The Celebrity Traitors has made its highly anticipated return to the BBC, and the 21 celebrities were in a mix of excitement and nervous dread. The episode kicked off with the stars making their dramatic entrances into the chapel, as the group made their swift journeys to their pews.
Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh got some early laughter from viewers as the Hayley Cropper star was starstruck and made the hilarious decision to get up and shake hands with the celebrities she admired, including actors Richard E. Grant and Myha'la from Industry. Although this initially seemed like the move that could have twisted her fate, she was quickly voted trustworthy, saving herself and comedian Joe Lycett from elimination.
Richard's Chaotic Confession
After some brief relief and chit-chat, the players found themselves reeling from the reality of the game as they sat blindfolded at the round table, anxiously waiting for Claudia Winkleman to touch their shoulders. Claudia then confirmed actor Richard and presenter Maya Jama as the new series' Traitors.
As well as being an obvious choice for the Oscar-nominated actor, Richard chaotically threw a spanner in the works by confessing to being a Traitor, something that will ultimately be his downfall. Although he tried to play it off as a joke, his acting failed to convince everyone, and he became the topic of every conversation huddle.
First Challenge Victory
After the cards were dealt, the group ventured down to the lock as they put their team-building skills to the test. They were tasked with finding £10,000 hidden away in various boxes amongst the wreckage of a pirate ship. Jerry Hall and James Blunt proved to be early leaders of the group, directing the others on how to divide and conquer and successfully storming to victory. In one spectacular first challenge, the group raced back to land with their £10,000 winnings before the ship exploded before their very eyes.
As they made their way back to the castle, Ross Kemp's paranoia was on full display, calling out Bella Ramsey for 'killing him in plain sight' before later accusing Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock. It was quite the relief for Richard to see the attention taken off him for a moment as the Faithfuls started to form into cliques in the library and the kitchen.
A Costly Recruitment Mistake
After the Faithfuls retired to their rooms, Richard and Maya reconnected in the turret, where they were dealt a fresh twist. The duo were then tasked with nominating a Traitor each, forcing them to plead for their place as a deceiver while the other is killed from the show.
Ultimately, they decided to bring presenter Amol Rajan and comedian James Acaster on the basis that they both didn't believe Richard was lying and wanted them onside to sway the other Faithfuls, a big mistake. In their appeal, they both vowed to get the heat off of Richard. While this must have been a delight for the Traitors to hear, what they failed to realise was that the killing of either of these vocal players would direct suspicion straight back onto Richard.
While the episode ended on a major cliffhanger and didn't reveal whether Amol or James would be killed, Richard's future on the show is sealed. Instead, the Traitors should have picked someone who completely flew under the radar, like actor Bella Ramsey. They weren't very vocal in group settings, instead opting to be very observant. Bella had also triggered a hilariously ironic paranoid streak in Ross Kemp. They would have been the perfect person to be the castle's first victim.
Fans will have to stay tuned to see who will bid farewell to the Scottish Highlands once and for all.
