Comedian Romesh Ranganathan has played an excellent game on Celebrity Traitors series 2, even if it may not look like a total blinder at first. Unlike some of his fellow faithfuls, who have gone in with loud accusations and wild theories - often leading them in the wrong direction, much to the traitors’ delight - Romesh has taken a quieter approach. That’s why he has to win: The Celebrity Traitors have missed Romesh Ranganathan’s “silent” tactic, and here’s why it works.
We’ve seen celebrities and civilians alike try all sorts of tactics to survive the game, from playing dumb to secret family connections and even faking Welsh accents. But keeping quiet, watching closely and making a few careful moves could be what helps Romesh outplay the others and secure a faithful win.
What is Romesh’s “silent tactic”?
For the most part, Romesh has slipped through the game undetected. He’s been among the possible murder targets several times, but the traitors have chosen someone else each time - often opting for a player they see as a more immediate threat due to their abilities to lead or accurate theories. Romesh, on the other hand, has mostly been listening instead of talking.
When Claudia asked Rob Beckett what he thought Romesh, his very good friend, would be like playing the game, Rob said: ‘He gives nothing away.’ It neatly sums up Romesh’s approach: give little away, attract little suspicion and let others do the talking.
‘I think it’s really possible to play an amazing game as a faithful,’ Romesh said, before he even knew he’d be one. He went on to describe himself as analytical rather than rash, and as someone who’s good at reading people. He also said he’d often found that people ‘attribute more trust and responsibility to me than I deserve’. Cracking a joke? Maybe. But it also sounds a lot like a game plan: stay calm and unsuspecting, and people may trust you - whether that’s the faithful seeing him as one of their own or the traitors overlooking him as a threat. Meanwhile he can quietly figure out who the traitors could be, evading suspicion, until he finally reveals his hand in the final.
What to read next
Why does keeping quiet work?
Well, he’s still in it, isn’t he? But seriously, the series has shown how quickly attention can become a risk. Richard E. Grant’s dramatic claim that he was a traitor made him an immediate target at the Round Table. Julie Hesmondhalgh later admitted she’d gone in hard on Richard and Myha’la and said too much, which helped make her a suspect and lead to her exit.
Bella Ramsey was murdered after the traitors decided they were their “biggest threat”. Bella had been piecing together theories and later said they thought they might have worked out who the traitors were. Hannah Fry is a different case: she was banished after suspicion grew around her, based entirely on her pre-existing known identity as an incredibly clever person. It’s both why the traitors recruited her, and ultimately why she was banished. Poor Hannah never stood a chance, but Romesh does.
Big personalities are punished for being loud, these cases show how standing out gives others more to scrutinise. Romesh’s quieter approach may be giving him more room to watch without becoming the obvious target for murder or banishment.
Why might Romesh have an edge over the traitors?
When asked about his game plan and potential skills, Romesh pointed to his experience as a schoolteacher, saying: ‘It makes you look for things, and be able to pick up if they're lying to you.’ That suggests his listening skills could give him an advantage - and he may be keeping that ability to himself to avoid drawing suspicion and so he can piece things together by himself - and keenly, keep it to himself too.
His teaching experience isn’t the only thing in his arsenal. He’s also particularly familiar with one of the traitors. Romesh and James Acaster have worked together for years on the comedy circuit, and James has admitted: ‘Romesh, Joe, and Rob know me really well. They all know that I don’t change my mind overnight.’ Implying he’s nervous of Romesh’s ability to read the already shifty James’ behaviors as he continues as a reluctant traitor.
That familiarity could help Romesh spot James’s when no one else seems to be able to see what's in front of them. Combined with his calm approach, this makes Romesh a dark horse - and the traitors may be underestimating him by taking his silence at face value.
