Emotions run high at the round table as Celebrity Traitors banish two players
BBC- Spoiler warning: This article reveals details from the third episode of The Celebrity Traitors, series two.
We normally expect raised voices, conflicting theories and a dramatic showdown from the Celebrity Traitors. But as this year's first round table got under way, the writing was on the castle wall.
Viewers who often get frustrated with the faithful and root for them to uncover a traitor had their wish firmly Richard E Grant-ed on Thursday, as the actor was banished in a landslide vote.
His questionable strategy of revealing he was a traitor to the other celebrities in the bar led to the first time in the UK version of the show that a traitor has been identified at the opening round table.
"Thank you for giving me an almost bingo full-house of votes," Grant told his fellow players. "I have always wanted to be a traitor, and sometimes in life your dreams do come true."
There was jubilation from the other celebrities as Grant confirmed his identity, waving his hands in the air. Ross Kemp was so happy it came out as borderline anger, with a vein-popping "get in there!"
Other players seemed genuinely shocked. "This is me with men all the time," joked comedian Joanne McNally, who hadn't voted for Grant. "I completely believed him!"
But although the faithful had successfully found a traitor, and even managed to spell his name correctly on their slates, the first round table saw some other players behave in ways that immediately aroused suspicion.
Julie Hesmondhalgh noticed Myha'la ostentatiously winking at Grant before she voted for him, which later prompted the former Coronation Street actress to make one of the most impassioned - but mistaken - speeches of the night.
"It was traitor-on-traitor," she declared (it wasn't). "I don't know if anybody else saw it," (we did). "I am so excited because I truly believe we can get two in a row," (don't count on it).
The remaining traitors, Maya Jama and James Acaster, met in the turret later with the choice of murdering previously shortlisted players Jerry Hall and Hannah Fry, or seducing a third traitor to replace Grant.
The pair ultimately decided to recruit mathematician Fry, who had the most wonderful and meme-able reaction when she found out that, not only was she not being murdered, she was being seduced.
Accepting the offer, Fry joined Jama and Acaster in the turret, exclaiming as she learned their identities: "I had both of you down as faithful!"
The new trio discussed how they would approach breakfast the next morning, before Acaster delivered the line of the episode.
"It's changing a lot, this Traitors," he observed of the fluid line-up. "It's like the Sugababes."
The next morning, there were shocked faces when the players realised everybody had made it to breakfast unscathed, with the celebrities concluding that one player must have been recruited.
"It was fascinating seeing Jerry and Hannah come back," said Miranda Hart. "Hannah seemed different, as if something new has happened to her." Oh yes? "I definitely clocked a nervousness in her, which is very interesting."
We could have a first-rate traitor hunter on our hands here. But would any of Hart's fellow players feel the same way? "Poor Hannah," said McNally, "she's been recruited." Uh-oh.
As the theories continued to float around across various sub-meetings, with Hesmondhalgh, Bella Ramsey and several others setting their sights on Myha'la, the celebrities headed out to the next mission.
Presenter Claudia Winkleman explained the latest task would see them use a battering ram to break down the doors of four crypts, where they could find money to add to the prize pot - and also potentially bag some shields.
James Blunt immediately took control, assigning players various roles. "He was full army officer," Hart observed. "I found it mildly erotic."
"I don't think I've ever used a battering ram," Joe Lycett reflected. "I would use a battering ram to get into [Wicked star] Jonathan Bailey's house, but that's it."
Myha'la and Fry entered one crypt, found a shield and debated who should keep it. They agreed on Myha'la, partly because she had grabbed it first, although she sweetly suggested that the pair could keep it secret from the other players to protect both of them.
Jama and Sharon Rooney, meanwhile, scored two further shields, but the players then found that some shields would have to be given up anyway in order to unlock the final chest of prize money.
Rooney and Myha'la surrendered theirs, but traitor Jama quietly held on to hers. The other players didn't know she had one, and the TV presenter asked Rooney to keep it secret. That decision could come back to bite her in later episodes.
In the cars on the way back, the players continued to debate various hunches, with one particularly awkward journey where Myha'la and Hesmondhalgh admitted they were suspicious of each other.
"I feel like you've been a little bit vague," said Hesmondhalgh. "That's only because I've thought it's been you from day one," Myha'la replied.
We've certainly come a long way from the pair's first exchange just two episodes ago. "It's lovely to meet you Myha'la, I'm such a big fan!" - "Oh my God, thank you!"
Back in the castle, Rob Beckett had adopted a new policy. "When someone comes up to talk to me, I just agree with them, whatever they say," he laughed in the castle's diary room.
As the players gathered for the second banishment of the episode, discussion inevitably turned to prime suspect Myha'la.
"I've heard my name a whole bunch today," she acknowledged, as the others struggled to square her behaviour during the mission.
The actress became visibly emotional as she recounted the events of the crypt and attempted to justify grabbing the shield before offering it to Fry.
"I was going to give it to her," Myha'la said tearfully. "I was worried about my protection, but I thought maybe [Fry] had more heat."
Sensing that the tide was turning against Myha'la, Fry stuck the knife in. "Why would you scrabble for the shield, and then be keen to give it away?" she asked.
Despite a sprinkling of votes for other players, Myha'la became the second casualty of the episode. "I have loved getting to know you all," she said as she confirmed her faithful status to the other players.
Hart became even more suspicious of Fry, however, after realising the mathematician had orchestrated events to make Myha'la's behaviour at the crypt look less innocent. "Miss Marple is so on," Hart said with a smile.
Later, the traitors met in the turret and debated who their next victim should be, settling on a shortlist of Blunt, Ramsey and Sebastian Croft.
Acaster had a characteristically unique reason for suggesting James Blunt.
"It would make my life easier," he said, "because every time someone says 'James', I'm turning around, and half the time, it's for him."
Celebrity Traitors continues on Friday at 20:00 BST on BBC One and iPlayer.
