Celebrity Traitors Friendships Test Trust Inside The Castle

The Celebrity Traitors has put longtime friends and former colleagues into a contest where familiarity can make deception harder. James Acaster, recruited as a Traitor, described fellow comedians who know him well as his “biggest threat.”

The opening episodes brought existing relationships into the game, including friendships among Acaster, Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan. Several contestants warned before filming that knowing someone outside the castle would not guarantee trust inside it.

Celebrity Traitors Friends Know Each Other’s Habits

Acaster and Lycett have worked together on “Travel Man” and share a running joke about people confusing them. Lycett has also publicly described Acaster as a friend.

On Celebrity Traitors, that relationship now sits alongside Acaster’s role as a Traitor. Discussing whether to help fellow Traitor Richard E Grant clear his name, Acaster acknowledged how familiar contestants were with his behavior.

“Romesh, Joe, Rob know me really well. They all know that I don’t change my mind overnight,” Acaster said.

Ranganathan and Beckett are close friends who have repeatedly worked together, including on their travel show “Rob & Romesh Vs.” They have also made joint appearances on panel programs such as “Mock the Week.”

Before Celebrity Traitors, Ranganathan said Beckett was one of his best friends and that they had worked together for a decade. Even so, Ranganathan said that closeness would not let him trust Beckett in the game.

“I mean, he’s just as easily going to be on my side as he is going to twist the knife in my back given the opportunity,” Ranganathan said.

Shared Credits Do Not Guarantee An Alliance

Other Celebrity Traitors comedy connections include Lycett and Beckett’s appearances on “Last One Laughing.” Joanne McNally and Ranganathan appeared on “Unacceptable,” while Acaster visited Ranganathan’s hip hop podcast.

McNally said before the show that the comedians had not been working together behind the scenes. “We know that we’re more than willing to throw each other under the bus,” McNally said.

According to the BBC’s relationship reporting, Jerry Hall and Grant also have longstanding ties. Hall said she had known Grant for 30 years and described him as her neighbour.

The pair appeared together in the children’s film “Tooth” in 2004. Grant was also photographed leaving Hall’s wedding to Rupert Murdoch in 2016.

Hall defended Grant when he came under pressure in the opening episode. The earlier report on Grant’s premiere disclosure covers that separate episode development.

Fewer Connections May Offer A Different Advantage

Leigh-Anne Pinnock suggested that being less familiar to other contestants could help her. Pinnock said people knew her from Little Mix without knowing her personality well.

TV reporter Siobhan Synnot similarly said familiarity can become a disadvantage in “The Traitors.” Maya Jama played down her own connections, saying nobody in the cast really knew her.

Separate entertainment coverage includes Margot Robbie’s Paris fashion appearance and the Tokyo Film Festival lineup.

The next Celebrity Traitors episode is scheduled for Thursday 8 October at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Another episode is due at the same time on Friday 9 October.