Ross Kemp Eliminated in 'Celebrity Traitors' 'Yawning' Trap

Ross Kemp became the latest contestant to be murdered on Celebrity Traitors, falling victim to a "yawning" trap orchestrated by Traitors Maya Jama and James Acaster. The elimination occurred during Thursday's episode after Kemp was the first Faithful to yawn, a critical element of the Traitors' plan to eliminate him in plain sight.

Kemp, known for his tough-guy persona on shows like EastEnders, had reportedly grown increasingly paranoid throughout the series. Ironically, his demise mirrored his earlier suspicions of being murdered in plain sight by fellow contestants Bella Ramsey and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

The "yawning" tactic involved Jama and Acaster engaging Kemp and Jerry Hall in a deliberately "boring" conversation, punctuated by their own exaggerated yawns. The goal was to induce a yawn from a Faithful, which, upon inhaling a "deadly sleeping powder," would seal their fate. Kemp was the one who succumbed.

Upon opening the scroll revealing his fate, Kemp read: "Dear Ross, by order of the Traitors, you have been murdered. The Traitors murdered you in plain sight." He reflected on the experience, stating, "I have been true to myself, and I have been true to the Faithfuls. Well played, Traitors, but you’re always going to be Traitors, and I know where you live."

Maya Jama expressed some remorse, saying, "Grant Mitchell, aka Ross Kemp, I loved you as a child, and I love you as a real person. You just fell into the worst trap ever, and I’m so sorry. Hopefully we can still be friends."

Host Claudia Winkleman revealed Kemp's murder the following morning, prompting renewed suspicion among the remaining contestants as they sought clues.

Viewers on social media platform X had anticipated Kemp's potential downfall, noting the obviousness of Jama and Acaster's fake yawning in the previous episode. Many speculated that Kemp's paranoia would lead him to suspect the Traitors, with some suggesting he would be more likely to identify the murderers than Jerry Hall.

The "murder in plain sight" mission required the Traitors to make a Faithful yawn by boring them into submission. The success of this strategy against Kemp marks a significant development in the competition, intensifying the hunt for the remaining Traitors.