Celebrity Traitors viewers were left baffled after Richard E Grant made a very unexpected move just 20 minutes into the first episode of the new series.
The actor was among 21 famous faces who entered the Scottish Highlands for the second series of the BBC reality show on Thursday night (October 1), with Claudia Winkleman back at the helm. And it didn't take long for Grant to leave his fellow contestants scratching their heads.
Grant's Bold Declaration
After the celebrities had settled into their new home and got to know one another, Winkleman revealed who had been chosen to secretly play as Traitors. This series has already switched things up, with just two Traitors chosen at the beginning of the game rather than the usual three. Grant was one of them, alongside presenter Maya Jama.
But the actor appeared to waste little time playing with the minds of his fellow contestants. During a conversation with Joe Lycett, Grant openly said: “I am a traitor.” Lycett appeared taken aback and asked: “Are you?” Grant then questioned what the point of being in the game was if he wasn't a Traitor. “What's the point in being in the game if you're not?” he said. “Right, OK,” Lycett replied.
Fellow Contestants React
James Blunt then described Grant's approach as “an interesting angle”. Lycett later attempted to get to the bottom of what Grant had said, telling him: “I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. What are you, Richard?” Grant then appeared to backtrack, replying: “I'm a faithful.”
The exchange left the celebrities wondering whether Grant was genuinely revealing his secret or simply trying to throw everyone off the scent. Jerry Hall, who revealed she has known Grant for 30 years and is his neighbour, was among those who wasn't convinced he was really a Traitor. “I don't believe he is a Traitor,” she said. Hall suggested Grant could instead be “acting out because he's not been chosen”.
Grant's Realisation and Episode Cliffhanger
But Grant later appeared to realise that his unusual strategy may have drawn too much attention to himself. “That may be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life,” he said. “I clearly need to diffuse all of the heat that is coming in my direction.”
Grant and Jama later agreed to “lock in” as the two Traitors, while the rest of the celebrities continued their attempts to work out who they could trust. The first episode ended without a murder or banishment. Instead, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Joe Lycett were given protection from the first murder.
The episode then ended on another major cliffhanger, with Amol Rajan and James Acaster summoned to the chapel after being invited by the Traitors. The pair were faced with a huge twist, with one set to be recruited by the Traitors while the other would be murdered.
Who Are the Celebrity Traitors?
Grant and Jama were revealed as the two Traitors at the beginning of the series. The remaining celebrities entered the castle as Faithfuls: Amol Rajan – Journalist; Bella Ramsey – Actor; James Acaster – Comedian; James Blunt – Musician; Jerry Hall – Model and actor; Joanne McNally – Comedian; Joe Lycett – Comedian; Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor; King Kenny – Social media star; Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Musician; Michael Sheen – Actor; Miranda Hart – Actor and comedian; Myha'la – Actor; Professor Hannah Fry – Mathematician and author; Rob Beckett – Comedian; Romesh Ranganathan – Actor and comedian; Ross Kemp – Actor; Sebastian Croft – Actor and singer; Sharon Rooney – Actor.
The celebrity edition follows the same basic format as the original The Traitors, with the Faithfuls attempting to identify the Traitors while the Traitors secretly plot to eliminate their fellow contestants. However, series two has already put its own spin on the format by starting with two Traitors rather than three.
