OPINION: Celebrity Traitors UK Returns, but Ross Kemp’s Early Paranoia and Game Awareness Seem to Be Taking Away Some of the Mystery
Following its successful launch in 2025, the UK edition of The Celebrity Traitors returned to television last week, and I, like many other viewers, had been eagerly waiting for the inevitable betrayals and backstabbing to unfold.
Once again, Claudia Winkleman was at the helm, introducing viewers to a fresh group of famous faces. The line-up included Love Island star Maya Jama, acclaimed actor Richard E Grant and Hollywood icon Jerry Hall.
With so many contestants already familiar with how the game works, it’s clear the programme has come a long way since its early beginnings. The show has now become a carefully established format with a huge and loyal fanbase — and the celebrity contestants are clearly aware of that.
When The Traitors UK first arrived on screens in November 2022, British viewers had little idea of what to expect. The constant twists and unexpected turns made for gripping television, while the show’s growing popularity created a genuine sense of excitement and unpredictability.
Several years on, we now have two celebrity editions, as well as four series featuring members of the public. There are also international versions from the US, India, Canada and Ireland, all available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
With such a huge amount of material to take inspiration from, the current celebrity contestants seem far too confident, almost as if they already have an idea of what is coming next. As a result, some of the mystery and suspense that made the programme so compelling is starting to fade.
For me, EastEnders star Ross Kemp is a perfect example of this. At times, it feels as though he is giving away elements of the game too early because of everything he has already seen in previous series.
From the very beginning of episode one, Ross appeared extremely nervous and seemed convinced that he could be the next person targeted. He became so suspicious that he seriously considered the possibility of being “murdered in plain sight” by fellow Faithful Bella Ramsey after she placed a hat on his head.
Even a brief touch on the arm from singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock was enough to make Ross suspicious, as he told the others that he might have already been eliminated from the game.
The fact that Ross was already openly talking about being murdered highlights how familiar viewers and contestants have become with the format. Being killed by a Traitor in plain sight would normally be a later-series twist, but because Ross has already seen previous seasons, just like many viewers, he seems to have an idea of what could happen next. In doing so, he risks taking away some of the mystery and suspense that makes the show so intriguing.
Another celebrity who, in my view, took away some of the show’s suspense was journalist Amol Rajan. When Amol was selected by The Traitors to learn his fate, his constant sighing and visible frustration made it seem as though he already had an idea of what was coming.
Richard also made a major mistake by accidentally revealing himself as a Traitor, although some of the Faithful actually believed him. This exposed too much of the game far earlier than expected, especially with suspicions already beginning to grow, and it disrupted the natural flow of the series.
Over the years, The Traitors UK has done an excellent job of keeping the format feeling fresh and exciting. The producers have made sure that each new series brings small changes compared with the one before it.
I just hope this latest instalment manages to keep that same sense of freshness. If it fails to do so, there is a danger it could end up fading away like so many other reality shows that have come before it.
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