Celebrity Traitors star Miranda Hart reveals her body went into 'shock' at 'very emotional' TV return after 10 years of battling ME

Celebrity Traitors star Miranda Hart has opened up about her 'emotional' television return on the show after her 10 year struggle with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).The comedian, 53, said her 'body was shocked' by the experience after spending months bed bound and unable to leave the house at the height of her illness.Miranda's involvement in the BBC programme was her first major television appearance since her self-titled hit sitcom ended in 2015.While she has made occasional TV appearances, she largely stepped away from the spotlight due to her ME diagnosis, which was caused by Lyme Disease.Sharing what it was like to be back on screen, Miranda spoke to This Morning hosts Dermot O'Leary and Sian Welby on Thursday.She said: 'People watching the show didn't know that I'd been sort of 10 years really quite unwell with ME caused from Lyme Disease, that's a story in the book. Celebrity Traitors star Miranda Hart has opened up about her 'emotional' television return on the show after her 10 year struggle with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) The comedian, 53, said her 'body was shocked' by the experience after spending months bed bound and unable to leave the house at the height of her illness'It was my first television back since I was feeling better and there were times where it was very emotional. I got particularly emotional with Joe leaving because we had such a good time together. We played and connected.''That was what was in my memoir a lot, these important things that help us thrive even when we're suffering. These are things that I learned.'Miranda's words about the importance of friendship and connection after Joe left the show have since become a viral voiceover trend on social media.Speaking about the progress she has made since being told she has ME, Miranda said: 'I didn't think I'd walk around my park at one point, I couldn't leave the house or get out of bed. When asked if she was nervous before coming back to TV, Miranda told them: 'The excitement took over because it's stuff that I love.'Sian questioned whether the show got her out of bed, and Miranda said: 'In a way but I didn't go from bed bound to that.''Come on body push through you'll be fine. Lyme disease, forget it', she joked.'No there was a bit of progress, but it was a crossover of a boarding school outward bound or a murder mystery weekend. And fine, I'm all in! But my body was a bit shocked.'Miranda also said she thinks it is nice that there is 'some enthusiasm' for the return of her show, but she was unable to confirm if it would return. Mirandaa said that taking part in Celebrity Traitors would be 'challenging' on her body as she lives with the 'invisible' effects of ME Following her diagnosis, Miranda reached a point where she felt ready to return to work - and believed Celebrity Traitors was the perfect opportunityBefore the show aired, Miranda said taking part in Celebrity Traitors will be 'challenging on her body', as she continues to live with the 'invisible' effects of ME.She shared in her 2024 autobiography how her Lyme disease, which developed into myalgic encephalomyelitis, left her 'bedbound and without joy'.But Miranda said she has now reached a point where she feels ready to return to work – and believed Celebrity Traitors was the perfect opportunity.'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 said.However, in an interview with the BBC, which took place before entering the famous Scottish castle, Miranda said she still experiences fatigue and pain caused by her chronic illness.'I'm still living with elements of ME, and that brings fatigue and pain to manage, but I have come to a point where I feel well enough to step out, and that's also partly why I'm doing this,' she explained.'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 it'll be interesting, and it'll take some courage as this is a big next step.'When you live with a chronic illness, it's invisible, so people don't know that you're sitting there in pain. But then it reminds you that everybody's got their thing.'So, I'm also really looking forward to making friends and looking after each other and hopefully they can carry me up a hill or whatever we're going to have to do!' The Celebrity Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC1 It took medics 33 years to discover Miranda had been battling the bacterial infection Lyme disease, after initially mislabelling her as being agoraphobic – an anxiety disorder characterised by symptoms of anxiety in unfamiliar situations.She was also diagnosed with ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a long-term illness that causes debilitating fatigue not improved by rest.Following her mainstream success for her 2009 BBC show Miranda, she has remained out of the spotlight in more recent years with her TV appearances limited to guest spots on chat shows and Comic Relief.Elsewhere, Miranda revealed that fans have challenged her to 'gallop' through the castle – a nod to the iconic trademark of her legendary sitcom character.She said: 'When someone said on Instagram, 'Oh, I hope you gallop in the castle,' I foolishly replied, 'Right, I now take that as a dare.' So that was idiotic of me.'I will have to at some point gallop down a corridor. I'll gallop when no one's watching… or who would be the best person to encourage to gallop? I don't know. I mean, Kenny probably doesn't even know who I am. So, if I could get him to gallop… I could get a new generation galloping.'Miranda was joined by her rarely seen husband Richard Fairs, 60, in Scotland while filming the hit BBC show.The couple, who tied the knot in October 2024, landed at Inverness airport in a private jet.The Celebrity Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC1