I was in a screening room with Claudia Winkleman and Ed Gamble for the return of The Celebrity Traitors season two when the room of journalists exploded in shocked gasps and laughter after Richard E. Grant gleefully announced to his fellow game players that he was a Traitor.
During the Q&A following the episode, the show's executive producer, Sarah Fay, admitted that she was "sick in her mouth" when she witnessed the moment for the first time, and that she "still can't believe" that it happened. Admittedly, it is perhaps the biggest mishap that the show has ever seen – worse than Linda's head tilt, worse than Paul putting himself in the dungeon, worse than Wilf recruiting Kieran – but let's recap, shall we?
© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC CreativeRichard E. Grant, eccentric acting legend that he is, entered The Traitors game with an almost method-acting level of villainy. Barely speaking to his co-stars and staring menacingly ahead, it seemed impossible that Richard would even be willing to stay and play the game if he were a Faithful. He did not hide his preference.
While this already seemed to be bold gameplay, I remember wondering how he would demonstrate his bitter disappointment at being cast as a Faithful after making his desires so known. But no. Instead, he delightedly told his fellow co-stars that he was actually a Traitor, leaving them absolutely stumped.
© Matthew Towers/NetflixCould there have been more of a slam dunk for the Faithfuls that a Traitor was indeed a Traitor than him simply admitting to it?
The issue I have with this admission – which isn't technically against the rules (only because they hadn't filmed Richard taking the 'Traitor oath' to keep his identity a secret) – is the butterfly effect that it has already had, and will continue to have, on the show.
While the Faithful gang usually has very little to go on at the first roundtable, this time they couldn't have more concrete proof that a Traitor is a Traitor. Unless some insanity takes place in episode two, Richard is going to be eliminated first. But has his epic blunder already tainted the whole gameplay?
© BBCLet's review. As a result of Richard's blunder, his fellow Traitor Maya Jama is now looking out for him by attempting to dissuade her co-stars from voting for her 'eccentric uncle' cohort, thereby surely placing suspicion on herself – as the most obvious option here is that the guy who called himself a Traitor is indeed a Traitor.
Not only that, but the pair selected the two Faithfuls who had been most on Richard's case to recruit one and murder the other, meaning their choices were likely wildly different from the ones they might have made had they not been trying to reverse the mishap.
© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC CreativeAs such, we're left with either Amol Rajan or James Acaster being recruited (or murdered), and either way, it is a shame. Amol's approach to the Faithful camp from a journalistic perspective would have been epic, while James couldn't have made it clearer that playing a Faithful game as a detective was the only way he could properly enjoy the show.
Consequently, should James be a Traitor, he will likely spend at least part of the show feeling deeply awkward in the role – and is that even fun to watch? Combined with reports that James was apparently so uncomfortable during the filming of a scene that his fellow castmates insisted on taking a break so he could calm down, it suggests the comedian isn't going to be a natural in a Traitor's role – unless this reported incident took place during the first episode task and James is the Faithful selected for murder.
© BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC CreativeAnd all of this appears to be the ripple effect from Richard... what? Not quite understanding the game? Wanting to do something memorable? Simply getting too excited and ahead of himself?
Either way, rarely has there been a piece of gameplay that has so directly impacted the direction of the game so early on – but it definitely keeps things interesting!
