Celebrity Traitors is halfway through its second series, but the excitement that surrounded last year's debut has been harder to recapture. Since its October 1 launch, the new run has struggled to generate the same enthusiastic response.
On paper, the cast has plenty to offer. Richard E. Grant, Maya Jama, James Acaster, Professor Hannah Fry and Ross Kemp are among the famous faces taking part, bringing together talent from acting, comedy, music and broadcasting. But so far, that impressive roster hasn't translated into the buzz of the inaugural series.
Viewers cite Traitor choices as key issue
While certain television critics have labelled this series of Celebrity Traitors as "unmissable telly", some BBC audiences feel this season lacks the "addictive" quality of its predecessor.
A recurring criticism centres on the fact that because multiple unwilling Traitors were conscripted following Grant's premature departure, Maya Jama has been forced to shoulder much of the strategic burden. Others observe that several high-profile comedy personalities appear reluctant to adopt an aggressive approach for fear of public criticism.
James Acaster's reluctance and Richard E. Grant's reveal
The show didn't get off to a great start after Richard E. Grant revealed he was a Traitor. Following his departure, Maya and James set their sights on Hannah, who was arguably the most obvious target - particularly given that only she or Jerry Hall could have been murdered that evening - meaning all attention fell squarely on them.
James Acaster appears so unwilling to embrace being a Traitor that it's effectively draining the enjoyment for both himself and viewers. Having watched last night's (October 15) episode, I genuinely felt sympathy for him, as he appeared exhausted, with reports emerging that filming even had to be halted during the series due to his mounting anxiety.
Casting and familiarity concerns
The casting team have evidently attempted to recreate Alan Carr's brilliance from the debut series by recruiting six comedians. Yet the fundamental issue is that the comedian who found himself in the turret - James Acaster - isn't delivering the entertainment factor.
Beyond the issue surrounding the identity of the Traitors, the cast's familiarity with one another may well be working against the show, leaving contestants too comfortable to truly throw themselves into the drama. Take Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, for instance - audiences already see plenty of the duo together, making their joint appearance feel somewhat unnecessary.
As it stands, this series feels rather heavy and joyless. There are no standout comic moments to rival Alan's legendary one-liners, nor any light-hearted scenes comparable to Celia Imrie's infamous fart, leaving the whole thing feeling decidedly underwhelming.
Should the programme return for a third series, producers would be wise to take a far shrewder approach to casting - particularly when selecting the Traitors themselves - otherwise viewers will simply switch off. And despite being a devoted fan, I'd reluctantly count myself among them.
