatever weâre going to have to do!” After noting that she originally “wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy” upon joining the programme, her journey serves as a visible beacon of recovery and resilience as the 80-minute series finale approaches on 30 October at 8pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What illness has Miranda Hart been diagnosed with?
Miranda Hart lives with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), after originally contracting Lyme disease via a tick bite when she was 14 years old in Virginia.
Why did Miranda Hart become emotional over Joe Lycett’s departure?
Hart explained that years of being housebound and dealing with chronic illness had isolated her from playfulness and camaraderie. The joy of connecting with Joe Lycett made his banishment from The Celebrity Traitors an unexpectedly emotional experience.
When does the finale of The Celebrity Traitors air?
The final episode of this series of The Celebrity Traitors is scheduled to air on 30 October at 8pm, running for an extended duration of 80 minutes.
