Celebrity Traitors claim their first victim as Richard E Grant tries to save his skin

In the latest episode of *The Celebrity Traitors* series two, the drama unfolded rapidly as contestants navigated alliances and betrayals. The episode opened with an intriguing twist: traitors Richard E Grant and Maya Jama extended an invitation to James Acaster to join their ranks in the turret, leading to the elimination of a fellow participant. Unfortunately, it was Amol Rajan who became the first victim of the season. Taken away in a coffin before the banishment process could even begin, Rajan later reflected on his early exit with some disappointment, acknowledging that his earlier confrontational behavior toward Grant may have contributed to his downfall. “It’s gutting to be the first out,” he admitted, adding, “games are games, and just as there are winners, so there have to be losers.”

The following morning, Claudia Winkleman, the program’s presenter, confirmed Amol Rajan’s elimination with a witty nod to his role as the University Challenge host: “That’s what I call a starter for 10.” Meanwhile, James Acaster expressed mixed feelings about joining the traitors, stating, “I’m gutted to not be a faithful anymore, I don’t like lying. But if I don’t join them, they’ll kill me,” revealing the difficult choices players face. Richard E Grant, despite a shaky start marked by candidly revealing his traitor status to other contestants, managed to secure one successful elimination, though his strategy was described one way by Acaster as a “loose cannon.”

The episode also featured some lighter moments during a mission in which contestants were buried alive in pairs. Ross Kemp and Romesh Ranganathan were pre-selected to avoid burial, much to Ranganathan’s delight, who performed a joyful dance upon hearing the news. Kemp was protected from the challenge because traitors feared he’d behave suspiciously if given too much responsibility. The duo had the option to dig up gold graves to increase the prize pot or attempt to free fellow participants. They chose to free their colleagues, although Jerry Hall and Hannah Fry were left underground until Hall invoked the emergency escape word “Haggis!” to end her time buried. The incident raised suspicions that either she or Fry might be next to be targeted by the traitors.

As the episode progressed toward the first banishment, Richard E Grant found himself in a precarious position, striving to salvage his standing with others. Fellow traitors had mixed views of his approach, with Maya Jama wanting to protect him despite his mistakes, while James Acaster was more critical. The faithful debated intensely, with some players suspicious of Grant due to his earlier brazen admission. Julie Hesmondhalgh made a compelling case for his elimination, arguing that his upfront claim to being a traitor was a bold, chaotic move unlikely to be faked. As discussions neared a vote, tension mounted around whether the group would turn on Grant, who vowed not to go down without

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More