‘The Celebrity Traitors’ Ratings Have Never Been Higher. So Why Has This Season Felt Unusually Flat?
The second season of The Celebrity Traitors has drawn record audiences, but many viewers have found it less lively than the first. Its early loss of Richard E. Grant, who immediately revealed he was a Traitor, removed the high-profile, unpredictable presence producers appeared to be counting on, leaving a less dramatic dynamic in the turret.
The BBC says the opening episode reached 15.7 million viewers within seven days and the second attracted 15.2 million. The premiere is the UK’s most-watched programme of 2026 so far, while the season has become the franchise’s most popular instalment and the biggest series launch across the market since 2022. TV critic Scott Bryan says the current Traitors, including Maya Jama, James Acaster and King Kenny, are entertaining but have not brought the same chaos and humour as Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross did last season.
In short
- Season two has record ratings but feels flatter to many viewers.
- Richard E. Grant’s early exit left the turret short of a chaotic presence.
- The premiere drew 15.7 million viewers within seven days.
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The case for
The season’s record audiences suggest it is succeeding as television, even if its tone differs from the previous series. Maya Jama, James Acaster and King Kenny may offer a more measured style of intrigue, and a less chaotic turret can leave more room for suspense and different personalities to emerge.
The case against
A record audience does not necessarily mean the season is as lively or satisfying as its predecessor. Richard E. Grant’s early exit removed an unpredictable presence, and the current Traitors have not, in critic Scott Bryan’s view, matched the humour and disorder Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross brought to the previous series.
Explained simply
The Celebrity Traitors is a celebrity version of a game show in which contestants secretly take on the roles of Traitors or Faithfuls. The Faithfuls try to identify the Traitors, while the Traitors work to avoid detection; contestants are eliminated as the game progresses.
The programme is part of the BBC’s Traitors franchise, which builds its drama around suspicion, alliances and the personalities of its players. Celebrities bring existing public profiles and contrasting styles to the game, so who is playing—and how they behave together—can shape the atmosphere as much as the rules.
Audience figures show how many people watched, while a sense of whether a series feels lively is more subjective. The contrast between the current cast and last season’s may help explain why strong viewing figures do not necessarily mean viewers experience the same kind of entertainment.
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