Richard E. Grant has spoken about the mistake that led to his elimination from The Celebrity Traitors. The actor was voted out during the first roundtable, becoming the first traitor to be eliminated at that stage of the BBC series.
During Thursday night's episode, viewers said goodbye to Grant. The programme also saw Industry actress Myha'la sent home, while mathematician Hannah Fry was recruited as Grant's traitor replacement.
How the mistake happened
Serving as a traitor alongside Maya Jama and comedian James Acaster, Grant gave away his identity moments after learning his role. When asked by Joe Lycett whether he was a faithful or a traitor, he revealed the truth in what he later admitted was a huge mistake, as he got caught up in the excitement.
Revealing his identity, Grant said: “Thank you for having me and giving almost a full house of votes. I have always wanted to be a traitor as you know. Sometimes in life your dreams do come true and sometimes they don’t. I am an unfaithful traitor.”
In a talking head, he added: “I have been annihilated. I have managed to checkmate myself, which as far as I'm aware has never been done. My daughter is going to be like ‘oh dad’. Oh, but I’ve just had a blast.”
Grant's reaction after the episode
Immediately after the episode, Grant joined Ed Gamble on The Celebrity Traitors Uncloaked to discuss his short stint in the Scottish Highlands. Asked about his viral moment, he said ‘there was no defence whatsoever’.
“When I walked into the bar I was in such a state of genuine shock that I had no memory it was Joe who asked me that question. When he asked me I thought it was an I’m Sparticus moment where someone says ‘are you a traitor’ and you say ‘of course I am’,” he said.
Grant added: “There was no tactic, it was my 69th birthday present. When Claudia tapped me on the shoulder I went ‘yes’. It was the best birthday present until everyone writes your name down.
“The roundtable bit, by the time Claudia has walked around four times you think there’s no chance. I was really feeling like ‘what have I done, I have to be a faithful’.
“When she tapped me on the shoulder, I tried not to show any emotion whatsoever… Miranda Hart, Miss Marple, was right next to me and said she could feel vibrations of joy. I had no idea.”
Recruitment decision and regrets
Grant said he felt sorry for putting Maya in the position of having to defend him, and was not happy with the decision to recruit James over journalist Amol Rajan.
“When we chose James, he said he would stand by me. It never crossed my mind in this moment of sheer panic that he would be the last person to say anything of support to me whatsoever. Of course, he didn’t.
“I thought that Maya would definitely stab me because I put her in an absolutely untenable position. I was so convinced by James’ determination not to kill me off when he gave his big plea in the church. I naively thought maybe James could come through for me because he’s so trustworthy,” Grant said.
Asked if he would have done things differently as a faithful, he replied: “I think it would have been much easier because you’re not trying to second guess everything all the time. There’s that thing where you know you’re a faithful.. Surely that’s going to get you through it.”
