The stars of The Celebrity Traitors have been congratulating themselves for catching Richard E Grant — old Withnail and I Am A Traitor himself — in another brilliant hour of TV scheming. Actor Richard dedicated himself to a life of murder then admitted it under the lightest of questioning from Joe Lycett. If only all villains were as honest, police interrogations would be a breeze.
However, even with Richard caught, there are a large group of stars who shouldn't be feeling even slightly smug as this week's incredible Victorian-parlour-game-turned-primetime-telly concluded. Let's take a look at the suspects:
Joanne McNally's Bonnet Bet Backfires
Irish stand-up Joanne announced that she would "eat my own bonnet" if Richard E Grant turned out to be a Traitor. Well, bonnet appetit.
Julie Hesmondhalgh's Invincible Theory Collapses
The actress announced: "I'm seeing myself as some sort of invincible Traitor hunter," before launching into the wildly mistaken theory that winking Myha'la was a Traitor. Guess again, Fail-ley Crooper. The former Corrie star is one of this year's Agatha Christies, alongside Miranda Hart. But with Myha'la now confirmed as a Faithful, the heat is likely to swing back to Julie... unless she can come up with another theory of course.
Hannah Fry and James Blunt Under Pressure
Unlike Richard she's a professor, not a confessor, meaning she's unlikely to blurt out that she's a Traitor but is she ever going to get a good night's sleep in there now? The guns are going to be trained on her and, smart and lovely as she is, being a liar isn't her strong point. Usually a compliment, but not in this game. Plus Myha'la appeared to mention Prof Hannah in her departure speech when she said the Traitors are "a lot smarter than you think". Again usually a compliment but not.. you get the picture.
And not just for that weird moment where we saw him robotically having a shower while wielding a wooden-handed scrubber. James Blunt was convinced Hannah was a Traitor when she wasn't, and the moment he was recruited, never mentions her again. One fan wrote: "I thought James Blunt used to be in military intelligence? Been wrong on both round table decisions."
James Acaster's Reluctant Traitor Role
Comedian James Acaster was determined to be a Faithful but got pressed into the role of Traitor against his will. We already know filming had to be halted after he became "very anxious and panicked" on set. Which let's be honest says Traitor more than anything (except perhaps Richard E Grant literally saying 'Traitor' when asked what he was). However, he is proving entertaining, not least for announcing James Blunt should be murdered because they share the same name and that's annoying. Extremely on brand.
