The current season of the reality competition show *The Celebrity Traitors* is witnessing an unprecedented development as cast members prepare to expel a Traitor at the first Round Table, a move that has never before occurred. Actor Richard E Grant has become the primary target for banishment following his unexpected admission of being a Traitor shortly after the game’s launch.

The series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, features a group of celebrities who are divided into Faithfuls and Traitors, with the Traitors tasked with covertly eliminating other players. In Thursday's opening episode, Grant, known for his role in *Withnail & I*, quickly revealed his traitorous allegiance, a rare and bold tactic in the game’s history.

Comic Joe Lycett highlighted the significance of the moment, stating that no Traitor had ever been evicted this early. Former *Coronation Street* actress Julie Hesmondhalgh echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the risk the Faithfuls take if they choose to remove anyone other than Grant, who openly confessed.

Despite Grant’s self-incrimination, some participants—including model Jerry Hall, actress Myha’la, and comedian Joanne McNally—speculated that his declaration might be a strategic ploy or simply a facet of his eccentric personality. McNally expressed strong doubt, vowing she would “eat my own bonnet” if Grant were truly a Traitor.

Meanwhile, suspicions also circulated around actor Ross Kemp, singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Hesmondhalgh. However, by the conclusion of the Round Table, most agreed that Grant’s expulsion was imminent. Fellow original Traitor Maya Jama expressed frustration, lamenting the predicament faced by her supposed ally and referring to the situation as "the biggest hole imaginable."

Grant, 69, hoped to rely on reluctant newcomer James Acaster, a comedian and one of the few Faithfuls, to divert suspicion from him. However, Acaster, wary of raising suspicion himself, declined to defend Grant, stating that sudden shifts in behavior among comedians well-acquainted with him would be immediately noticed. He maintained he would not jeopardize his own standing to save Grant.

Though resigned to his likely elimination, Grant promised to put up a fight rather than exit quietly, vowing: “I’m not going down like some broken-winged old duck – I’m going to give it some welly.”

Separately, the show reflected on the experience of previous Faithful player Amol Rajan, who was "murdered" in the game’s chapel. Rajan compared the intensity of that moment to a pilgrimage he undertook last year during India’s Kumbh Mela, describing the event as a highly charged spiritual gathering. As a journalist, Rajan admitted facing strategic uncertainty throughout his time on the show, unsure whether his natural inquisitiveness might invite suspicion.

The latest developments also saw model Jerry Hall and mathematician Hannah Fry selected for elimination following a challenge led by Ross Kemp, which involved the celebrities being exhumed from shallow graves. During this, Hall used the game’s elimination code word "haggis," confirming that both she and Fry were out of the competition with no opportunity for protection or reprieve.

*The Celebrity Traitors* continues on BBC One, with the next episode scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m.