BBC viewers have criticised the editing of Celebrity Traitors, with many saying the repeated cliffhangers are ruining the tension of the show.
The series, which features 21 celebrities in a Scottish castle, has become one of the most talked-about programmes on television. However, audiences have been left incensed by the way each episode ends.
Richard E Grant makes history as first Traitor banished
During the episode aired on October 8, Richard E Grant became the first Traitor to face banishment in an opening elimination of any series. The moment followed a cliffhanger from the previous week, when the show ended just as contestants were preparing to vote for the first departure.
Many fans had already suspected Grant was destined for elimination after he accidentally revealed to fellow contestants that Claudia Winkleman had selected him as a Traitor, before trying to take back his words.
Viewers say cliffhangers are now 'annoying'
Audiences were unhappy that the programme makers left them in suspense for days before the roundtable reveal. Several viewers said the number of cliffhangers simply prolongs proceedings and forces them to watch repeated scenes they consider pointless.
One viewer wrote on Reddit: "I get doing it in the first series as it made people want to come back, but by now the show is so successful that you don't need these hooks of suspense."
They added: "I personally think every episode should end with the murder cliffhanger or a big moment. I'm not a fan of the round table getting the cliffhanger treatment, especially when we now have to wait until NEXT THURSDAY. It's more annoying than exciting for me personally."
Another said: "I dont even hate the third episode having a cliffhanger for a key moment but the repeated cliffhangers for every decision is bizarre and kills tension. It's ruining it as every decision is gone over ten times."
A third added: "It just does the opposite of make me excited. I'm all on board and engaged as the episode is reaching the conclusion , then there is a cliffhanger and it just feels like.. uh.. i guess ill find out next week.."
They continued: "By the time the next week rolls around the reveal doesnt hit the same because I'm going in cold again, im not riding on the buildup of the episode anymore so it loses something."
Hannah Fry recruited as Traitor
After the roundtable cliffhanger was resolved, Hannah Fry was brought in to take Grant's place as a Traitor alongside Maya Jama and James Acaster.
However, audiences already believe her stint is destined for failure, as they view her as the most predictable choice for the Traitors to recruit. She is seen as one of their biggest threats, meaning fellow Faithfuls will be scrutinising her every move.
Viewers have also pointed out that contestants will become increasingly suspicious of Fry when she continues to survive eliminations, since the Traitors would want her removed if she were genuinely a Faithful. One viewer commented on X: "Recruiting Hannah was such an obvious mistake; she's never going to be able to explain her continued state of not having been murdered. Had they recruited anyone else she would still be under suspicion for, you guessed it, not being murdered. #CelebrityTraitors".
