The latest series of Celebrity Traitors has descended into turmoil after one of the celebrities disclosed their identity within five minutes of being appointed a Traitor.
During a dramatic opening episode, actor Richard E Grant committed what is being described as the programme's most significant gaffe when he openly confessed to being one of the chosen Traitors in front of astonished fellow contestants at the Scottish castle.
Grant's Immediate Confession
Grant is an avid enthusiast of the game and had been telling everyone how much he wished he would be selected as a Traitor. To his delight, host Claudia Winkleman discreetly appointed both Grant and Love Island star Maya Jama as the series Traitors during the initial round table gathering.
Subsequently, comedian Joe Lycett asked the Withnail And I star what he was, to which he responded immediately: "Traitor!"
A shocked Lycett was taken aback: "You're what?" But Grant doubled down: "Traitor, what's the point of being the game if you're not?"
Reactions from Cast and Producers
Silence engulfed the drawing room and Grant evidently recognised he may have made a mistake. Lycett responded: "I think you've just done something that's never happened in the game. It is a bold strategy."
Later in the confessional room, a mortified Grant appeared devastated, reports the Daily Star. He shared: "Well that may be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. I was so thrilled to have been chosen as a Traitor, that in my unguarded excitement, I said, Of course, I'm a Traitor. I clearly need to diffuse all the heat that's coming in my direction. Oh, brother!"
Production staff working on the BBC programme were equally stunned by Grant's confession, with series producer Sarah Fay experiencing quite a visceral response to the moment.
"A little bit of a little bit of sick came up in my mouth," she said. "We never had anything like that happen before. I mean, within five minutes of being out of the round table, he'd already mucked up. I I still can't believe it now - Richard E Grant, how iconic!"
Claudia Winkleman was equally amazed by what had unfolded: "I think he was genuinely so happy. He got picked for a Traitor, and he just wanted to tell everyone. I don't think it was nerves.
"He was giddy, and about five minutes later, he went... 'Oh, dear'. The genius of the game is everybody plays as it completely differently, and he took that to the next level."
Ed Gamble, presenter of spin off show Uncloaked, concurred: "He was just vibrating with excitement and the terror as well. It felt like he'd just been given the lead role in the film and he just had to tell everyone."
Fallout and Elimination Twist
Several celebrities struggled to accept that the 69-year-old actor could be quite so foolish. Modelling legend Jerry Hall remarked: "I just don't believe Richard's a Traitor. I've known him 30 years, and he's my neighbour. He says and does eccentric things. He's amazing guy. But I think he's acting out because he's not been chosen."
The programme opened in sombre style with all 21 famous faces gathering at a wake inside a church. A coffin was subsequently brought in and slowly opened to unveil presenter Claudia Winkleman. Two participants received shields - Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh and Joe Lycett - safeguarding them from elimination.
However, the episode was overshadowed by Grant's blunder, with speculation about his confession continuing throughout a dramatic waterside challenge where contestants retrieved cash concealed in underwater boxes surrounding a pirate vessel that ultimately detonated.
This series features a twist for the initial elimination, as the Traitors were directed to select not one but two individuals for potential removal, while the other would be enlisted as a third Traitor.
They selected the two famous faces who had been especially persistent in their interrogation of Richard E Grant - comedian James Acaster and University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan, who were returned to the church and forced to argue for their continuation.
"Richard were you double, triple bluffing or what," responded a stunned Rajan. Both promised to help "get the heat off" Grant in a nail biting cliffhanger. Who will be chosen and can Grant pull off a miracle by surviving into week two?
The Celebrity Traitors continues tomorrow night at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
