Celebrity Traitors' Reduced Episode Count Frustrating Viewers, Podcaster Argues
The decision to air two episodes weekly instead of three is disrupting the show's momentum, according to "Tales From The Celebrity Trenches."
The current format of "Celebrity Traitors," which releases two episodes per week instead of the three seen in the civilian version, is causing viewer frustration by excessively prolonging the reveals, according to Jamie East on the "Tales From The Celebrity Trenches" podcast. East argues that this change risks diminishing the momentum of the popular BBC series.
In previous seasons of the civilian "Traitors," round table eliminations were typically concluded within a single episode. However, with the celebrity edition airing on Thursdays and Fridays, a cliffhanger on Friday can leave fans waiting nearly a full week for the outcome. "It used to be on three nights a week," East stated. "What they've done this time is two episodes, to stretch it out over more weeks. It's become inconsistent in its format, so you never know what you're going to get."
East's co-host, comedian Alice Brine, commented on the performance of contestant Maya Jama, suggesting that "pretty privilege" might be shielding her from suspicion. Brine described Jama as having a "trifecta" of positive attributes, including a pleasing vocal cadence, natural beauty, and a speaking style that is neither too fast nor too slow, leading contestants to potentially overlook her as a traitor.
The podcast hosts believe that by altering the pacing, producers are jeopardizing the show's success. "Friday's episode just wound me up. I kept thinking: 'They've got to give us something.' This is how you start ping people off. People don't know where they are," East said. He concluded with a plea to the show's producers: "If you're watching, Traitors producers, Studio Lambert: don't quit the hit. Don't f around with my Friday nights!"
This season's "Celebrity Traitors" features Maya Jama, James Acaster, and YouTuber King Kenny as traitors. The recent episode saw Miranda Hart murdered, with the round table ending in a tie between Sharon Rooney and Joanne McNally. The podcast, "Tales From The Celebrity Trenches," is available on all major podcast platforms.