Richard E Grant's fate on The Celebrity Traitors will finally be revealed during Thursday's episode, following a tense cliffhanger that left viewers waiting to learn whether the actor was banished from the castle.
Friday's broadcast ended without revealing who had been eliminated, after a strained roundtable session where Grant faced scrutiny for accidentally admitting he was a traitor. Grant operates as a traitor alongside TV presenter Maya Jama and comedian James Acaster.
Accidental admission sparks suspicion
During the first episode, which premiered on Thursday, Grant announced to his fellow contestants that he was a traitor only minutes into the game. This led many faithfuls, including journalist Amol Rajan, to grow suspicious and question whether he was bluffing or had actually revealed his identity.
Rajan described it as a “moment of utter madness” and said if he could do it all over again he would “definitely” do it differently, including giving the “lord of chaos” Grant less of a hard time.
Cast divided over Grant's fate
Former Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh explained her voting intentions directly to Grant, saying: “I've come in here tonight with the intention of voting for you, Richard. You came into the bar and you said, I am a traitor. It was a bold move. It was chaotic and we love you for your chaos. I think we are at risk of being the most idiotic group of faithfuls if we go for someone else tonight based on nothing at all.”
Comedian Joanne McNally defended the actor, saying: “It was such an obvious joke. I think the people vying for Richard are using him as a fall guy and a decoy.” The actor also faced scepticism from actress Miranda Hart and mathematician Hannah Fry, who both noted a change in his demeanour after host Claudia Winkleman selected the traitors.
Murders and next victim
On the same episode, Rajan was murdered by traitors Jama and Grant, while Acaster was recruited as the third traitor. Speaking on The One Show about leaving the Scottish castle, Rajan said: “It's absolutely horrible. It was horrible at the time. Just so people know when you are on The Traitors, it is your world. It's not like a game, you are hundreds of miles from your family, you don't have your phone, it's so intense, it's a little bubble. So as you walk into that chapel you are absolutely terrified.”
As for who will be murdered next, either Fry or former model Jerry Hall will become the traitors' next victim after failing to get a “shield” during the challenge. The Celebrity Traitors airs on Thursday at 8pm on BBC One.
