BBC viewers have flagged a significant problem with the celebrity version of The Traitors ahead of its series finale. Twenty-one famous faces descended upon the Scottish castle earlier this month, delivering some of the most unforgettable moments in the gameshow's history.
Historic Traitor Revelations
Acclaimed actor Richard E. Grant was the first to leave audiences gobsmacked when he revealed to a room packed with Faithfuls that he was in fact a Traitor, shortly after being chosen. The 69-year-old later explained that the blunder was down to the sheer thrill of being named a Traitor.
He was subsequently banished following a near-unanimous roundtable vote, making history as the very first Traitor to be eliminated from the show in the first banishment vote. This series delivered another explosive first last night (October 29), as James Acaster revealed himself as a Traitor during the semi-final roundtable, reports Wales Online.
James Acaster's Confession
James, 41, had been cornered by actor Michael Sheen, who accurately deduced that either Maya Jama or James were Traitors. In a jaw-dropping act of self-sacrifice, James confessed: "I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be. I've had a unique experience on this that no one has had before."
Fans are divided over whether the confession rescued Maya and fellow Traitor King Kenny or sealed their fate. But many viewers have complained that James and Richard's respective admissions suggest this year's celebrity contestants failed to take the gameshow seriously enough, particularly when compared to participants in the civilian version.
Viewer Criticism and Defence
One Reddit user fumed: "It's the first time I've really felt the contestants are very perceptive of how they're seen on the outside world so they're containing their strategies. That's the major fall with the Celeb version as they don't need the money enough to do tactics such as throwing another Traitor under the bus or really going after someone in the roundtable."
"Also, it seems the players this year just haven't been taking the game seriously enough compared to previous years," the same commenter admitted, while noting the series boasted "a strong cast".
Someone else argued that the celebrity contestants had little to lose, writing: "It reminds me of playing poker without a buy in, everyone goes all in on c**p hands because nothing is at stake. Normal traitors is so great as people are more willing to lie through their teeth if £100k is at stake."
Meanwhile, another viewer said: "Stakes are lower for winning but higher for turning into a villain. The last thing any of these people want is to be seen as a bad guy. If there is a 100k for your family and you are a normal person then yeah you will be a bit meaner to get it in the context of this game."
And a disappointed viewer added: "It's been a very poor series all round to be honest." Unlike the civilian version where participants compete for a substantial cash prize, the Celebrity Traitors contestants take part in the game hoping to secure £100,000 for a charity of their choosing.
Other viewers have been swift to defend this season's line-up, suggesting that two significant blunders shouldn't eclipse the remainder of the programme. "I find the idea the contestants aren't taking it seriously baffling, Ross Kemp, James blunt, Sharon , James A are all taking it if anything too seriously, aren't they?," posted one.
Someone else agreed: "Indeed, I think the celebs have been really into the game this series. People laugh at James Blunt and Michael Sheen for their incorrect theories, but I think every single one of them has held weight."
The Celebrity Traitors series finale airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
