Richard E Grant Faces Banishment as Celebrity Traitors Claim First Victim

In the second episode of Celebrity Traitors series two, host Claudia Winkleman confirmed that University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan was the first player to be murdered by the season’s traitors. The death occurred before Rajan had the opportunity to participate in the game’s banishment ceremony.

The lethal twist saw traitors Maya Jama and Richard E Grant invite comedian James Acaster to the turret, where they simultaneously eliminated Rajan. Speaking after his exit, Rajan expressed disappointment but acknowledged the nature of the competition. He suggested his early elimination might have been due to having been “a bit bullish” with Grant earlier in the day. “Games are games, and just as there are winners, so there have to be losers,” he said.

Acaster, who joined the traitors under duress, reflected on his decision to betray the faithful players. “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,” he explained, noting that his logic was sound given the circumstances.

Meanwhile, 69-year-old actor Richard E Grant found himself in damage control mode after a chaotic first day. Despite an Oscar nomination for his acting career, Grant’s traitor strategy appeared flawed. During a gathering in the castle bar, he reportedly revealed his secret allegiance to Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett, and several others. Many fellow contestants struggled to accept this revelation, assuming the Spice World star was attempting an elaborate double bluff rather than admitting guilt.

Grant attempted to justify his actions in the diary room, claiming a “slight pinprick of advantage” because he believed no one would suspect someone would be foolish enough to confess openly. However, his fellow traitors remained skeptical. Acaster labeled him a “loose cannon,” while Jama admitted she wanted to save him despite him having “dug himself the biggest hole imaginable.”

As the episode progressed, the cast participated in a burial mission where celebrities were interred in pairs. Ross Kemp and Romesh Ranganathan were spared burial by the traitors, with Ranganathan performing a celebratory dance upon learning he would not be going underground. The pair ultimately chose to free their fellow players, though mathematician Hannah Fry and model Jerry Hall remained buried until Hall shouted “Haggis!” to request release due to her discomfort.

During the ensuing debate, actress Julie Hesmondhalgh presented a compelling case against Grant. She reminded the group that he had entered the bar and openly declared himself a traitor. “I think 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,” she argued. Romesh Ranganathan also criticized Grant’s poor performance, stating, “You’ve given us all a problem… It was a big mistake by you, I feel like you forced our hand.”

The episode concluded before the final vote took place, leaving Grant facing what appears to be a landslide vote for banishment. Undeterred, Grant vowed, “I do not go down without a fight. I did not survive four decades in showbusiness without a fight.”

Celebrity Traitors continues on Thursday at 20:00 BST on BBC One and iPlayer.