Celebrity Traitors star James Acaster has been issued a warning by a legend from the first season of the show. When Claudia Winkleman’s murder mystery gameshow launched back in 2022, Wilfred Webster proved to be the ultimate Traitor, deceiving his way to the final before being banished by the Faithful.
Comedian James is now hoping to make it as far, after joining Maya Jama as a Traitor and recruiting Professor Hannah Fry to replace Richard E Grant. James has so far managed to deceive the other Faithful, throwing himself into playing a detective by day, before becoming a treacherous murderer at night.
Wilf Webster’s warning over Michael Sheen tactic
However, Wilf has now warned James against one of his moves, after the comedian and podcast host began throwing names around the roundtable to spark suspicions. As part of his strategy, James wanted to turn heads in the way of Welsh actor Michael Sheen, trying to gather support to banish him around the roundtable.
However, Wilf has offered three tips for the Traitors, including not starting suspicions themselves. Speaking to Mecca Bingo, he admitted that James was playing a clever game, sharing: “If you’re a Traitor, playing the game as a Faithful during the day and not a Traitor until you put that cloak on is the best way to play it. I did exactly the same, I just got on with my day and had a laugh. The best way for me to put it is that it's like method acting.”
He added: “I remember genuinely looking for Traitors as a Faithful, but obviously I was a Traitor, but you'd look for little signs that people were doing stuff, so when people would come and ask you a question about that person, you can be like, ‘What do you think of them? They're being a bit suspicious’, and you'll be like, ’Yeah, I've seen them do this which is a bit weird’. You still play the game as a Faithful, knowing that you're a Traitor. It's a really weird headspace to get into.”
Three tips for the Traitors
He went on to share tips for James, Maya and Professor Hannah, beginning with: “Don’t start the suspicion yourself”. Wilf said: “There's a saying between Traitors that’s been said over the last two or three years, I don't know who came up with it, but it's, ‘Don't be someone to plant the seeds, but be someone to water them’, so it's in terms of if you're the person giving out names all the time, it can end up coming back to you.”
He also urged the Traitors to avoid doing what James has done by bringing up Michael’s name, adding: “Let someone else introduce the name but if you're there and somebody mentions a name, then you can get involved in the conversation because if it ever comes back to someone, it will go back to that person and not you.”
Wilf went on to urge the Traitors not to make members of their own team nervous, saying: “If you make your fellow traitors worried about your behaviour, it can mean that they could backstab you if they get the chance. When it’s so early in the game, it’s better to stay in a much more relaxed lane, let other people have their say and sort of just blend in as much as you can.”
James Acaster’s hopes for the series
Ahead of the series airing, James had shared his excitement in taking part, telling the BBC: “I just love it. I'm a huge fan and have been since series one. I instantly got addicted to it when I started watching.
“I think I started watching it halfway through the first series, so I was catching up on iPlayer. I did all of it in one night and then got really frustrated that I had to wait for all the other episodes. And then I really loved the first Celebrity series and instantly became jealous that I wasn't doing it. I had to get in here!”
He went on to say that he wanted to be a Faithful, explaining: “I’d like to be a Faithful. This is the only time I’ll be able to play it, and I like being in a position of figuring something out rather than having the information the Traitors have.”
When asked if he could win, James added: “I have genuinely no idea at all. Because every time I watch any of the series there seems to be no rhyme or reason.
“People can be really quiet, and they make it to the end. People are huge characters, and they make it to the end. You can be quiet and go under the radar; you can be a big character and end up putting yourself in the firing line.
“Anyone could get to the end. You can avoid murder or banishment by simply not being respected enough to be seen as a threat. And I think I could very easily be seen as not a threat. Yeah, I could be there to the end. It’s anyone’s game really.”
The Celebrity Traitors airs from 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
