- Richard E Grant revealed he was a Traitor within minutes of being chosen on Celebrity Traitors.
- Producer Sarah Fay said the unexpected confession left her feeling physically sick, while Claudia Winkleman called Grant “giddy” about the role.
- Most contestants initially assumed Grant was joking because they did not expect a real Traitor to be so open.
Richard E Grant revealed as Celebrity Traitors contestant within minutes
Celebrity Traitors returned to BBC screens with Richard E Grant, Maya Jama, James Acaster and Bella Ramsey among its high-profile cast. The first two Traitors were selected as Grant and Love Island host Maya Jama, but the pair adopted very different strategies almost immediately.
Jama attempted to hide her new status by using what she described as her ‘welcoming energy’. Grant, however, chose a far more direct approach and told several fellow contestants that he was the Traitor. His confession was initially dismissed because the other celebrities assumed that a genuine Traitor would not reveal the truth so openly.
Grant later acknowledged the potential consequences of his decision during a confessional, admitting that it ‘may be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life’. The moment became one of the episode’s most unexpected twists, as the actor appeared to jeopardise his position almost as soon as the game began.
ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH #CelebrityTraitors
Celebrity Traitors producer Sarah Fay reacts to Grant’s confession
Celebrity Traitors producer Sarah Fay said Grant’s decision took the production team completely by surprise. Speaking to Digital Spy, Fay described the immediate reaction to the confession:
“It was a mixture of a little bit of sick coming up in my mouth, and a [air] punch at the same time, it was – we’ve never had anything like that happen before. Within five minutes of being out of the Round Table, he’d already mucked up!”
How iconic.
Fay added that the programme is designed to remain unpredictable, with each cast bringing a different dynamic to the format. Even so, she said the production team had not anticipated a Traitor openly admitting their identity just minutes after leaving the Round Table.
“And as producers, you always want to make sure the series is fresh, and new, and we’ve been very lucky so far… Every single series, the cast brings something different,”
She continued:
“But never in our wildest dreams did we think that we’d have a Traitor admit they were a Traitor five minutes after the Round Table!”
Claudia Winkleman explains why Richard E Grant slipped up
Host Claudia Winkleman also discussed Grant’s behaviour and suggested that his excitement at finally becoming a Traitor was responsible for the error. According to Winkleman, Grant had made his preference clear before entering the game and was thrilled when he received the role.
“He was just so happy, he just couldn’t believe it,”
Winkleman explained that contestants are asked what role they want before the game begins:
“We go into a room after I’ve interviewed them all, and they say, ‘This is what I want to be’. You just couldn’t not give it to him. You couldn’t not, because he wanted it so much, and he was compelling.“And he’s Richard E Grant, I couldn’t believe that he was actually in the castle.“He was giddy and about five minutes later, he went ‘Oh!’.“The genius of the game is everybody plays it completely differently, and he took that to the next level.”
Grant had previously made no secret of his ambition to become a Traitor. Before joining the show, he said:
“Absolutely! I would love to be a Traitor,”
He added:
“You have no control in real life over anything. Any chance for that would be welcome. And a little bit of mischief is always welcome.”
Grant’s history of playing villains also made the role a natural fit, with the actor having portrayed antagonistic characters in Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, Logan and Doctor Who.
Why this matters for Celebrity Traitors
Richard E Grant’s early confession highlights how differently celebrities can approach the Traitors format. While Maya Jama attempted to conceal her status, Grant embraced the role so enthusiastically that he risked exposing himself almost immediately. Sarah Fay and Claudia Winkleman’s reactions also underline the production’s emphasis on unpredictable gameplay, particularly when well-known contestants bring strong personalities and distinct strategies to the castle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the first Traitors on Celebrity Traitors?
The first two Traitors selected are Richard E Grant and Maya Jama.
What did Richard E Grant do after becoming a Traitor?
Grant told several fellow contestants that he was the Traitor, although most initially believed he was joking.
Why did Claudia Winkleman think Grant revealed himself?
Claudia Winkleman said Grant was extremely excited and “giddy” about being chosen as a Traitor, which contributed to his slip-up.
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