Richard E Grant is facing accusations from show insiders that he deliberately revealed himself as a traitor on Celebrity Traitors to secure an early exit from Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. The 69-year-old actor stunned audiences earlier this month when he announced his traitor status during a conversation with Joe Lycett, leading to his banishment at the first roundtable.
Claims of a Staged Moment
While the BBC has insisted the slip was an innocent mistake, sources have told The Sun that backstage suspicions are growing that Grant "staged" the moment. "Watching how it played out on the set, we're all convinced he staged it. He was there for a good time, not a long time and what a way to go," a source said. "Obviously he kept talking about his love of the show and had a brilliant time but Richard E Grant is not a stupid man."
Grant had arrived at the castle after five weeks of filming, having travelled Europe for Channel 4's Very Modern Odyssey in April and spent time on set in Liverpool for The Man Who Stole Portugal. He had just two days off before Traitors filming began on May 5.
Grant's Explanation
After his confession, Grant admitted: "That may be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. I clearly need to diffuse all of the heat that is coming in my direction." He was voted off in the first banishment, telling the group as he left: "I am… an unfaithful traitor."
Speaking to the camera, he added: "I have been annihilated. I have managed to checkmate myself, which, as far as I'm aware, has never been done." Grant later said there was "no tactic" behind his revelation, explaining he was simply excited to be selected. "When I walked into the bar, I was in such a state of genuine shock that I had no memory it was Joe Lycett who asked me that question. There was no tactic, it was my 69th birthday present. When Claudia tapped me on the shoulder, I went, yes!"
Cast Reactions and Fee Details
Grant acknowledged that actress Miranda Hart had been suspicious of him even before the slip. "The roundtable bit, by the time Claudia has walked round four times, you think by that point, there's no chance now. When she tapped me on the shoulder, I thought 'Don't show any emotion whatsoever and you try your best not to.' Of course, Miranda Hart, sitting right next to me, I think she said she could immediately feel the vibrations of joy coming out."
He also expressed shock at recruited traitor James Acaster's decision to turn on him. "Poor Maya [Jama], she had to contend with [me]," he said on the Uncloaked aftershow. "And of course, she stabbed me right in the... you know, hung, drawn and quartered. I thought Maya would definitely stab me because I put her in an untenable position so I perfectly understood." He added: "I was so convinced by James Acaster's determination not to kill me off when he gave his big plea in the church after Amol, I naively thought, 'Oh well, maybe James, because he's so trustworthy, he would come through for me.' Not one word came out of James's mouth to support me."
Stars receive their full fee of a reported £40,000 regardless of when they leave the competition. The Standard has contacted Grant's representative for comment.
