Claudia Winkleman Explains Richard E. Grant's Infamous 'Traitors' Gaffe
The host revealed the actor's strong desire to be a traitor led to his early dismissal from the show.
Claudia Winkleman, host of the BBC show Celebrity Traitors, has explained the reasoning behind casting Richard E. Grant as a Traitor, a decision that ultimately led to one of the series' most memorable blunders. Winkleman shared on the spin-off show Uncloaked that Grant's own eagerness to embrace the role contributed to his swift exit from the competition.
"We couldn't not pick him," Winkleman stated, comparing the situation to yielding to a child's persistent request for ice cream. "He really wanted to be a Traitor and he was excellent - at the beginning." She recalled Grant's public confession, where he directly revealed himself as a Traitor to his fellow contestants, a moment that caused Winkleman to drop her own snack. "He was even excellent when he said: 'I am a Traitor'. We've never had that before," she added.
Grant, who was the first player banished in the series, admitted his mistake was "absolutely moronic." The actor was ousted after comedian Joe Lycett, a fellow contestant, questioned him, and Grant inadvertently confirmed his Traitor status before attempting to backtrack by claiming he was merely "manifesting" a Traitor's cloak.
Reflecting on the incident, Grant expressed gratitude for public forgiveness, humorously noting he didn't have to flee to Greenland. "I should have said, I was joking Joe Lycett," he quipped.
The Celebrity Traitors finale saw Faithfuls Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft crowned the winners, splitting £83,000 between their chosen charities. They emerged victorious after successfully identifying the Traitors, Maya and Kenny. In a surprising turn, Kenny betrayed Maya in the final roundtable, voting for her to be banished.
Another notable moment from the finale involved James Acaster, who, in a show first, revealed his Traitor identity voluntarily at the roundtable. Acaster explained that he had been made a Traitor against his will and found the pressure of maintaining the deception difficult. His candid confession led to his own banishment, with fellow contestants voting him out.
During the final episode, Traitors Maya and Kenny also murdered Michael Sheen. As he was eliminated, Sheen expressed his disappointment at coming so close to the end of the game but found the experience unforgettable.
