Okay, real talk: "The Celebrity Traitors" is already serving drama. In the latest episode, a twist saw traitors Richard E Grant and Maya Jama recruit James Acaster to their dark side, and unfortunately for broadcaster Amol Rajan, he became the first casualty. RIP Amol, may your coffin be a comfy one.
Claudia Winkleman announced Rajan's 'murder' the next morning, calling it a 'starter for 10', which is lowkey iconic. James Acaster spilled the tea, saying he's "gutted" not to be a faithful anymore but, like, he has to lie or they'll literally kill him. Can't fault the logic there.
Richard E. Grant, an Oscar-nominated actor who somehow managed to become a Razzie-worthy traitor, did commit a successful murder despite his shambolic start. He spent most of the episode trying to fix the mess he made by literally telling Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett, and others he was a traitor. The vibes were off, but maybe it's a double bluff? People were confused.
Meanwhile, Maya Jama, the "all-or-nothing kind of honey," is absolutely owning her traitor role, admitting she's shocked at her own ability to lie. She's giving main character energy in the castle.
The Mission
The group then faced a bizarre challenge: being buried alive in pairs. Ross Kemp and Romesh Ranganathan were protected from burial by the traitors, and chose to dig up their castmates instead of gold. All were freed except Hannah Fry and Jerry Hall. Hall bailed them out by shouting "Haggis!" (their version of "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here!") because she was not vibing with being underground. This pretty much guarantees one of them is next on the chopping block.
The Banishing
Back at the round table, Richard was still trying to salvage his game. He told himself in the diary room, "I'm hoping that I do get away with it." James called him a "loose cannon," and Maya wanted to save him, even though he'd dug himself a "biggest hole imaginable." Rob Beckett pointed out that anyone else acting like Richard would be instantly voted out.
Some players, like Myha'la and Joanne McNally, thought Richard was almost too obvious, making him a potential decoy. Julie Hesmondhalgh, however, made a strong case for his banishment, stating that confessing to being a traitor is pretty damning evidence.
Viewers are left on a cliffhanger before the vote, but it’s looking grim for Richard. "I do not go down without a fight," he vowed. "I couldn't have survived showbusiness for four decades without a fight." Say less.
Why it matters
This early drama and the unexpected 'murder' of Amol Rajan has set a high bar for the rest of the season, proving that "Celebrity Traitors" is delivering the chaotic energy viewers signed up for.
