One of the best shows on television has returned. There are many versions of The Traitors, but the one that rises above them all is Celebrity Traitors UK.
Spoilers ahead, don’t read any further if you’re yet to watch the episode.
Twenty-one celebrities have been whisked away to the castle in Scotland, and host Claudia Winkleman has set off the deceptive game of deduction. The first episode featured celebrities gushing over each other, standout fashion moments, and one of the Traitors taking the unusual approach of telling everyone they were, in fact, a Traitor.
It’s a move rarely seen across the wider Traitors franchise.
The participants began their journey at the chapel, arriving one by one. First came actor Michael Sheen, followed by television presenter Maya Jama, who raised the fashion stakes with an outer-space-inspired raincoat ensemble.
Joe Lycett arrived looking appropriately eccentric. Actor and musician Sebastian “Bash” Croft came next, followed by actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, who shared that she has a habit of wanting to be friends with everyone she admires.
Romesh Ranganathan arrived next, followed by ‘tough guy’ documentary presenter Ross Kemp and former model Jerry Hall. Bella Ramsey slipped into the chapel looking as though they were not entirely convinced they had been invited, while singer James Blunt looked dapper. Hesmondhalgh immediately told Blunt she was excited to meet him.
Myha’la arrived shortly afterwards, prompting Hesmondhalgh to reveal that she was also a fan and had recently watched every episode of Industry. Actor Richard E. Grant entered dressed in tweed and an impressively arranged scarf, and Hesmondhalgh was equally delighted to see him.
James Acaster made a subdued entrance, followed by mathematician Hannah Fry, singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, journalist Amol Rajan, Miranda Hart, actor Sharon Rooney, and content creator King Kenny.
As the chapel began to fill, comedians Rob Beckett and Joanne McNally took their seats. McNally sported a pink-and-black cowhide ensemble as she strut the catwalk of the church aisle. Finally, a coffin was carried into the chapel, revealing host Claudia Winkleman. The entrance echoed a memorable arrival previously used by Australian host Gretel Killeen.
The first task the participants were given was to immediately nominate the person they believed to be the most trustworthy among them.
A chorus of voices suggested Julie Hesmondhalgh, but Joe Lycett, presumably having watched previous series, noted that the nomination might see Julie placed in one of Claudia Winkleman’s coffins and sent straight out of the game. The others, who had also presumably seen previous series, said they were happy with their choice. Perhaps it was the collective fangirling.
The outcome was not an early exit, but a reward. Julie was given two immunity shields, keeping one for herself and handing the other to Joe as a thank-you for his chivalry.
During the drive to the castle, 70-year-old former model Jerry Hall said she hoped she would not be eliminated too soon because she had brought many fabulous outfits. James Blunt offered to wear them if she left early, and now we’re hoping that prediction comes true.
After exploring the castle and mingling, the contestants headed to the round table, where they were blindfolded while Claudia selected the season’s first Traitors with a tap on the shoulder.
Maya Jama and Richard E. Grant received the tap, perhaps because Claudia recognised that Maya could make a raincoat look high fashion and Richard could swirl a scarf better than anyone else in the room.
During the discussion that followed over drinks, Joe Lycett asked Richard whether he was a Faithful or a Traitor. Grant immediately replied that he was, indeed, a Traitor, creating a moment of stunned silence around the room.
Jerry Hall brushed it off, explaining that she and Grant are neighbours and that she knew how much the eccentric actor had wanted to be chosen as a Traitor. The others, however, appeared far less convinced.
Later, in the turret, Richard and Maya met as Traitors for the first time and discussed just how much trouble Richard may already have caused for himself.
Claudia then revealed their next challenge. The following night, they would be given the opportunity to select a third Traitor by inviting two contestants to meet them in secret. One would be recruited into their ranks, while the other would become their first victim.
The next day, the contestants headed off to a mission, tackling the same challenge recently seen in the US version of The Traitors. The task required them to open a series of chests aboard a shipwreck before it exploded.
Former British Army officer James Blunt and resident man-of-action Ross Kemp immediately took charge, while Jerry Hall demonstrated that she was not afraid to tell people exactly what to do.
The group successfully completed the mission and, in the final moments, Bella Ramsey grabbed a captain’s hat from the ship and placed it on Kemp’s head.
“You didn’t just kill me, did you?” Kemp asked, suddenly concerned that he had become the victim of a murder in plain sight.
On the journey back to the castle, Kemp worried that his time in the game might already be over. Meanwhile, Richard E. Grant attempted to push the theory that one of the Traitors had to be a comedian. The rest of the group seemed far more convinced that one of the Traitors might actually be Richard.
Back at the castle, Leigh-Anne Pinnock briefly rubbed Kemp’s arm as she walked past the bar. Kemp immediately became concerned that he had been murdered in plain sight.
For three decades, Kemp has cultivated a reputation as one of British television’s toughest figures. Based on this episode, however, he may soon need to add “most paranoid” to his résumé.
As darkness fell the traitors picked Amol Rajan and James Acaster as their nominees for either recruitment or death. After hearing them plead their cases, they huddled to decided who would get which outcomes.
Watch The Traitors on 10Play.
