Amol Rajan Reflects on 'Playing the Wrong Game' After Early Exit from Celebrity Traitors
The journalist admits regret over his strategy after becoming the first player eliminated from the reality competition.
Amol Rajan, a participant in Celebrity Traitors, has spoken out about his early elimination from the show, admitting he "played the wrong game." Rajan was the first contestant to be murdered in the series, a fate revealed after a cliffhanger episode ending.
He lost a head-to-head challenge against comedian James Acaster, which led to his departure. Rajan confessed that in hindsight, he wished he had adopted a different approach during his time on the show. "It's hard not to watch it and think I, obviously, with 20/20 hindsight, I played the wrong game," Rajan stated. He also expressed a desire to have been chosen as a traitor, believing his experience as a faithful would have made him effective in that role.
The episode concluded with a dramatic cliffhanger, leaving viewers uncertain about the fate of the contestants. Host Claudia Winkleman's actions following a roundtable discussion between the players led to speculation, before it was confirmed Rajan's murder.
Following his elimination, Rajan appeared on the companion show, The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked. He reflected on his time, stating, "It's just an absolutely unforgettable ride of a lifetime. And honestly, there's kind of an unhappy contrast right now, because I'm sort of grieving what might have been." Despite his early exit, he added, "In time I know that I'll come to look on this as honestly one of the greatest privileges of my life."
Rajan's departure means that James Acaster will now join Maya Jama and Richard E Grant as a traitor. The celebrity edition of the popular reality series has faced some audience criticism for its use of cliffhanger endings, particularly when the show cut off before a final vote at the roundtable.
Fans expressed frustration on social media regarding the abrupt ending of the episode, which prevented viewers from seeing the vote. This format choice has led to anticipation and debate about the show's progression and the strategic decisions made by the contestants.