Richard E Grant found himself under increasing suspicion on Celebrity Traitors as the Faithfuls turned their attention towards him during a tense Round Table.
The actor's behaviour in the first episode came back to haunt him as the celebrities began questioning whether his bizarre strategy was evidence that he was hiding something.
Underground mission and vulnerable pair
Earlier in the episode, Ross Kemp was chosen by the Traitors to take part in the mission from above ground, meaning he would be shielded from the night's murder. Ross was selected because the Traitors believed the way he behaved during the mission would “draw suspicion on” him. His partner Romesh Ranganathan was also protected from murder as his partner in the mission.
The mission saw the celebrities buried underground in individual coffins, with grave diggers working for the show tasked with burying them. They had 15 minutes to remain inside their coffins, but any celebrity who shouted “haggis” was released and put at risk of murder.
Jerry Hall was the first to shout “haggis”, meaning her partner Hannah Fry also had to end the mission. The pair were therefore left vulnerable to murder and could be the next celebrities to leave the castle.
Rescue and treasure
Ross and Romesh were the first to dig the celebrities out and had to decide whether to free everyone or leave some behind in order to collect more treasure. James Blunt joked that the experience felt like “home”, revealing that during his time in the army he had spent “a couple of weeks” lying in a coffin.
The celebrities ultimately prioritised freeing their fellow contestants, managing to get everyone out with three minutes still remaining on the clock. They then worked together to collect the remaining treasure, securing £5,000 for the prize fund. Jerry and Hannah were the only two celebrities left vulnerable to murder following the challenge.
Round Table tensions
But it was back at the castle where the real drama began. Richard found himself at the centre of several conversations, with Sebastian Croft calling on him to defend himself. Richard replied: “I hope one day I get the chance.” He then recalled the moment Claudia Winkleman walked around the room during the previous episode without tapping him on the shoulder, saying he was thinking: “Please, please, please.” His unusual reaction once again put the spotlight on him.
Miranda Hart also questioned whether Richard had been “auditioning” for the role of Traitor, while Joanne McNally joked about who would want to recruit him, saying the situation was “a shambles”. Leigh-Anne Pinnock was also brought into the discussion after Joanne pointed to the night Claudia announced the Traitors, claiming she had noticed Leigh-Anne touching up her make-up.
James Blunt argued that the “simplest theory is most correct” before turning his attention towards professor Hannah Fry. Hannah, meanwhile, suggested the first murder could reveal something about the Traitors' strategy. She argued that the first person killed was ultimately the biggest threat and suggested the Traitors could therefore be the contestants who were “not strategic” and were choosing the most obvious options.
As the Round Table continued, more and more eyes appeared to turn towards Richard. The pressure eventually reached a peak, with the Faithfuls telling him: “You've forced our hands.” The episode then ended on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers waiting to discover who had been banished from the castle.
The next episode of Celebrity Traitors (Episode 3) will air on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
