In a bombshell revelation that’s got fans buzzing, Alan Carr’s ex-husband Paul Drayton is peeling back the curtain on the comedian’s lovable TV facade, unveiling a side that’s far more calculated and cutthroat than his cheeky on-screen charm suggests. As Alan captivates audiences as a sly Traitor on BBC One’s Celebrity Traitors, Paul spills the tea on how the funnyman can turn icy-cold at home, ditching the laughs for a “ruthless streak” that sees him sever ties without a second thought.
Alan Carr sitting on a green chair and smiling.
Alan Carr and Paul Drayton at their wedding.
Paloma Faith kneeling next to a tombstone with “Paloma Faith” inscribed on it, in a graveyard.
Paul, 54, who shared 14 years with the 49-year-old star before their 2022 split, insists he’s not throwing shade—just offering an honest peek into the real Alan. In an exclusive chat with The Sun on Sunday, he confessed: “Everyone sees Alan as this hilarious bundle of joy, and I did too at first. But off-camera, he’s a different beast—more withdrawn, even selfish sometimes. He’s got this edge where he puts up with a lot, but cross him, and bam—he’s done. ‘You’re taking the piss,’ he’ll say, and that’s it; you’re out of his life for good.”
And when it comes to strategy? Paul reckons Alan’s a natural-born schemer. “I wouldn’t call him a liar—he was always straight with me—but he’s masterful at the game. He’ll play his cards close and come out on top. On Traitors, he’s going to be a killer Traitor, no doubt.”
The drama kicked off in the show’s explosive premiere, where Alan was tapped as one of the villainous Traitors alongside chat king Jonathan Ross, 64, and rising star Cat Burns, 25. Their mission? “Murder” a Faithful in broad daylight. Enter Paloma Faith, the 44-year-old singer and supposed pal, who became Alan’s first victim. Sweating bullets but playing it cool, Alan brushed “poison” onto her face under the guise of fixing her hair—sealing her fate as the inaugural casualty.
Paloma didn’t hold back on her betrayal vibes, venting on The One Show to hosts Alex Jones and Lauren Laverne: “My four-year-old turned to me this morning and said, ‘Mama, I don’t like Alan any more. He can’t come to our house.'” Ouch! But Paul claims the whole “besties” angle is overhyped for TV thrills. “They’re not tight at all,” he reveals. “She’s popped on his podcast a couple of times, but honestly, Paloma’s not his vibe. They don’t hang out or swap secrets. His real squad? Amanda Holden, Angellica Bell, Sally Lindsay, and the late Paul O’Grady. Oh, and he goes way back with Jonathan Ross and even host Claudia Winkleman. Celebrity friends? Not as many as you’d think—Amanda’s his ride-or-die.”
The Paloma saga has roots in a hilariously disastrous 2011 dinner party. She whipped up lamb kebabs that left Alan, Paul, and their buddy Adele (plus her dachshund Louie) battling food poisoning. Paul chuckles recalling the chaos: “Adele warned us not to feed Louie because of his tummy issues, but with my ADHD, that’s like a dare. I slipped some to him and our dog Bev under the table. Cut to later: We’re upstairs sipping wine, watching X Factor, when Louie unleashes a diarrhea disaster on our rug. Adele yells for kitchen roll, but then plugs her nose with it and leaves the cleanup to us! We all cracked up, and Paloma seemed fun, but no deep bond formed like with Adele. On Traitors, they’re pumping up this ‘friendship’ for the drama—it’s not that real.”
Since ditching Paloma, the Traitor trio has stealthily “offed” Olympic hero Tom Daley and actress Ruth Codd, while the roundtable banishments claimed YouTuber Niko Omilana, EastEnders fave Tameka Empson, and broadcaster Clare Balding. Still in the mix as Faithfuls: acting legend Celia Imrie, vocal powerhouse Charlotte Church, historian David Olusoga, rugby beast Joe Marler, and comedian Joe Wilkinson. Rounding out the cast: TV icon Kate Garraway, funnylady Lucy Beaumont, actor Mark Bonnar, Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed, and the inimitable Stephen Fry.
Paul and Alan’s love story was a whirlwind: A decade together led to a 2018 wedding officiated by Adele at her LA pad. They built a cozy life on a West Sussex farm, raising animals amid the glamour. But lockdown cracked the foundation, especially as Paul’s drinking escalated. He jokes: “There were moments Alan probably wished he could ‘Traitor’ me out with a face touch to end the hassle I caused.” Yet, fondness lingers—Paul saw Alan just weeks ago and roots for him: “He’s funny, we made each other roar with laughter. He’ll crush it on the show… as long as he doesn’t sweat his nerves away and blow his cover!”
From farm life to TV treachery, Alan Carr’s proving he’s more than just giggles—he’s got the grit to go all the way. Watch out, Faithfuls; this “screen villain” means business!