Celebrity Traitors comes to a climax in nail-biting final

The second series of *The Celebrity Traitors* concluded on Friday, wrapping up a month filled with intrigue, deceit, and tactical gameplay among some of the UK’s well-known personalities. Beginning with 21 contestants, the competition whittled down to seven finalists before the dramatic ending. Ultimately, comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian “Bash” Croft from *Heartstopper* were declared the winners, managing to outsmart the remaining traitors, Love Island presenter Maya Jama and YouTuber King Kenny. The victorious pair shared the £83,000 prize, which they chose to donate to refugee charities.

Throughout the series, over 15 million viewers followed the contest with keen interest, captivated by the suspense and strategic maneuvers. King Kenny, having turned on his fellow traitor Maya Jama at the very last round table, joined Romesh, Bash, and singer James Blunt in the endgame. At a tense moment by the fire pit, when Kenny and James were tied in votes for who to banish, Bash convinced Romesh to eliminate Kenny, sealing victory for the loyal duo. Kenny expressed his disappointment afterward: “Absolutely devastated. I was so close. I smelled the victory.”

The elimination rounds saw further surprises, including James Blunt himself being ousted after calling for another vote, which left Romesh and Bash as the last contestants standing. Bash, overwhelmed with emotion, described the win as “the best day of my life,” while Romesh hoped to make his family proud, stating, “I just really hope my mum’s proud. And also my youngest son Charlie, who wanted me to come on the show – dad won. Please show me some respect.” The prize money donated by the duo benefited the Refugee Council and Choose Love charities.

Earlier in the final episode, actor Michael Sheen was eliminated first, sharing his disappointment: “I am incredibly disappointed,” he said. “Gutted that I got so close to the end. It’s been absolutely unforgettable.” Another notable moment saw Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock prevented from advancing after Kenny voted against her, leading her to say, “I was thinking me and him had a mutual understanding, and now I feel so stupid.” The series also drew attention for two contestants who openly admitted to being traitors during the game—actor Richard E Grant and comedian James Acaster—with Acaster’s voluntary confession leading to his swift banishment.

Reports surfaced that filming was briefly halted when Acaster became anxious after revealing his role, a matter the BBC addressed by emphasizing the priority given to participants’ safety and welfare throughout production. Additionally, some viewers noticed peculiar editing choices, such as a moment showing Romesh’s shocked reaction seemingly out of chronological context during Acaster’s confession. TV critic Ian Hyland commented that this incident suggested extensive producer and editor involvement in shaping the show’s narrative. Despite some criticism about pacing and lack of dramatic betrayals compared to past seasons, the final episode delivered a surge in excitement and likely secured its place as one of the most-watched programmes of the year

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