'Nervous farts' explained as Celia Imrie's seriously awkward blunder on TV show goes viral

Warning: this article contains spoilers for The Celebrity Traitors.

We're just four episodes into the long-anticipated Claudia Winkleman-fronted gameshow, The Celebrity Traitors, and it's fair to say that BBC viewers are already utterly gripped.

TV lovers have been treated to the chaos of watching a bunch of British A-listers, 19 to be exact, stumble their way around the infamous Traitors castle as they try to work out who the 'Traitors' and who the 'Faithfuls' are amongst them.

It's clear the Faithfuls haven't been very good so far after already banishing three of her own - YouTuber and fan-favourite Niko Omilana, EastEnders star Tameka Empson and broadcaster Clare Balding - while the Traitors (Chatty Man's Alan Carr, fellow talkshow host Jonathan Ross and 'go' singer Cat Burns) murdered songstress Paloma Faith, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley and The Fall of the House of Usher's Ruth Codd.

Now, amidst all the tension, speculation and he-said-she-said drama, all the celebs were treated to a very welcome dose of comic relief when Faithful Celia Imrie, the 73-year-old national treasure, famed for her appearances in Nanny McPhee, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, The Thursday Murder Club, Bridget Jones and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, let one rip during a challenge.

As Claudia prepared the remaining celebs for the next challenge in a creaky cabin, the sudden 'parp' sound cut through the silence.

"What just happened?" the game show host asked.

Celia didn’t hesitate in owning up as the group, including Claudia, burst into hysterics, saying: "I just farted, Claudia. It's nerves - but I always own up!"

It didn't take long for the hilarious clip to go viral with many BBC viewers rushing to social media to share their reactions.

One X user mused: "No I’m sorry but Celia Imrie farting out of sheer nerves is the funniest thing that’s ever happened on any version of this show. I’m cackling."

"WHO HAD CELIA IMRIE FARTING FROM FEAR ON THEIR TV MOMENT OF THE YEAR BINGO CARD?" questioned a second, while a third chimed in: "We’ve had a global pandemic, politics, division, recessions, elections, royal deaths, royal scandals, storms, lettuce government, fuel shortages, price hikes, cost of living… But I did not have Celia Imrie farting and uniting us all on my 2025 bingo card."

A fourth beamed: "Celia Imrie farting on national television. This is too much."

"Celia Imrie just farted on national television I love this show," hyped a fifth while a sixth praised: "Celia Imrie farting on national TV and immediately telling everyone, iconic my queen."

Another declared: "Celia Imrie FARTING and ADMITTING it in swift succession will go down in televisual history!! WHAT A LEGEND!"

And a final X user added: "Celia being so nervous she openly farts in front of 20 celebrities while being filmed… you are LYING!"

But why we 'nervous fart' and what's the actual science behind why anxiety can make us so gassy?

'Nervous farts' is simply a casual term for the increased gas and intestinal activity that happens when you’re anxious or stressed. They aren’t a separate medical condition - they’re just your body’s way of responding to stress.

It all comes about due to what is known as a the 'gut-brain connection'.

Your gut and brain are closely linked through the enteric nervous system (sometimes called your 'second brain') so, when you get anxious, your brain sends signals to your gut, affecting digestion and gas production.

Anxiety can trigger the fight-or-flight response, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline. This can temporarily slow digestion, causing gas to build up, or sometimes speed it up, leading to more frequent bowel movements. Both scenarios can increase farting.

Additionally, when people are anxious, they often breathe faster or swallow air (a process called aerophagia). This extra air ends up in the digestive tract, contributing to gassiness.

And, although embarrassing, nervous farts are a super common response to anxiety. Your body is simply reacting to stress - it’s nothing to be ashamed of!

The Celebrity Traitors continues on the BBC on Wednesdays and Thursdays.