Celebrity Traitors viewers were left frustrated after Thursday's explosive episode, with many demanding "justice" for comedian Rob Beckett after the Traitors chose him for murder. The BBC show picked up from the previous week's cliffhanger, with four stars waiting to discover whether a knock at the door would seal their fate.
Rob and Romesh split leaves fans gutted
Ross Kemp, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock had been told to hide in the castle. Whoever received the knock would come face-to-face with the Traitors before being murdered. Rob was their choice, bringing his time on the show to an immediate end.
Taking to social media, one viewer wrote: "Gutted for Rob, he needed more airtime." Another said: "We demand justice for @robbeckettcomic", while a third posted: "Nooooooooooooooo."
On X, fans were particularly upset at losing the Rob and Romesh pairing. One wrote: "I am so sad they've split Rob and Romesh." Another added: "Gutted Rob was murdered with such little screen time and we never got to see Rob and Romesh suspecting each other."
Viewers question the Traitors' strategy
One viewer complained: "Murdering Rob seems like such a pointless decision. I would've chosen literally anyone else". Another vented: "I'm so annoyed that the Traitors murdered Rob Beckett. Why would you split up the Rob and Romesh double act? I get that it's a game, but surely there should be an element of leaving people in because they're fun with other people?"
The episode also saw Traitor Hannah Fry banished, prompting one fan to write: "Hannah and Rob in one ep, I can't take this." Another said, "I'm actually fuming that Rob has gone! I'm so angry."
Rob reflects on his exit
Rob, however, found a silver lining in heading home to his children. Speaking to the BBC about his exit, he said: "I'm a bit sad because I would have liked to have gone further, but a killing in plain sight, I've managed to get a Traitor, I've got a couple of Faithfuls wrong at the banishments, I've done some Missions, done the breakfast - I feel like I've done almost all of it.
"I was really missing the kids, so I'm happy to go - the kids wanted me to do it, and I've done five episodes and been murdered. So that's enough, let daddy have a day off!"
Asked to sum up his experience in three words, Rob said: "Don't trust anyone". He also named his preferred winner: "I want Jerry Hall to win. Jerry Hall's my pick, a rank outsider, but she's my pick."
Despite their disappointment at his exit, viewers praised Rob's "iconic" explanation for not leaving Leigh-Anne to hide in a crypt during the game. He said, "I cannot, in good faith, allow a member of Little Mix and now an unbelievable solo artist in Leigh-Anne Pinnock, go into a crypt in the middle of the night!
"First of all, I'm a gentleman. I can't do that. Secondly, I don't want to hate the Mixers. I don't need Little Mixers on my case because I left Leigh-Anne out in the cold."
Meanwhile, Hannah's banishment at a tense Roundtable was followed by suspicion falling on Joanne McNally after she hinted she had been present at Rob's murder. Joanne is a Faithful, but viewers believe the slip-up could leave her facing tough questions from her fellow contestants in the next episode. Celebrity Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One.
