We’re just two episodes into The Celebrity Traitors’ second series and it’s already up there with the most entertaining television we’ve seen all year.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman in fingerless glove mode, the 2026 series welcomed 21 stars into the Scottish castle last week and so far, we’ve had three Traitors chosen, one Faithful murdered and we’re about to witness the first celebrity banishment of the year.
After being chosen as a Traitor alongside presenter Maya Jama, Richard E Grant wasted no time in wreaking havoc in the game – with the Oscar nominee immediately outing himself and then attempting to evade further scrutiny from his fellow contestants by turning the questions back on them. “Do you have more teeth than a normal person?” he fired back at a suspicious Rob Beckett, possibly giving us the quote of the series.
By the end of episode one, Jama and Grant had been tasked with giving two Faithful the chance to plead their way into the turret, with one being recruited as a Traitor and the other being murdered. Unfortunately for broadcaster and former Independent editor Amol Rajan, he was the first to be sealed into a coffin – while comedian James Acaster became one of the least enthusiastic Traitors the show has ever seen.
With tonight’s episode picking up where last week’s roundtable left off, the wait to find out who’ll be banished is nearly over. But will Richard E Grant have dug his own grave, or will the Faithful go in a completely different direction? Here are the biggest questions that will hopefully be answered in The Celebrity Traitors’ third episode...
Will the Faithful catch Richard?
Withnail & I’s Richard E Grant is the obvious choice for tonight’s banishment and last week’s cliffhanger seemed to signal that could be the case, with the episode ending before we even got a chance to see the cast’s chalkboards of doom and therefore implying that there’s a landslide vote tonight.
If he does go, the Oscar nominee only has himself to blame. Grant immediately told his fellow castmates that he was desperate to be a Traitor and after being chosen, he couldn’t stop grinning. He then immediately folded after being asked point blank by comedian Joe Lycett, declaring: “I’m a Traitor!”
While Grant then tried to furiously backpedal by saying that it was just “wish fulfilment” after being left disappointed by not being a Traitor, the Faithful haven’t forgotten. “I think that we are at risk of being the most idiotic group of Faithfuls in the world if we go for someone else tonight based on nothing at all when someone has come into the room and said, ‘I am a Traitor,’” actor Julie Hesmondhalgh pleaded to the others at the roundtable when discussing Grant’s innocence.
Grant’s fellow Traitor, James Acaster, even said that he wouldn’t go out of his way to save him at the roundtable, having led the charge in accusing him before being recruited himself. Meanwhile, Miranda Hart pointed out to the others that Grant had a look of complete joy after taking off his blindfold when Winkleman was choosing her Traitors, while comedians Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan were sceptical of Grant claiming he had been disappointed to not be picked.
That being said, Grant did have a few misguided Faithful in his corner at last week’s roundtable, including comedian Joanne McNally, who thought his outburst was an “obvious joke” and that those gunning for Grant should be seen as suspicious. Industry star Myha’la and model Jerry Hall were also Team Richard, believing his “wish fulfilment” argument.
Other theories aimed at other Faithful were being thrown out at the roundtable, with some accusing Hesmondhalgh of having become a Traitor after being given an immunity shield by Winkleman in the first episode. Deflecting suspicion off Grant, McNally pointed the finger at Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock after she was spotted touching up her make-up late at night (God forbid a girl tops up her lip gloss!).
Even singer James Blunt got in on the action, randomly suggesting that mathematician Hannah Fry had been recruited by the Traitors because she was a threat. He later took to social media to say that this was a tactic, confirming a fan’s theory that he brought up her name so that the Traitors were less likely to murder her. (Either Fry or Hall will be next murdered by the Traitors after the pair forfeited the last challenge, during which the rest of the cast won immunity.)
We’ll have to wait until tonight to find out whether Grant’s time is up or if another Faithful’s head is on the chopping block.
Can James Acaster cope with the pressure?
Maya Jama and Richard E Grant somehow managed to pick the one celebrity contestant who really didn’t want to be a Traitor when choosing James Acaster to join them.
The comedian has only been a Traitor for one episode, but he’s already struggling to keep up the deceit. “I don’t like lying,” he told the BBC show in a confessional – which is unfortunate considering that’s one of the main requirements of being a Traitor.
Having already admitted to being “gutted” about no longer being a Faithful and completely “out of my comfort zone”, Acaster already seems to be cracking under the pressure.
He also has a high chance of being found out given that he knows many of the other comedians in the cast very well from their days on the comedy circuit. “The comedians are my biggest threat when it comes to being detected,” he said in episode two, highlighting how they may clock that he’s suddenly stopped pushing suspicion onto Grant after being adamant about the actor’s Traitor status before being recruited.
As the game continues, there’s every chance that Acaster could slip up as the Faithful set their sights on him.
Will James and Maya recruit?
If Richard E Grant is banished in tonight’s episode, the next big question will be whether remaining Traitors James Acaster and Maya Jama decide to replace him or continue as a duo.
One of the obvious choices for them to recruit would be professional hardman Ross Kemp, whose paranoia over being murdered in plain sight has led to some Faithful becoming suspicious of him. The Traitors also chose him to receive immunity from the next murder during a challenge, which raised eyebrows among the group.
With Kemp already in the crosshairs of the Faithful, making him a Traitor would allow Jama and Acaster to sacrifice him later in the game – with his banishment buying them some time with the other Faithful.
Otherwise, comedian Miranda Hart, whose unfortunate dirt moustache moment tickled viewers last week, could be a good replacement for Grant as her name is yet to be brought up by suspicious Faithful.
Whatever happens tonight, we’re sure there’s plenty of drama to come, with The Sun even reporting that the producers were left reeling after yet another twist in the competition. Let the game continue!
The Celebrity Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One.
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