Sharon Rooney dazzled Celebrity Traitors viewers with her detective work, but fans now worry her sharp instincts could put a target on her back. The Scottish actor, who has largely stayed under the radar during the early episodes, came into her own in the latest instalment by piecing together how Ross Kemp was murdered in plain sight.
How Sharon Cracked the Case
Kemp, known for his role in EastEnders, became the latest celebrity to be eliminated from the Scottish castle after a yawning contest with Jerry Hall. It was Kemp who yawned first, prompting James Acaster to ask, 'Am I boring you?' and seal his fate.
Rooney, who has dubbed herself 'Poundland Poirot', noticed that the perfume bottle used for the murder had been emptied and moved. She also spotted that the peacock atomiser indicated sleepiness on a nearby chart, which connected to the murder. Her findings led the Faithful to believe the murder had occurred in the library.
Fans Praise and Worry
Viewers at home were impressed by Rooney's ingenuity, with one fan, Ruby, calling her a 'genius'. However, many fear her detective skills could make her a prime target for murder, especially since she shared her findings with Traitor James Acaster.
Kerry wrote on X: 'Sharon probably should have kept that to herself until the roundtable though she went straight to a Traitor.' Tracey echoed the concern, writing: 'Sharon be careful knowing these things will get you killed.'
Record Ratings for the Show
The current series has been a ratings success for the BBC, with more than 15 million people watching the first episode in the seven days after transmission. This is the largest TV audience so far in 2026, according to consolidated ratings, and the highest seven-day audience ever for an episode of The Traitors in either format.
The previous record was set by the final of the 2025 Celebrity Traitors series, which attracted 14.94 million viewers. The current series began on October 1, with host Claudia Winkleman selecting two traitors from the 21 contestants, including actor Richard E Grant, who immediately announced himself as a traitor.
An average of 15.41 million UK viewers watched the first episode, according to Barb data, just ahead of the 14.93 million for England's World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina on July 15. Celebrity Traitors continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday at 8pm.
