Celebrity Traitors Banish Richard E Grant and Recruit Hannah Fry

The second series of The Celebrity Traitors has taken an unexpected turn after actor Richard E Grant was banished at the first round table, followed by the wrongful elimination of fellow contestant Myha'la. The BBC competition, filmed in a Scottish castle, now faces a more complicated contest as remaining players investigate suspicious behavior while the secret traitors recruit new allies.

According to BBC coverage published October 8, Grant's departure marked the first time a traitor had been identified at the opening round table in the UK version of the program. His earlier decision to disclose his secret role to fellow contestants left the group with little doubt about his identity, producing an overwhelming vote against him.

Grant acknowledged the result with humor, telling the other contestants, "Thank you for giving me an almost bingo full-house of votes," before adding, "I have always wanted to be a traitor, and sometimes in life your dreams do come true." His revelation prompted celebrations among the faithful, who had finally secured an early victory against the hidden players.

The production team was also surprised by Grant's earlier disclosure. Executive producer Mike Cotton told The Observer that the team watched the incident unfold from the control room, covering their faces as they wondered what would happen next. He explained that producers do not enter the castle to direct contestants' decisions and cannot control unexpected developments during the game.

After Grant's removal, the remaining traitors, broadcaster Maya Jama and comedian James Acaster, faced a decision about their next move. Rather than eliminate another contestant, they recruited mathematician Hannah Fry, expanding their group to three. Fry had previously been considered a potential target, but accepting the offer transformed her position in the competition.

According to BBC coverage, Fry was surprised to discover the identities of her new allies and admitted that she had suspected both Jama and Acaster were faithful. Her recruitment also gave the traitors an opportunity to bring an analytical player into their ranks while complicating the faithful contestants' search for their opponents.

The following morning, the contestants realized that nobody had been eliminated overnight, suggesting that the traitors had recruited someone instead. Comedian Miranda Hart quickly suspected that Fry's behavior had changed, while other players began examining Myha'la's conduct during a mission involving crypts, prize money, and protective shields.

Hart's deductions have attracted attention from viewers. Digital Spy reported October 8 that audiences were increasingly considering her a potential traitor hunter after she correctly suspected Fry had switched sides. Hart had gradually become more prominent in the game, despite initially attracting less attention than several other contestants.

The mission added further tension when contestants searched four crypts for money to increase the prize fund and shields that could protect players from elimination. Myha'la obtained a shield and discussed its ownership with Fry, while Jama also secured protection but kept hers secret from the group. The resulting disagreements contributed to mounting suspicion among the contestants.

At the next round table, Myha'la struggled to defend herself as fellow players questioned her actions. She became visibly emotional while explaining why she had taken the shield before offering it to Fry. Her eventual banishment, described by iNews on October 8, demonstrated how suspicion and group dynamics can lead faithful contestants to eliminate one of their own.

The episode has also highlighted the psychological pressure of the format. The iNews analysis argued that contestants must do more than identify suspicious behavior: they must persuade others, manage alliances, and avoid becoming targets themselves. Myha'la's elimination illustrated the consequences of those competing demands.

The Observer also reported that the second series had attracted stronger early audiences than the first. The inaugural series, broadcast in 2025, averaged 6.1 million overnight viewers for its first episode and 6.5 million for its second. Both episodes subsequently reached 15 million viewers in their official 28-day ratings, while the corresponding episodes of the second series were already drawing approximately 3 million more viewers under the same measure.

The program's wider economic impact has also been documented. A report from Visit Scotland and Screen Scotland credited the franchise with generating approximately £22 million for Scotland's economy since filming began there in 2022. Studio Lambert's agreement with the BBC, signed in March, is set to keep the original Dutch-format franchise on BBC One until at least 2030.

With Jama, Acaster, and Fry operating as the remaining traitors, the faithful must reassess their suspicions as the competition continues. The next phase also places contestants including Bella Ramsey, Sebastian Croft, and James Blunt under scrutiny as the hidden players consider their next elimination.