Celebrity Traitors host Claudia Winkleman speaks out on Richard E. Grant’s blunder that broke unspoken rule

Celebrity Traitors host Claudia Winkleman has spoken out after Richard E. Grant made one of the most extraordinary mistakes seen on the BBC series.

The second celebrity reality TV series began on Thursday (1 October), with 21 famous faces entering the castle to compete for up to £100,000 for their chosen charities.

Grant, 69, was selected as one of the first Traitors alongside presenter Maya Jama, having made it clear before the game began that he was desperate to land the role.

The actor said he would be ‘utterly ruthless’ if chosen and insisted he would feel ‘no guilt as it’s a game’, adding: “If you’re playing the game, you’re playing the game. Friendships mean diddly squat.”

However, his plans were thrown into immediate doubt just minutes after Claudia made her decision.

Some viewers wondered whether Grant’s apparent blunder could become a double bluff (BBC)

After returning to the group, comedian Joe Lycett directly asked Grant whether he had been selected as a Traitor.

Rather than denying it, Grant replied: “Traitor”.

The admission effectively broke one of the game’s most important unwritten rules, with Traitors expected to keep their identities hidden while attempting to convince the Faithfuls they are innocent.

Lycett appeared stunned by the response and told him: “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

He then offered Grant the chance to backtrack, adding: “I think you’ve done something that’s never been done in the game. It’s a bold strategy.”

Claudia has since explained that Grant’s reaction came from how delighted he was to have been given the role.

Speaking after a screening of the opening episode, as reported by The Sun, she said: “He was just so happy, he just couldn’t believe it.

“We go into a room after I’ve interviewed them all, and they say, ‘This is what I want to be’. You just couldn’t not give it to him. You couldn’t not, because he wanted it so much, and he was compelling.

“And he’s Richard E Grant, I couldn’t believe that he was actually in the castle.

“He was giddy and about five minutes later, he went ‘Oh!’.”

Grant himself quickly realised the scale of the mistake. Speaking to the camera afterwards, as noted by Stroud News & Journal, he said: “That may have been the biggest mistake I’ve made in my life. I was so thrilled to be chosen that in my excitement I said I was a traitor. I need to defuse all of the heat coming in my direction.”

Claudia Winkleman said Grant was ‘giddy’ after being chosen as Traitor (BBC)

He added that he was ‘absolutely convinced I am going home’.

Despite the apparent TV slip-up, Claudia suggested the moment also demonstrated how unpredictable the game can become.

She said: “The genius of the game is everybody plays it completely differently, and he took that to the next level.”

Uncloaked host Ed Gamble also addressed the incident, saying: “It was absolutely incredible. He was just vibrating with excitement in the turret as well.

“It felt like he’d just been given the lead role in a film, and he just had to tell everyone. Such an insane moment to start a brilliant series.”

Reaction from viewers was divided, with some on social media convinced Grant had simply made a disastrous mistake, whilst others questioned whether the confession could eventually work in his favour.

One X user wrote: “Richard E Grant f*****g playing 4d chess on the Celebrity Traitors apparently”.

Another who believed it was a genuine mistake was less impressed, writing: “Richard E Grant clearly has never watched the show before. What a pleb, completely ruined it from day 1.. get him out #celebtraitors”.

Grant also received an unexpected boost from fellow contestant Jerry Hall, who did not believe his admission.

She said: “I’ve known him for over 30 years and he says and does eccentric things. I think he is acting out”