Miranda Hart Opens Up About Health Recovery During Celebrity Traitors Appearance

POLICY WIRE — London, UK — Comedian and actress Miranda Hart has shared a candid reflection on her long-term health struggles, admitting that during her recent appearance on Celebrity Traitors, she was struck by how far she has come since her most difficult years.

During the episode, which featured fellow contestants Maya Jama, James Acaster, and King Kenny, Hart participated in a physically demanding mission that required the cast to assemble statues on a rainy hillside. The star expressed genuine surprise at her own physical capabilities, noting that just a few years ago, she doubted she would ever be able to enjoy a simple walk in a park again.

Hart remarked on the contrast between her past health crisis and her current activity, stating, Three or four years ago, due to illness, I thought that I may not ever have a gentle walk around a park again. And now I find myself up a Scottish Highland, wheelbarrowing along a very large head. It’s really exciting.

In 2024, the performer disclosed that she had been diagnosed with agoraphobia and Myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, which is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. She described the period following the conclusion of her hit sitcom, Miranda, in 2015 as a time when she hit rock bottom, leaving her bedbound and housebound for years without a social life or professional responsibilities.

The comedian previously shared at the Cheltenham Literature Festival that she felt as though she were wading through treacle during the height of her career, eventually losing her sense of joy. She spent years largely out of the public eye, living what she characterized as a half-life defined by severe debilitation.

Following extensive blood testing, medical experts identified the root cause of her condition as Lyme disease. It is believed she may have contracted the bacterial infection from a tick bite while living in Virginia as a teenager. While Lyme disease can lead to complications like ME/CFS, early diagnosis is typically associated with better health outcomes.

Although she continues to manage lingering symptoms of ME, including pain and fatigue, Hart decided to join the cast of Celebrity Traitors to test her limits. She explained that she felt well enough to step out and hoped that the joy of performing would help her navigate the physical challenges of the show.

The latest episodes of the program also featured the successful banishment of Traitor Hannah Fry and an unsuccessful attempt to banish Faithful Joe Lycett. Celebrity Traitors is scheduled to continue next Thursday at 8pm on BBC One.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)