‘Celebrity Traitors 2026’ faces racism row, leaked spoilers and cast fallout

The Celebrity Traitors is back for another episode - and there's some big twists and turns ahead as the Traitors prepare for more murders and the Faithful desperately try and avoid a target being put on their back

Episode five will start with the Traitors attempting a face-to-face murder

This year's series of Celebrity Traitors has been hit by a swathe of controversy over the past week, including claims of 'unconscious bias', reports of disgruntled celebs and leaked plotlines

While the show may have pulling power when it comes to viewers, the series threatens to be overshadowed by the many scandals engulfing it.

While the show may have pulling power when it comes to viewers, the series threatens to be overshadowed by the many scandals engulfing it.

James Acaster said he was told off for discussing the weather (Picture: Getty Images North America) Comedian James Acaster has revealed that he was told off by The Celebrity Traitors bosses for giving away too much during a phone call with his partner. The 41-year-old is currently a Traitor on the BBC series after being selected by Richard E Grant and Maya Jama at the expense of journalist Amol Rajan. After originally starting the series as a Faithful and getting recruited by the Traitors, James has looked less than calm getting to grips with his new role. However, it appears that lying to his fellow celebrity contestants was not the only source of stress for him inside the Scottish castle. Speaking to The Times, James explained how the cast stay in a ‘Travelodge-level’ hotel roughly an hour away from the castle. Contestants are also shut off from the outside world for anything from four days to three weeks depending how long they survive and they cannot leave the hotel without being chaperoned. The comedian originally started the series as a Faithful (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry) He was selected to be a Traitor at the expense of journalist Amol Rajan (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry) On top of this, they can only have ten minutes each morning to FaceTime a friend or family member. ‘A member of the production team is there with you, so you can’t have an authentic conversation because you can’t tell them anything that’s happening.’ He then explained how even a seemingly harmless comment about the weather landed him in trouble. ‘At one point my partner said, “Have you caught the sun?” I was saying, “Oh yeah, we were outside for one of the missions.” I was told I couldn’t even tell her that,’ he added. James went on to say that the experience ‘is intense’ and ‘apparently on the normal version of The Traitors they don’t even get the phone call’. James lifted the lid on what it’s like to be on The Celebrity Traitors (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page This comes after it was revealed that James became ‘visibly stressed’, resulting in shooting being halted. Ahead of the show’s launch, a source revealed how ‘passionate’ the reality show became, telling The Sun that the psychological demand was overwhelming at one stage. Consequently, his fellow contestants reportedly raised concerns with the Studio Lambert production team, who paused the game to check on him. ‘The show is incredibly intense, and during one particular scene at the castle, James became very anxious and panicked,’ the insider said. ‘Some of the other celebrities on the show spoke up and said cameras should stop rolling so he could calm down, and production were in agreement as well.’ The Celebrity Traitors returns on BBC One on Thursday at 8pm. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Richard E Grant was responsible for the most chaotic launch show in Traitors history earlier this month, when he let slip to his co-stars that he’d been recruited to the dark side within minutes of it happening.Speaking to the BBC following his elimination, the Oscar nominee admitted that his daughter had already warned him about he was “incapable of hiding what you feel”, which could be to his detriment in the castle.As it turns out, she was bang on the money, but what you might not realise is that Richard had already blurted out his Traitor status earlier than most of us even realised.Richard E Grant's time on Celebrity Traitors got off to a bumpy start, let's just say thatIn a recent Mail Online article, it was reported that the Withnail & I actor had confessed he was a Traitor months before the series began airing, during an interview on BBC Radio 6 Music over the summer.Hosts Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie claimed that “Had [Traitors fans] been listening in June, you would have heard that he revealed it earlier, so we took this out because we didn’t want to spoil your enjoyment.”Crediting their “brilliant producers” for removing Richard’s outburst so as to avoid spoilers, they then played the clip for the first time, in which the British actor declared: “The very nature of being an actor is that you rely entirely on the camaraderie of the people that you are working with and to trust them, and when you are a Traitor it’s far more challenging than you might anticipate.“You would think it would be easy for actors; I think the reverse is the case.”The stars of The Celebrity Traitors 2026Richard’s indiscretion in the castle led to him being the first contestant to be banished of this year’s Celebrity Traitors, marking the first time a Traitor has ever been sent packing on the UK series’ first Round Table session.The Celebrity Traitors continues on Thursday and Friday nights at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.MORE TRAITORS:Celebrity Traitors Star James Blunt Reprimanded For Breaking Key BBC RuleMyha'la Defends Celebrity Traitors Cast After Unconscious Bias ClaimCelebrity Traitors Rep Addresses Reports Filming Was Halted Due To James Acaster Incident

The nation is currently hooked on the latest Celebrity Traitors series - however what you see on the screen isn't always how it actually unravels in the castle. 

The nation is currently hooked on the latest Celebrity Traitors series - however what you see on the screen isn't always how it actually unravels in the castle. 

Blunt played a large part in last week’s banishment on ‘Celebrity Traitors’

Beware of spoilers below, but here’s when you can find out which star has been murdered during episode 5 of The Celebrity Traitors this evening.

Viewers will finally know which celebrity the Traitors decide to murder in plain sight

As his time as a Traitor continues to fascinate fans James Acaster has lifted the lid on what life is like for the celebrities when the cameras aren't rolling

One celebrity appears to have secured a clear advantage in the game as things begin to heat up

One of the producers behind The Traitors’ success has shared his take on what has helped the show stand out in the current TV landscape.As part of a new interview with Radio Times, Stephen Lambert – the founder of production company Studio Lambert, which has helped make hits of Gogglebox, Race Across The World, Squid Game: The Challenge and, indeed, The Traitors – had two words when asked why he thinks people have become so hooked on the Bafta-winning reality show.“Dramatic irony,” he responded when asked for “the key” to what he described as The Traitors’ “universal appeal”.The cast of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 with host Claudia WinklemanHe explained: “[That dramatic irony is] the engine of The Traitors. It’s about the pleasure that we know more than the protagonists – we know who is lying. And it’s fun to try and watch people work out who the liars are.”Stephen added that, particularly with The Celebrity Traitors, which is currently airing, the famous contestants can “find it uncomfortable because they have so little control”.“It’s such an immersive game that people get caught up in it, and show how they really are,” he noted. “It’s very revealing of character, and celebrities care – a lot – how they come across.”Claudia Winkleman has hosted The Traitors and its celebrity counterpart since they premiered on UK screens in 2022Two weeks into the current season of The Celebrity Traitors and viewers have already seen some firsts – not least the first time the Faithfuls have ever successfully banished a Traitor on their first go (helped in no small part by Richard E Grant outing himself to the group before he’d even set foot in the turret).Friday’s episode ended on a unique cliffhanger, which saw Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Ross Kemp, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett having been selected to play a deadly game of hide-and-seek, as one of them faces murder by The Traitors.The Celebrity Traitors continues on Thursday night at 8pm on BBC One.MORE CELEBRITY TRAITORS:The Psychology Behind Why Celebrity Traitors Feels So Much More Intense Than The Regular ShowCelebrity Traitors Already Has 2 A-List Volunteers For The Cast Of Season 3Celebrity Traitors Star James Blunt Reprimanded For Breaking Key BBC Rule

Celebrity Traitors bosses have confirmed that contestant James Blunt was recently given a telling off over a social media post that went against BBC rules.As reported by Metro, James had shared a picture of himself on the set of the Bafta-winning reality show sporting one of his signature tweed suits on social media.“The name’s Blunt. James Blunt,” the Goodbye My Lover singer wrote, alongside a link to the brand responsible for the suit’s social pages.James Blunt in the Celebrity Traitors castleHowever, the post – which also featured The Celebrity Traitors’ logo – was quickly pulled, after bosses noticed that it went against the corporation’s regulations around commercial endorsements.A BBC rep told Metro: “The BBC has clear guidelines in place around commercial activity which we take very seriously and players have been reminded of this.”“The social media posts referred to have been taken down,” they added.The cast of The Celebrity Traitors 2026HuffPost UK has also contacted James Blunt’s team for comment.James is one of 21 famous faces who signed up for the second season of The Celebrity Traitors.So far, he’s been seen leaning into the leadership skills he acquired during his time in the military as part of the show’s “missions” – but his abilities at deciphering “Traitors” are definitely less well-honed.Indeed, Friday’s episode saw him leading the charge for Julie Hesmondhalgh’s banishment, and when she revealed herself as a “Faithful”, suspicions swirled around the Grammy nominee.Which members of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 cast are still in the game?Of the 21 contestants who entered the castle at the beginning of the current season of The Celebrity Traitors, there are 16 left. They are:Professor Hannah FryJames AcasterJames BluntJerry HallJoanne McNallyJoe LycettKenny Oghenovo “King Kenny” OjuederieLeigh-Anne PinnockMaya JamaMichael SheenMiranda HartRob BeckettRomesh RanganathanRoss KempSebastian CroftSharon RooneyWhich of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 cast members have been banished and murdered so far?Traitor Richard E Grant was the first to be banished, followed by Faithfuls Myha’la and Julie Hesmondhalgh.An additional two contestants – Amol Rajan and Bella Ramsey – have also been murdered by the Traitors.The Celebrity Traitors continues on Thursday and Friday night at 8pm on BBC One.MORE TRAITORS:Celebrity Traitors Already Has 2 A-List Volunteers For The Cast Of Season 3Myha'la Defends Celebrity Traitors Cast After Unconscious Bias ClaimCelebrity Traitors Rep Addresses Reports Filming Was Halted Due To James Acaster Incident

Celebrity Traitors fans are convinced BBC bosses have dropped a huge hint on who makes it all the way to the BBC final after news was 'leaked'

Former Celebrity Traitors star Myha’la has jumped to the defence of her co-stars amid claims that unconscious bias was partly responsible for the group choosing to banish her.The Industry star is one of 21 famous faces who took part in the current season of The Celebrity Traitors, eventually becoming the second contestant to be banished, when the majority of her castmates voted her out.When Myha’la reflected on her short time in the castle on Instagram over the weekend, one critic suggested to the American actor: “Unfortunately you were banished because you are BLACK. This is a consistent thread in this racist show.“You were the first one to be strategically banished. We cannot count Richard [E Grant] because he outed himself and the cast had no other choice but to banish him. You, my love, were banished because you are Black. And I’m so sorry.”Myha'la in the Celebrity Traitors cast before she was banishedUnconscious bias on reality shows like The Traitors has been discussed numerous times, with Myha’la acknowledging that while she agrees this is an ongoing and prevalent issue, she believes she was responsible for her own demise.“I understand why you feel this way, and I may have agreed with you had I not winked at Richard effectively aligning myself with a known Traitor, found and concealed then seemingly reluctantly revealed I had a shield, or (what you really don’t see much of) expressed my thoughts and feelings openly to literally everyone (which many people who get out early in this game do),” Myha’la wrote.She insisted: “I sealed my own fate! And that early in the game there is VERY little to grasp on to, and I gave them… a lot.“However, I do agree that unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in this game where my authenticity or honesty or the ways in which I choose to express myself look suspicious to people who are unfamiliar with people like me.”The cast of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 at their very first Round TableThe Black Mirror actor continued: “I had this fear coming into the game, as I am a BIG fan and also clocked right away how prevalent this is in this game. And I came in knowing I’d be the only American (apart from Honorary British National Treasure Jerry Hall).“I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist, but I do have to defend my dear friends on this show who in no way consciously put bias on me because of my race. That’s not a fair or complete assessment of what really happened in my case.“And! I do think games like this should allow more conversation around unconscious bias and how, when under pressure, people (society) gravitate towards things they know and understand or subsequently push away from things they don’t. It’s all love, and I REALLY genuinely appreciate your support.”View this post on InstagramWhich members of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 cast are left in the game?Two weeks into the current season of The Celebrity Traitors, there are 16 celebrities left in the game. They are:Professor Hannah FryJames AcasterJames BluntJerry HallJoanne McNallyJoe LycettKenny Oghenovo “King Kenny” OjuederieLeigh-Anne PinnockMaya JamaMichael SheenMiranda HartRob BeckettRomesh RanganathanRoss KempSebastian CroftSharon RooneyWhich members of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 cast have been banished and murdered?In addition to Myha’la, fellow actors Richard E Grant and Julie Hesmondhalgh make up the three stars who have so far been banished.An additional two famous contestants – Amol Rajan and Bella Ramsey – have been murdered by the Traitors.The Celebrity Traitors will continue on Thursday night at 8pm on BBC One.MORE CELEBRITY TRAITORS:Celebrity Traitors Already Has 2 A-List Volunteers For The Cast Of Season 3Richard E Grant Finally Explains What That Celebrity Traitors Blunder Was All AboutCelebrity Traitors Rep Addresses Reports Filming Was Halted Due To James Acaster Incident

The finalists of Celebrity Traitors 2026 are believed to have been leaked with fans now having to avoid spoilers.

The class of Celebrity Traitors 2026 have given us some jaw-dropping TV, but apparently there was even more drama when the cameras stopped rolling

'Who makes the final is now a hot topic.'

Sources say that unlike last year's celebrity version of the programme, when the line up had fun and enjoyed it, this time it became extremely stressful behind the scenes.

Celebrity Traitors is said to be in chaos after a star's pal has claimed to know who has made it to the final - after 9.6 million tuned into Friday night's episode.

Celebrity Traitors is said to be in chaos after a star's pal has claimed to know who has made it to the final - after 9.6 million tuned into Friday night's episode.

Sources say that unlike last year's celebrity version of the programme, when the line up had fun and enjoyed it, this time it became extremely stressful behind the scenes.

A source has claimed that even though the line-up of The Celebrity Traitors signed NDAs while filming the show, the finalists have become 'a hot topic' at showbiz events