James Acaster’s confession lifts a tentative Celebrity Traitors series
James Acaster admitted at the round table that he was a Traitor and had helped murder Ross Kemp, after Michael Sheen challenged him. The confession was a major moment in a series that has set ratings records, but the article argues the celebrity edition has felt tentative and failed to match the format’s usual tension.
The piece says Richard E Grant’s early mistake led to repeated Traitor recruitments, disrupting the Faithfuls’ theories and weakening the story’s momentum. It also argues that some recruits, including Acaster and Hannah Fry, seemed uncomfortable with betrayal, while familiar celebrities being eliminated early left viewers with less to enjoy. The finale could still bring surprises.
In short
- James Acaster confessed to being a Traitor.
- Repeated recruitments weakened the game’s momentum.
- Record ratings have not guaranteed a compelling series.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The series has broken ratings records, and Acaster’s confession delivered a striking moment of candour that could restore momentum before the finale. Repeated recruitments and the discomfort some celebrities showed may have disrupted the game’s usual suspense, while early exits among familiar faces gave viewers less time to enjoy them.
The case against
The celebrity edition’s tentative feel may be a deliberate consequence of contestants having different appetites for deception, rather than evidence that the format has lost its tension. The recruitments repeatedly changed the field and challenged the Faithfuls’ theories, and the finale could still make those shifts pay off with surprises.
Explained simply
The Traitors is a reality game in which a group of contestants, called the Faithfuls, try to identify hidden Traitors among them. The Traitors secretly eliminate players, while the Faithfuls vote to banish someone they suspect at round-table meetings.
In the celebrity edition, public figures take part, and the game depends on secrecy, suspicion and shifting alliances. Repeatedly recruiting new Traitors can change the balance of the game, while the contestants’ familiarity to viewers may affect how their departures are received.
The format’s appeal comes from watching players weigh evidence against trust and decide whom to believe. A confession or unexpected betrayal can reshape those relationships and the path to the end of the game.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “Sky-high ratings – for a lacklustre series: The Celebrity Traitors has become too nice for its own good”.