Richard E. Grant has become the first Traitor ever to be banished at the first Round Table vote in Celebrity Traitors, marking a show first. The 69-year-old actor was voted out of the Scottish castle almost unanimously when the series returned on Thursday, October 8, following a cliffhanger ending to the previous episode.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman had selected Grant and Love Island host Maya Jama as the Traitor pairing at the start of the series. However, Grant committed a major error when he disclosed to a room packed with Faithfuls that he was in fact a Traitor, moments after his selection. The slip-up triggered suspicion throughout the castle, with players debating whether the revelation was genuine or part of a broader strategy.
Accidental confession and a third Traitor
During his confessional, Grant disclosed that the mistake was entirely unintentional and expressed hope of restoring his reputation. Before the Round Table, he and Jama enlisted comedian James Acaster as their third Traitor, whose recruitment resulted in the murder of journalist Amol Rajan.
When the show returned on Thursday, the contestants almost unanimously selected Grant, and he was banished from the castle. He became the first celebrity eliminated through the Round Table vote and the first Traitor to leave in the first ever banishment.
Reaction to the banishment
While his fellow players were fond of him, they could not overlook his earlier confession. The actor was crestfallen but celebrated his unique departure, saying: "I have managed to checkmate myself, which, as far as I'm aware, has never been done."
The development means the Faithfuls have already dispatched a Traitor within the first week of play, bringing them significantly closer to claiming victory. Despite his premature exit, Grant did fulfil "one of his dreams" during his time on the show. Speaking ahead of his selection as a Traitor, he revealed: "If I was lucky enough to be a Traitor that would be one of my dreams come true. In real life, you have so little control over anything. Whereas, in this game, the only vestige of control that you can possibly have is to be a Traitor. If you're playing the game, you're playing the game. Friendships mean diddly-squat."
Viewer response
While his banishment came as little shock to viewers, many were saddened by his departure. One X user wrote: "It's annoying man, because I think that Richard would of been brilliant if he stayed longer lol #CelebrityTraitors." Another echoed the sentiment: "Absolutely gutted for Richard. He would've given us so many iconic moments. #Traitors #CelebrityTraitors."
Other viewers rallied behind the axed star. "aw bless richard i feel so bad, he just wanted to murder," wrote one supporter. Someone else rushed to his defence, stating: "I don't like that the other Traitors voted Richard off," with yet another viewer adding: "Feck sake Richard why did you have to ruin your own experience! Was looking forward to seeing him relish in his role! What a shame."
Celebrity Traitors season 2 is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
