Miranda Hart Confronts Past Health Battles During Castle Challenge on The Celebrity Traitors
“I haven’t done much TV work for a long time, having only recently come out of long-term ill health issues,” Miranda Hart told the BBC ahead of her appearance on The Celebrity Traitors. The sitcom icon has emerged as a breakout favorite on the BBC One reality competition, adopting a detective role inside the castle and embracing physically demanding missions that she once feared she would never experience again.
Miranda Hart says Celebrity Traitors will be challenging due to her chronic illness | PinkNews https://t.co/VPMyim5d8z
During the 16 October episode, Hart reflected on a gruelling outdoor challenge where contestants raced against the clock to transport heavy statue pieces across a Scottish Highland. Speaking to the cameras, the actress noted how remarkable it felt to participate in such rigorous physical activity. According to Digital Spy, she shared that three or four years prior, due to severe illness, she doubted she would ever be able to take a gentle walk around a park again.
Decades of Unexplained Symptoms and Late Diagnosis
The physical demands of the castle proved to be a poignant milestone for the performer, who has spent years managing debilitating health problems. As reported by The Irish Sun, Hart’s health deteriorated dramatically after her hit sitcom Miranda ended in 2015, when she collapsed at home and subsequently spent years largely confined to her house.
Her symptoms included extreme fatigue, pain, and weakness so profound that lifting a glass of water felt impossible. Hart spent decades searching for answers before receiving a diagnosis of Myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, alongside Lyme disease. According to Lyme Disease UK reporting cited by Digital Spy, she contracted Lyme disease from an infected tick bite while living in America as a teenager, though that root cause was not officially confirmed until 2020.
Returning to Television and Managing Chronic Illness
Hart detailed her ongoing journey with chronic illness in her 2024 memoir, I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You. Ahead of her castle debut, she explained that when the show offered her a place, her whole body relaxed and she wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy. She noted that while she still manages elements of ME, including lingering fatigue and pain, she reached a point where she felt well enough to step back into the spotlight.
In the castle, Hart also experienced moments of deep vulnerability. Following the banishment of comedian Joe Lycett on the 16 October episode, she became visibly emotional, telling fellow contestants that connection, laughter, and joy are bigger than the game itself. The Celebrity Traitors continues to broadcast on BBC One and streams via BBC iPlayer.
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