Richard E. Grant’s game on “Celebrity Traitors” nearly unraveled moments after it began when the actor accidentally told several fellow contestants that he was a Traitor.
Grant and “Love Island” host Maya Jama were selected as the first two Traitors in the opening episode of the U.K. reality competition. But Grant’s excitement quickly created a crisis: When asked about his status, he blurted out the truth to a room of competitors, who appeared stunned by the admission.
“What’s the point in being in the game if you’re not?” Grant asked.
The disclosure came after Grant had confidently described how he would approach the role. During a conversation with host Claudia Winkleman before the Traitors were chosen, he said he would be “utterly ruthless” and would not feel guilty about his actions.
“If I was lucky enough to be a traitor, it would be a dream come true,” Grant said. “In this game, the only power you have is being a traitor.”
Jama had outlined a more understated plan, telling Winkleman that she wanted to be an “unassuming, warm and misleading traitor.” Grant’s strategy, by contrast, required an immediate rescue operation after his unplanned confession.
Grant scrambles to contain the damage
Comedian Joe Lycett stepped in and encouraged Grant to retreat from the statement by convincing the group that he was actually a Faithful making a joke.
“I think you’ve done something that’s never been done in the game,” Lycett told him. “It’s a bold strategy.”
Once the consequences sank in, Grant acknowledged the scale of the error directly to the camera.
“That may have been the biggest mistake I’ve made in my life,” he said. “I was so thrilled to be chosen that in my excitement I said I was a Traitor. I need to defuse all of the heat coming in my direction.”
Grant said he was “absolutely convinced” that he would be sent home. However, his longstanding friendship with model and actress Jerry Hall unexpectedly helped create doubt around the confession.
Hall, who said she has known Grant for more than 30 years, interpreted his behavior differently.
“I’ve known him for over 30 years, and he says and does eccentric things,” she said. “I think he is acting out because he hasn’t been chosen.”
That assessment gave Grant at least some cover, and despite the enormous slip-up, he survived through the end of the episode.
A recruitment decision ends the episode on a cliffhanger
Grant and Jama’s work as the Traitors was far from over. The pair were informed that they could recruit another player while also killing a contestant.
They selected comedian James Acaster and “University Challenge” presenter Amol Rajan to meet with them and argue why they should be chosen. Both prospective recruits said they could help redirect attention following Grant’s earlier mistake.
The episode ended before the Traitors’ decision was revealed, leaving Grant’s efforts to recover — and the identity of any new recruit — unresolved.
The celebrity lineup and prize
Grant, Jama, Hall, Lycett, Acaster and Rajan are part of a wider cast competing at Ardross Castle in the Highlands. The contestants are trying to identify the Traitors among them while playing for a £100,000 cash prize for a charity of their choice.
The season’s lineup also includes actors Bella Ramsey, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Michael Sheen, Myha’la, Sharon Rooney and actor-presenter Ross Kemp. Music stars James Blunt and Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock are competing alongside musician and actor Sebastian Croft.
Broadcaster and math professor Hannah Fry, content creator King Kenny and comedians Joanne McNally, Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan are also taking part.
The first season of “The Celebrity Traitors” aired in October 2025 and later streamed in the United States on Peacock.
What Happens Next?
The next development will resolve the opening episode’s cliffhanger over Acaster and Rajan. Grant must also try to persuade the other competitors that his direct admission was not the truth, while continuing to work with Jama as one of the game’s original Traitors.