Alan Carr has revealed that he sought professional support after winning Celebrity Traitors, admitting the experience left him emotionally drained and in need of time to reset.
The comedian and television presenter emerged victorious on the BBC reality series last year, taking home £87,500 for a children’s neuroblastoma charity. The dramatic final was watched by an estimated 15 million viewers, cementing the celebrity edition as one of the broadcaster’s biggest entertainment hits of the year.
Despite the success, Carr has now spoken candidly about the toll the show took on his mental health. Speaking to The Times, he explained that support was made available to contestants once filming wrapped — something he ultimately decided to take up.
“At the end of Celebrity Traitors you have access to a mental health nurse,” Carr said. “I thought, I'll go and have a look because it was all getting to be quite stressful.”
@bbc LEGEND, HERO, ICON #TheCelebrityTraitors #ClaudiaWinkleman #CelebrityTraitors #AlanCarr ♬ original sound - BBC
Filmed in a remote castle in Scotland, Celebrity Traitors places contestants under constant psychological pressure, with players required to lie, manipulate alliances and second-guess even their closest friends. The format, adapted from the international hit De Verraders, has been widely praised for its intensity, but has also sparked conversations around contestant welfare, particularly as the celebrity version attracted heightened public scrutiny.
Carr’s journey on the show saw him carefully navigate shifting loyalties, late-night round tables and emotionally charged confrontations, ultimately convincing fellow finalists that he could be trusted. His calm exterior and humour proved to be a winning combination, but Carr has now admitted that maintaining that composure came at a cost.
Compounding the stress was the fact that Carr had little time to decompress once filming ended. He revealed that he went straight from wrapping Celebrity Traitors into work commitments, including filming Channel 4’s Secret Genius, leaving him no opportunity to properly process the experience.
@channel4 I think we all know now not to underestimate Alan Carr #SecretGenius ♬ original sound - Channel 4
During his conversation with the mental health nurse, Carr said he was challenged on his relentless work schedule. “She went, ‘Are you a workaholic? Why don't you think you deserve a day off?’” he recalled. “And I went, ‘I do feel like I deserve a day off but I've just been offered so many lovely things.’”
Carr’s comments highlight the often unseen pressures faced by high-profile entertainers, particularly those balancing intense reality television with ongoing professional demands. Known for his distinctive humour and warm on-screen persona, Carr has enjoyed a long-standing career across stand-up, panel shows and prime-time hosting roles.
Since his Celebrity Traitors win, Carr has continued to maintain a packed schedule, appearing across multiple TV formats while also returning to live comedy. Reflecting on his current position, he said he is “enjoying the ride” and feels “really proud of his CV”, suggesting a renewed sense of perspective following the experience.
Carr’s openness also comes amid a wider shift in the television industry, with broadcasters increasingly prioritising mental health support for reality TV participants. Shows like Celebrity Traitors now routinely provide access to psychologists or mental health professionals during and after filming, acknowledging the unique pressures created by isolation, strategy-based gameplay and intense public attention.
For Carr, taking that support appears to have been a positive step. While he remains busy, his comments suggest a growing awareness of the need for balance — even during a career high point.
Having navigated both the psychological demands of Celebrity Traitors and the immediate return to high-pressure work, Carr’s reflections offer a rare insight into what happens once the cameras stop rolling — and the importance of taking care of mental health, even when success appears to be at its peak.
