Claudia Winkleman has responded to a significant error committed by one of her Celebrity Traitors. The former Strictly Come Dancing host has returned to guide 21 celebrities through the ultimate test of betrayal and loyalty.
After Alan Carr's moving victory last year, names including Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, and Joanne McNally are competing to secure funds for their respective charities. The full roster also features Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha'la, Professor Hannah Fry, Richard E. Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft, and Sharon Rooney.
Richard E Grant's instant admission
During Thursday's gripping first episode, audiences met the fresh cast, while Claudia revealed her Traitors as Love Island host Maya Jama and actor Richard E. Grant. Prior to the series launching, Maya had voiced her ambition to reveal an alternative persona, stating: "I'd love to play someone who's the complete opposite of me, a proper villain or someone really evil."
By contrast, Richard made his eagerness to become a Traitor abundantly clear - although within moments, he committed an enormous mistake that has now placed a substantial target on his back. When questioned by his fellow competitors about whether he was a Traitor or a Faithful, he instantly revealed his true role before recognising his error and attempting to backtrack. However, the other celebrities were swift to notice his blunder, and doubts have started to emerge.
Claudia's reaction to the blunder
After the memorable admission - nearly as unforgettable as Alan Carr's inability to say he was a Faithful without dissolving into laughter - Claudia remarked about Richard's response to being selected as a Traitor: "He was just so happy, he couldn't believe it."
She continued: "You couldn't not give it to him, you couldn't not because he wanted it so much and he's so compelling. And he's Richard E Grant, I couldn't believe that he was actually in the castle. He was giddy. And five minutes after he said it, he went, 'Ohhhh'. The genius of the game is everybody plays it completely differently and he took that to the next level."
Producer and host comments
Ed Gamble, who hosts spin-off series Uncloaked, commented: "It was absolutely incredible. He was vibrating with excitement in the turret. It felt like he'd been given a lead role in a film, and he just had to tell everyone. It was such an insane moment." He continued: "What an amazing moment, such an insane way to start a brilliant series!"
Executive producer Sarah Fay also revealed at a Q&A: "Within five minutes of being out of the round-table, he'd already mucked up. I still can't believe it now! Richard E Grant, how iconic! As producers, you always want to make sure the series feels fresh and new, and we're very lucky so far. We've just come back from filming our seventh series, we've just finished civilian, and every single series, the cast brings something completely different. But never in our wildest dreams did we think that we'd have a Traitor admit they were a Traitor within five minutes after the roundtable."
She added: "We needed to make sure that we were all on our guard, in terms of the cameras, like how is he going to try and get himself out of this one? We've never, from the moment of being picked, seen a Traitor have to try and backpedal like that."
Richard's competitive nature
Prior to the new series launching, Claudia revealed her response to the celebrity line-up. She remarked, "I couldn't get over it. My bosses had to repeat the names at least three times. We're so lucky they said yes. Everyone taking part is fantastic. We are honoured they wanted to play the game."
Richard also discussed how his acting background could prove disadvantageous in the competition. When questioned about his competitive nature, he commented, "You have to be if you're an actor. You can't survive the profession without being so. It's too brutal." Discussing his performance abilities, he continued, "I think it'll make people more suspicious because they assume that you're a natural-born liar. Oh, you're an actor, so I can't believe anything that you say!" He concluded: "I've played so many villains that I assume people will think that I'm a bad egg."
The Celebrity Traitors continues on Friday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer, with episodes airing weekly on Thursdays and Fridays.
