Watched by over 10 million viewers, singer James Blunt made his debut on the launch show of hit BBC television show Celebrity Traitors wearing a £1,695 bespoke suit from Barrington Ayre Shirtmaker & Tailor in Cirencester.
This luxury bespoke and made-to-order tailor is based in Cirencester's historic Market Place.
James Blunt's three-piece suit was cut from a green herringbone William Bliss Cotswold Country Tweed, a heritage British wool cloth woven in the UK from the archive tweeds of the Chipping Norton Tweed Mill in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Proudly flying the Cotswolds flag with his choice of suit, James Blunt is reported to have a country home in the Cotswolds and is frequently spotted by locals.
Discerning gents wishing to replicate James Blunt’s Celebrity Traitors entrance look – think James Bond relaxing on a countryside retreat – can order the same suit from Barrington Ayre Shirtmaker & Tailor, made to their own measurements from identical William Bliss tweed, also available fully bespoke.
Cirencester tailor's thrilled reaction
Tom Wharton runs and owns Barrington Ayre Shirtmaker & Tailor, and also runs William Bliss Cotswold Country Tweed.The day after James Blunt wore his suit on television, Tom shared his pride on social media. He said: ‘Did you see James Blunt in a gorgeous bespoke three-piece tweed suit on Celebrity Traitors last night?! Well! That was one that we made for him! Always exciting seeing our clothing on the people we make them for, but even more exciting when it is on Celebrity Traitors!
‘James, being local to us, is huge supporter of Cotswold businesses and so it was an absolute delight to make him a suit using Cotswold Country Tweed from William Bliss to complete The Cotswolds link!’
Antidote to 'cold and intimidating' Saville Row
Tom founded Barrington Ayre Shirtmaker & Tailor in his home town of Cirencester as an antidote to London’s world-famous tailoring destination.‘So in 2010, I founded Barrington Ayre Shirtmaker & Tailor in my home town of Cirencester, right in the heart of the Cotswolds, and set about doing things differently.
‘I’ve loved clothes for as long as I can remember – not just wearing them, but the craft behind them. The way a perfectly cut jacket can change how you carry yourself. The satisfaction of putting on a shirt made exactly to your proportions. The quiet confidence that comes from wearing something truly made for you.’
Tweed's Cotswold connections
Established in 1872, William Bliss Tweed House is renowned for its fine equestrian tweeds and distinguished racing heritage. Woven in Great Britain, the collection draws upon an exceptional archive of original designs.Flying the Cotswolds flag landed James Blunt in hot water
Before the Celebrity Traitors launch show was broadcast on 1 October 2026, James Blunt, whose biggest hit was You’re Beautiful in 2005, got in hot water with the BBC by posting about his suit on social media.He uploaded to his X account a BBC publicity photograph of him wearing the suit, complete with logos of Celebrity Traitors and the BBC, and he posted a link to Cirencester's Barrington Ayre Shirtmaker & Tailor to his two million followers.
BBC editorial guidelines prohibit stars from exploiting BBC programmes or brands in any advertisements or promotions, and they reportedly ordered him to take the post the down.
