The BBC has responded to complaints about the charities chosen by the winners of Celebrity Traitors, after Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft split £83,000 between refugee support organisations.
Last month, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, 48, and actor Sebastian Croft, 24, were crowned winners of the second series of the celebrity version of the show. Croft donated his £41,500 share to Choose Love, while Ranganathan gave his winnings to the Refugee Council.
BBC acknowledges viewer feedback
On its complaints page, the BBC said it had "received complaints about the charities chosen by the winners of The Celebrity Traitors". The corporation responded: "We recognise that some audience members were unhappy with the charities chosen by the winning celebrities. This feedback has been shared with the relevant parties."
Last week, Ranganathan and Croft hit back against complaints shared on social media following their win. On Croft's Sunday Scaries podcast, Ranganathan said: "Look, people have different opinions, but I feel like (refugees are) a distraction tactic, and people are being pointed in that direction for something to blame, is my personal opinion."
Winners defend their choices
Ranganathan said he decided to support the charity after becoming "so fed up with the rhetoric against refugees". He said he had received comments calling his choice of charity a "disgrace", but added: "The people kicking off about it has kind of galvanised the people that really think it's a lovely thing. I think that discussion, that back and forth, has actually been really positive."
Croft's winnings went to Choose Love, a global humanitarian organisation formerly known as Help Refugees, which supports refugees and displaced people through emergency aid and long-term support. The Heartstopper actor said: "It felt like such a nice moment at the time, but then to see the response, what it made me realise is that's people's response to a game show donating money to people who are really vulnerable. Imagine how difficult it is for those people navigating that system." Ranganathan added that it was pure "coincidence" they had both decided to support refugee organisations.
Charities respond to donations
Choose Love's acting chief executive Emma Stevenson said: "We are absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful to Bash (Croft) for choosing Choose Love as his designated charity following his incredible win on Celebrity Traitors. Bash has been a long-time friend and dedicated supporter of our work, and we could not be prouder of him."
Stevenson added: "This vital funding will quite literally change and save lives. It allows us to extend critical support to refugees and displaced people, especially LGBTQ+ individuals who face displacement, violence and persecution simply for who they are. We can't thank Bash enough, it means the world."
The Refugee Council supports people who have fled war, violence and persecution to find safety and rebuild their lives in Britain. Its chief executive Katie Ghose said: "We have loved every minute of watching Romesh and cheering him along from the sidelines. To see him win is the icing on the cake."
Ghose continued: "Romesh continues to be a brilliant champion for our cause. As we saw in the castle, he has a unique combination of huge public appeal, warmth and humanity, at the same time as being a gifted comedic legend." She said Romesh's support would help the council continue to provide vital frontline services to refugees and people in the asylum system who come to Britain in search of safety.
