Fans of Celebrity Traitors have expressed sympathy for Hannah Fry and James Acaster after both were recruited as Traitors, with viewers believing they could have been brilliant at playing the game as Faithfuls.
During last night's episode (October 8), mathematician Hannah Fry agreed to join the Traitors following Richard E. Grant's banishment. Her decision was made as she believed she would have been 'murdered' by the Traitors as she was a major threat in their game.
The decision came after comedian James Acaster was also recruited, following a tense choice between him and Amol Rajan. With Richard gone, the Traitors are now Hannah, James and Maya Jama.
Breakfast Questions and Banishment
Hannah's arrival at breakfast alongside Jerry Hall raised questions among the celebrities, who had expected one of them to have been murdered overnight. Miranda Hart even speculated that Hannah had been given an ultimatum after noticing a change in her demeanour.
Meanwhile, Michael Sheen voiced suspicions about Myha'la following her strong defence of Richard before his banishment - eventually leading to her banishment.
Viewers Sympathise with Reluctant Recruits
While the recruitment twists have added another layer of tension to the game, some viewers have been left feeling sorry for Hannah and James, arguing that both could have been fascinating Faithfuls.
Taking to Reddit, one viewer expressed sympathy for the pair, explaining that they had made it clear from the beginning that they wanted to experience the game as Faithfuls.
"They both made it so clear from day one that they wanted to play as Faithfuls, only to get recruited," they wrote. The fan was particularly concerned for James, who they felt had been left with little choice after being given an ultimatum.
They added: "Poor guy didn't even get a choice! Being handed an ultimatum where it's literally 'join us or get murdered tonight' is so brutal. He was so excited about using his detective skills and playing the game."
Fans Share Their Own Traitor Picks
The viewer went on to explain that James had been excited about putting his detective skills to the test, suggesting he could have been an asset to the Faithfuls. They also praised Hannah's abilities, arguing that her skills could have made her a valuable player on the other side of the game.
"Hannah has so many skills that make her a great faithful, only to end up recruited, what a waste," the post continued.
The fan admitted that seeing contestants who genuinely want to play as Faithfuls being forced into the role of Traitor often makes them root for them. Ending the post, they asked whether other viewers disliked seeing reluctant recruits or believed the twist made the game more interesting.
The post prompted fellow fans to share their own thoughts on the chosen Traitors, with some suggesting other celebrities could have made more entertaining Traitors.
One Reddit user replied: "I totally agree I was a bit disappointed with the initial picks, I think Julie would have fun albeit a bit chaotic, Miranda would have been brilliant, and I think Romesh would have been ruthless."
Another viewer admitted they were "gutted" that James and Hannah had become Traitors, believing both could have been interesting to watch as Faithfuls.
They wrote: "Hannah is so smart and carries herself so well, although probably won't last long regardless of which role she's in as she will always be seen as a threat."
They believed James would have been better as a Faithful, adding: "It's very interesting to see James as himself rather than the exaggerated character, and I think he is clearly a massive fan of the game. I reckon he would have been an amazing traitor hunter."
Meanwhile another viewer acknowledged that recruitment was simply part of the game but questioned whether the original selection of Traitors could have been stronger.
They stated: "While I think it's just part and parcel of the game I do think the producers went with the wrong set of traitors to begin with. My picks would have been: Bella, Miranda, and one of the comedians, possibly Romesh."
