BBC viewers believe they have spotted a subtle hint pointing towards the potential victor of The Celebrity Traitors series 2. A brand-new run of the popular gameshow got underway last week, with presenter Claudia Winkleman welcoming 21 well-known faces to the much-loved castle.
The celebrities are battling it out for a whopping £100,000 prize fund destined for a charity of their choosing. As per tradition, Claudia has divided the group into Traitors and Faithfuls, with veteran actor Richard E Grant and Love Island presenter Maya Jama revealed as this year's Traitor pairing. They subsequently enlisted James Acaster as the third villain, though his promotion triggered the murder of Faithful Amol Rajan.
Eagle-eyed fans spot potential contender
While the opening two episodes have already produced a host of memorable characters, eagle-eyed fans have identified one celebrity who could emerge as an unexpected contender. Viewers on TikTok have tipped actress Sharon Rooney to go deep into the competition, or potentially claim the title outright.
Their speculation was sparked by the very first episode, in which the 37-year-old appeared to command considerably more screen time than might have been anticipated. She is seen sharing her initial impressions of the competition as the stars travel to the castle, and remains firmly in the spotlight as the contestants make their entrance, reports Wales Online.
Fans share theories on social media
Posting a clip on TikTok, author Michelle Elman shared her perspective, saying: "You can tell via the airtime who we're being told to root for, who's going to make it to the end."
She continued: "Some screen time is obvious, Richard and Maya are the Traitors [plus] James and Amol are part of the cliffhanger. But apart from the funny moments, what else is being included? With 20 people in the castle, who's being focused on. and that's where Sharon Rooney really stood out."
The TikTok user explained that Sharon has appeared highly relatable and appealing thus far, seemingly enjoying considerable prominence during the opening instalment. While this doesn't definitively indicate she'll emerge as a crucial player, it could represent a telling clue.
Viewers divided over editing clues
Responses beneath the initial post similarly observed the attention given to Sharon in the series opener. "First ep I said to my friend they're showing Sharon so much - that's sus," one viewer noted.
Another follower commented: "Yeah exactly this! Although it's interesting they aren't showing Michael [Sheen] and Miranda [Hart] too much cause sometimes that means they are in it for a long time so they don't have to tell us all the info on them so quickly."
However, others remain sceptical about the theory. "She wasn't even in ep 2. But you can tell that she will be a later game player as she'll be getting more air time later on," observed one BBC audience member.
Meanwhile, a fourth viewer proposed that the editing has been highlighting two different participants. "I think it might be Bella [Ramsey] or James Acaster based on the edit so far," they suggested.
The first two episodes of The Celebrity Traitors season two are streaming on BBC iPlayer.
