Richard E Grant has opened up about his disastrous confession on BBC's Celebrity Traitors, calling it a "completely catastrophically idiotic" decision, while also revealing the emotional reason behind a charity sculpture event in London.
The 69-year-old Oscar-nominated actor, known for Withnail and I and Can You Ever Forgive Me?, was banished from the castle in the new series in front of ten million viewers after brazenly revealing his traitor identity.
Charity Bust in Covent Garden
At St Paul's Church in Covent Garden, nicknamed the Actor's Church, renowned sculptress Frances Segelman created a life-size bust of Grant in under two hours before a live audience on Sunday night. The actor remained stony-faced throughout the sitting at the artist's request.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to Longfield Hospice in Gloucestershire, which supported his wife Joan Washington during her final days before she died of lung cancer in 2021. Grant explained that during the last ten days of her life, palliative carers visited three times a day.
Grief and Family Life
Richard and Joan were together for 38 years, 35 of them as husband and wife. He has been open about his grief, saying Joan's final challenge for him and their daughter Olivia was to find "pockets of happiness" in everyday life.
Despite a career spanning half a century with over 170 feature films, short films, and TV series, Grant said being a husband and father is his best role. He now lives in a Georgian house in Petersham, south west London, with Olivia, his son-in-law Florian, and his new grandchild, seeing the child every day.
Traitors Regret and Public Transport
Grant admitted the Traitors decision was idiotic but has no particular regrets. "Nobody has any evidence [who the traitor might be] in the first episode, so people clutch onto absolutely anything!" he said.
The actor, who travels by Tube and bus, said he uses public transport all the time, noting that most people are "in their own phone bubble." He also dismissed any idea of a Withnail and I sequel, saying the man the film is based on, Vivian MacKerrell, is dead.
Grant is currently starring in the Noel Coward play Hay Fever at Wyndham's Theatre and will appear in several new movies later this year. He expressed enthusiasm for playing a Bond villain, saying he is a "Bond fanatic." In January, he will start work on a new film but is contractually unable to reveal details.
