James Acaster has changed the course of the Celebrity Traitors final after admitting to being a Traitor during the penultimate episode, leaving the remaining Faithfuls with a clear line of suspicion that implicates Maya Jama.
The comedian, who was unwillingly recruited by Maya Jama and Richard E. Grant at the start of the series, confessed at Thursday night's (October 29) roundtable after being put in the hot seat by Michael Sheen. James, who had played the game as a self-described Faithful while reluctantly choosing who to murder in the turret each evening, told the stunned group: "I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be."
Roundtable admission shocks the stars
The entire roundtable erupted in shock as James continued: "I've had a unique experience on this, that no-one's had before, where I wanted to be a Faithful, that's all I wanted to be. I couldn't just go, 'Guys, it's me, vote for me.' But that's... that's all I can do, really."
He added: "I've been thinking about it long and hard. I was not playing the game that I wanted to. I wanted to be a Faithful so much that, at the beginning, I made sure I pointed out the perfume bottles to everyone, so no-one forgot them. I am so proud of you guys for catching me the way that you did, and I wanted it to be that I was found logically, and in the way that was that you followed clues and got me."
However, the Faithful did not catch James; he served himself up voluntarily. His roundtable admission was not his first mistake, as he notably refused to help his fellow Traitors, Maya and King Kenny, during a recent money-building challenge.
Implications for the final
The confession has implications for Friday's (October 30) final. The Faithful now know James was not an original Traitor, as Claudia Winkleman would never have picked a hardcore Faithful. This leads them to consider who could have recruited him, implicating Maya, who has sailed through the game until recently.
The admission also raises questions about the future of the game, as future Traitors might follow in James's footsteps when under pressure. Despite reports of a panic attack, James's struggle to continue past the roundtable is understandable, but it is clear that Maya and Kenny will now be in the frame. They both deserve to take home the win, as it is the Celebrity Traitors after all.
The Celebrity Traitors is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
