Celebrity Traitors – FIVE-STAR Review: Dazzling. Thrilling. Utterly unpredictable… it’s only episode one and Traitors fever has me howling at the moon!
The first episode of The Celebrity Traitors opened with a theatrical mock funeral in a Scottish chapel, setting a Gothic, comic tone that the reviewer says makes the series dazzling and unpredictable. Its star-studded cast and immediate twists underline the show’s growing status as a flagship BBC programme.
The 21 contestants include Maya Jama, Richard E Grant, Amol Rajan, James Blunt and Miranda Hart. Jama and Grant were chosen as the first Traitors, while Julie Hesmondhalgh, nominated to take Claudia Winkleman’s place in the coffin, instead won immunity and was able to protect Joe Lycett. The format pits secret Traitors against the Faithful, who must identify them while navigating suspicion and deception.
- The celebrity edition launched with a Gothic mock funeral.
- Maya Jama and Richard E Grant are the first Traitors.
- Julie Hesmondhalgh and Joe Lycett gained immunity.
New here? Start with this
The Traitors is a game show in which a group of contestants compete together to build up a prize pot, but some are secretly selected to act as "Traitors" with the goal of deceiving and eliminating other players. The remaining "Faithful" contestants must work together to identify and vote out the Traitors, whilst the Traitors attempt to blend in and avoid detection until the game ends.
The format originated in the Netherlands and has become a global television phenomenon, with versions broadcast in numerous countries. The BBC's version has grown into one of its flagship reality programmes, with successive series attracting considerable viewership and public attention.
This particular series features a specially assembled cast of 21 celebrities competing against each other. The celebrity focus adds an extra layer of intrigue, as well-known figures attempt to manipulate and outmanoeuvre one another using their public images and personalities.