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In the first episode of a new celebrity reality game show, Richard E. Grant accidentally reveals himself as one of two secret Traitors to Joe Lycett, causing confusion among fellow contestants. Despite initially appearing to admit his role, Grant later claimed he was actually trying to mislead others by pretending to be a Traitor, only to acknowledge afterwards that revealing this information might have been the "biggest mistake I have ever made in my life." The episode concludes with a cliffhanger as two more celebrities are summoned for a crucial decision involving recruitment and elimination by the Traitors.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Celebrity Traitors, a popular BBC show, is returning for its second series on Thursday, May 18th, at 20:00 BST. The new season features 21 celebrities, including actors like Michael Sheen and Julie Hesmondhalgh, comedians such as James Blunt and Rob Beckett, and content creators like King Kenny. Contestants will compete for a £100,000 cash prize to be donated to charity based on their performance in tasks designed to outwit each other.
In the first episode, the celebrities were divided into Traitors and Faithfuls, with Claudia Winkleman revealing only two traitors initially. This departure from tradition left viewers shocked, especially when veteran actor Richard E Grant declared himself a traitor just minutes after arriving at the castle, leaving many in disbelief about his honesty or bluffing skills.
Executive producer Sarah Fay emphasized that the show aims to evolve and push boundaries each year, incorporating fresh ideas while maintaining its core format. This season will air twice weekly on Thursdays and Fridays, with 10 episodes total, up from last year's nine. Additionally, BBC One, iPlayer, and Sounds will broadcast a spin-off series titled Uncloaked, hosted by comedian Ed Gamble. The first episode concluded on a cliffhanger, leaving fans eager to see who the traitors select as their first victims or allies in the upcoming episodes.
Written for “Celebrity Traitors Show Return” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 25 other(s) covering the same event.
And it didn't take long for Grant to leave his fellow contestants scratching their heads.
asserted
Grant → take → heads
After the celebrities had settled into their new home and got to know one another, Winkleman revealed who had been chosen to secretly play as Traitors.
asserted
who → settle → Traitors
This series has already switched things up, with just two Traitors chosen at the beginning of the game rather than the usual three.
Grant was one of them, alongside presenter Maya Jama.
asserted
Grant → switch → Jama
But the actor appeared to waste little time playing with the minds of his fellow contestants.
asserted
actor → appear → contestants
During a conversation with Joe Lycett, Grant openly said: “I am a traitor.”
asserted
I → say → Lycett
Lycett appeared taken aback and asked: “Are you?”
asserted
you → appear → ?
Grant then questioned what the point of being in the game was if he wasn't a Traitor.
asserted
he → question → game
“What's the point in being in the game if you're not?” he said.
asserted
he → say → game
“Right, OK,” Lycett replied.
asserted
Lycett → reply → ?
Lycett later attempted to get to the bottom of what Grant had said, telling him: “I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.
asserted
I → attempt → that
Grant then appeared to backtrack, replying: “I'm a faithful.”
asserted
I → appear → ?
The exchange left the celebrities wondering whether Grant was genuinely revealing his secret or simply trying to throw everyone off the scent.
asserted
Grant → leave → scent
Jerry Hall, who revealed she has known Grant for 30 years and is his neighbour, was among those who wasn't convinced he was really a Traitor.
asserted
he → reveal → those
“I don't believe he is a Traitor,” she said.
asserted
she → believe → ?
Hall suggested Grant could instead be “acting out because he's not been chosen”.
uncertain
he → suggest → ?
But Grant later appeared to realise that his unusual strategy may have drawn too much attention to himself.
uncertain
strategy → appear → himself
“That may be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life,” he said.
uncertain
he → make → life
“I clearly need to diffuse all of the heat that is coming in my direction.”
asserted
that → need → direction
Grant and Jama later agreed to “lock in” as the two Traitors, while the rest of the celebrities continued their attempts to work out who they could trust.
uncertain
they → agree → who
The first episode ended without a murder or banishment.
asserted
episode → end → murder
Instead, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Joe Lycett were given protection from the first murder.
asserted
Hesmondhalgh → give → murder
The episode then ended on another major cliffhanger, with Amol Rajan and James Acaster summoned to the chapel after being invited by the Traitors.
asserted
Rajan → end → Traitors
The pair were faced with a huge twist, with one set to be recruited by the Traitors while the other would be murdered.
Who are the Celebrity Traitors?
Grant and Jama were revealed as the two Traitors at the beginning of the series.
The remaining celebrities entered the castle as Faithfuls:
- Amol Rajan – Journalist
- Bella Ramsey – Actor
- James Acaster – Comedian
- James Blunt – Musician
- Jerry Hall – Model and actor
- Joanne McNally – Comedian
- Joe Lycett – Comedian
- Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor
- King Kenny – Social media star
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Musician
- Michael Sheen – Actor
- Miranda Hart – Actor and comedian
- Myha'la – Actor
- Professor Hannah Fry – Mathematician and author
- Rob Beckett – Comedian
- Romesh Ranganathan – Actor and comedian
- Ross Kemp – Actor
- Sebastian Croft – Actor and singer
- Sharon Rooney – Actor
The celebrity edition follows the same basic format as the original The Traitors, with the Faithfuls attempting to identify the Traitors while the Traitors secretly plot to eliminate their fellow contestants.
Read More
However, series two has already put its own spin on the format by starting with two Traitors rather than three.
asserted
series → face → Traitors
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