Miranda Hart Discusses Chronic Illness on The Celebrity Traitors
Miranda Hart has opened up about living with chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme disease while participating in the BBC reality series The Celebrity Traitors. The sitcom actor spoke about the physical challenges of the competition as her appearance on the show continued.
Living With Invisible Illnesses During Physical Challenges
Hart has spoken publicly in the past about being diagnosed with Lyme disease and later with Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS. According to Lyme Disease UK, Hart became unwell as a teenager and never experienced a normal level of energy afterward, leading to the ME/CFS diagnosis while her Lyme disease was not confirmed as the root cause until 2020. Speaking to the BBC ahead of her appearance on the series, Hart described the invisible nature of her condition. “When you live with a chronic illness, it’s invisible, so people don’t know that you’re sitting there in pain,” she stated. “But then it reminds you that everybody’s got their thing.” Independent.co.uk noted that Hart discussed these struggles further in her 2024 memoir, detailing her decades-long health journey.
Choosing to Follow the Joy on Television
Despite managing ongoing fatigue and pain, Hart explained that she felt well enough to step back into the public eye for the competition. “I haven’t done much TV work for a long time, having only recently come out of long-term ill health issues and when I was offered this, my whole body sort of relaxed, I smiled, and I just wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy,” she told the BBC. During a broadcast, Hart reflected on how far her health has come during a demanding outdoor mission. “I mean, three or four years ago, due to illness, I thought I may not ever have a gentle walk around a park again,” she said. “I find myself up a Scottish highland, wheelbarrowing along a very large head… It’s very exciting.”
Connections Formed Inside the Castle
The contestant roster for the second season of the show features twenty other prominent figures, including actors Bella Ramsey, Michael Sheen, Richard E Grant, and Ross Kemp, alongside comedians James Acaster, Joe Lycett, and Joanne McNally, TV presenter Maya Jama, and musician James Blunt. Hart experienced an emotional moment following the elimination of Joe Lycett on screen. “I can’t believe how emotional I’m getting,” she said. “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, you know? I’ve had times in my life when I’ve not had that. It’s brought up that silly, sensitive soul.”
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