Acaster and Jama Miss "Celebrity Traitors" Special After Tense Finale

James Acaster and Maya Jama were notably absent from the "Celebrity Traitors" Uncloaked live special on Friday night, following a tense finale where the remaining Faithfuls, Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft, were crowned the winners. The duo split the £83,000 prize money after successfully banishing the show's Traitors.

Viewers saw Ranganathan, 48, and Croft, 24, outmaneuver Traitors Jama, 32, and King Kenny, 29. The latter pair had largely remained undetected until the penultimate episode, when Acaster, 41, dramatically revealed his identity under pressure and was subsequently banished. Michael Sheen, who was murdered in the final episode, also did not attend the live special but sent a video message.

Representatives for Acaster and Jama stated that prior work commitments were the reason for their absence. Jama has been reportedly filming series two of "The Gentlemen" this week.

During the finale, Ranganathan expressed his trust in Croft, stating, "I trusted Bash and I was right to. I cannot believe it! I just really hope my mum is proud." He also highlighted his developing friendship with Croft as a major highlight of the show, noting how their alliance paid off in the end game. Croft, an actor, described the moment Ranganathan declared himself a Faithful as "incredible" and "the best day of his life."

The winning pair allocated their winnings to charities: Croft chose Choose Love, and Ranganathan supported the Refugee Council.

Fans reacted positively to the outcome, with many praising Ranganathan and Croft for their strategic play. Comments on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) lauded the duo's "excellent loyal game" and highlighted the charitable causes they supported as a fitting end to the series.

Acaster's departure from the show occurred during Thursday's penultimate episode at the round table. After being questioned about the murder of Ross Kemp, Acaster admitted to being a Traitor, a role he stated he accepted reluctantly and contrary to his initial desire to be a Faithful. His confession led to filming being paused due to his visible anxiety. An insider told the Daily Mail that Acaster had struggled with the pressure throughout the series.

Before his exit, Acaster addressed his fellow contestants, reflecting on his experience and expressing pride in his actions despite being a Traitor. His admission, he said, lifted a weight off his shoulders.