Amol Rajan Calls Maya Jama a 'Satanic Villain' After 'Celebrity Traitors' Elimination
The journalist reflects on his early exit from the show, criticizing the host's role in his downfall.
Amol Rajan, the first contestant eliminated from "Celebrity Traitors," has described host Maya Jama as a "satanic villain" following his departure from the show. Rajan was banished after being murdered by fellow Traitors Maya Jama and Richard E. Grant. Jama later joined the other contestants in voting out Richard.
Reflecting on his exit, Rajan, a journalist, expressed a complex sentiment towards Jama, telling Radio Times magazine, "I love her and hate her. A huge satanic, villainous power. She was able to inhabit the role of a traitor 100 per cent." He noted Jama's stern admonishments to recruited Traitors James Acaster and Professor Hannah Fry for their hesitation in eliminating "Faithfuls" without remorse.
Jama herself acknowledged potential missteps in her recruitment choices, writing on X (formerly Twitter) that she had "NO IDEA they didn't want to be Traitors when I agreed to recruit them." She added, "Remember you see more on the TV than I did in that castle #CelebrityTraitors."
Rajan suggested that less conspicuous players, such as Sharon Rooney or Leigh-Anne Pinnock, might fare better in the game than more outwardly expressive contestants like Richard E. Grant or Ross Kemp, whom he characterized as "round table hotheads."
The elimination of Rajan marks an early exit for the journalist, who admitted to "grieving" his premature departure but acknowledged the experience as a significant privilege.
The production of "Celebrity Traitors" has faced challenges in maintaining secrecy, with stringent non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in place to prevent leaks. Richard E. Grant reportedly revealed his Traitor status early in the show, an incident that had previously been hinted at by BBC presenters Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie. They recalled Grant inadvertently disclosing his role during an interview in June, months before the show's premiere, leading producers to edit out the information to avoid spoilers.
Contestants on both the celebrity and civilian versions of "The Traitors" face potential legal action and fines exceeding £100,000 for breaching their NDAs. Despite the incident involving Grant, the BBC is reportedly not pursuing further action.
