We’re still not over the excitement of last night’s unbelievable Celebrity Traitor’s opening episode. With Claudia Winkleman’s iconic casket entrance, Ross Kemp’s paranoid outbursts, an exhilarating shipwreck challenge and a never-seen-before twist – we’re counting down the hours before tonight’s episode.
Claudia threw in a curveball by choosing two, not three, Traitors: Richard E. Grant and Maya Jama. However, Richard, aka ‘the Lord of Chaos’, made history with a shock admission – he blurted out to fellow contestants he was a Traitor.
The deadly duo were given the opportunity to recruit another member into their cult and murder another player. After careful deliberation, they settled on James Acaster and Amol Rajan in a heart-racing cliffhanger. But who should they pick? It’s a no-brainer – they must kill sneaky Amol to survive, and here’s why.
What happened in last night’s Celebrity Traitors?
In case you missed last night's episode of The Celebrity Traitors, Claudia shoulder-tapped two contestants to be Traitors – Maya Jama and Richard E. Grant, but moments later, the Withnail And I actor dug himself a humungous hole. In a never-seen-before tactic, Richard confessed to being a Traitor in front of the group. ‘What are you?’ Joe Lycett asked. ‘Traitor,’ Richard said defiantly, grinning like a Cheshire cat. He later doubled down on the declaration saying: ‘What’s the point in playing the game if you’re not?’
While contestants such as Myha'la, Jerry Hall and Miranda Hart believed the admission was nothing more than a kooky joke, James and Amol were adamant he was telling the truth. His unbelievable candour could be a risky game tactic of reverse psychology to throw the Faithful off, but his statement could have just cost him the game. Now together with Maya, who described Richard as her ‘unhinged uncle’, they must dig him out of the almighty grave he’s dug for himself – but how? By digging one for another contestant, of course.
The duo had to choose two stars to go down to the chapel in the dead of the night. They decided to choose the Faithful who were most suspicious of Richard in a bid to protect him – but could this be a short-sighted move? We’ll have to wait and see. The two contestants they settled on were: presenter and journalist Amol Rajan, 43, and comedian and podcast host James Acaster, 41. One will be killed, one will be spared.
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Why Maya Jama and Richard E. Grant should recruit James Acaster as a Celebrity Traitor
Devout Faithful and comedian James is a puzzle buff and wannabe TV detective. He entered the castle with nervous energy in abundance and started sniffing out the castle for clues. After Richard’s declaration, he was determined to prove that he wasn't lying.
In the car to the shipwreck challenge with Maya and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, he shared his suspicions. He later clarified to camera: ‘In the car, I told everyone that I’m pretty sure it’s Richard because I really want us to hone in, on like, as close to the facts as we can get. He said he was a Traitor, he said it out loud. I don’t know, I think everyone’s going to ignore it, because they’re going to go “Well, it’s just Richard”’.
Before stepping into the coffin, he made his survival plea: ‘I think currently pretty much everyone’s convinced I’m a Faithful. Also, I’ve been pushing your name really, really, really hard. Everyone knows that about me. If I go tonight, the first person they’re looking at is you.’
James is correct, he’s made his wariness of Richard very much known to the group, so if he’s culled – it obviously leads back to him. Also, his anxiety could actually serve to be a handy tactic: he’s already entered the castle a nervous wreck, without the Traitor status.
Although his nerves could worsen, game players will likely assume it’s simply part of his character, rather than him being complicit in the murder spree. Also, they could deduce that Claudia wouldn’t recruit him for the role. He made his desire to be a Faithful clear, and they might think she believes he isn’t tough enough to be a master manipulator.
Why Richard E. Grant and Maya Jama should kill Amol Rajan
As for Amol, he’s sharp, a professional truth-teller and wants to be a Traitor. ‘I’d like to be a Traitor. I’m 90% that nice warm guy who’s on the news, but I’m also 10% psychopath,’ he said. He also looked the part in a self-described ‘poncy’ rust tweed suit. He’s also made his observant game plan clear to viewers: ‘I know how to ask annoying but useful questions and then keep chasing an answer.’
Refusing to let Richard’s admission lie, he expertly put him on the spot. He opened with a light question, asking him how he was feeling. Richard shared he was ‘delighted’ to have feeling in his toes again after the shipwreck challenge, and asked Amol how he was.
‘I’m feeling very excited to chat to you. What happened last night? You are the Lord of chaos,’ he said. Richard deflected, saying: ‘Well, the game has actually started, I was so relieved that it started because I had been so blatant about saying that I came into this thing and it’s called Traitors because I wanted to be a Traitor. So, when I walked into the bar and somebody said, “So, are you a Faithful or a Traitor?” I said, “I’m a Traitor, of course.”’
Amol looked utterly unconvinced – which is why Maya and Richard will have to close the lid on his coffin. His plea was testament to his effective game-playing, which would make him an unbeatable competitor. He made James go first, a smart tactical move, and declared: ‘I genuinely have no heat on me whatsoever. Nobody in there thinks I’m a Traitor and that’s going to be useful.’
He also said he’d established some ‘really good relationships’ and that people believe what he says. ‘I do think I’m uniquely placed to take the heat off you. I’m here because I sniff out lies for a living, and the Faithful think I will identify the Traitor by doing my job really well and, if I’m on your side, I’ll throw them off the scent,’ he added.
This masterclass in persuasion proves why they should save James. The Off Menu host’s sweaty palms could be the key to going under the radar, whilst Amol is an expert in subtle interrogation. He’s clearly playing a quiet, more observant game, which could make him a difficult opponent. If they want a chance at surviving, they must appoint James as a Traitor and murder Amol.
