Priceless Celebrity Traitors moments you probably forgot because of Richard E Grant

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It’s fair to say the first episode of the new series of Celebrity Traitors was completely stolen by Richard E Grant. Airing on Thursday evening, our first look at the 21 new star contestants in Ardross Castle was as dramatic and hilarious as ever, largely due to the biggest blunder in the show’s history, courtesy of the Oscar-nominated icon. After Richard was chosen as one of two Traitors by host Claudia Winkleman, along with Maya Jama, he (bafflingly) blurted out to a room of his co-stars that yes, he is indeed a Traitor. Not just once, but twice. Of course, this created a ripple the size of Claudia’s fringe through the room, and he became the main focus of the episode as he and Maya worked out how to save him from the next round table vote. There was also a fair bit of attention on dear Ross Kemp, who showed himself up to be unexpectedly paranoid, and cementing his place early doors as the castle’s most nervy Faithful. (What in the Grant Mitchell is going on there?) But there were plenty of vintage Traitors moments throughout the episode, and plenty of quippy one-liners, that are worth talking about. Richard, we love you, but your whopping error overshadowed some of the finer moments of Celebrity Traitors’ first episode… (Picture: BBC) Here’s my pick of the best bits that made me laugh out loud that are worth re-living… Claudia Winkleman’s coffin entrance Only Claudia Winkleman could pull off the campest arrival of 2026 – being carried into a church in a coffin. As the 21 assembled newbies waited for the human-sized box to be carted down the aisle, everyone was wondering who it could be. Could it be another surprise celebrity contestant? Could it be Paloma Faith from last year’s show? Camp, considered, completely ridiculous – Claudia Winkleman entering in a coffin was sublime (Picture: BBC) No, it was our fantastic host Claudia, making her best entrance in the show’s history. The whoops and cheers from the cast – largely from a very hyped-up Myha’la – were warranted. Hannah Fry’s bang on self-awareness Professor Hannah Fry is, in my opinion, a serious one to watch this season. Unassuming and insanely intelligent, the maths whizz is perhaps someone that viewers may think would be a good Traitor given her huge intellect. But, when being questioned by Claudia over whether she’d be a good Faithful or Traitor, she gave the most self-aware – and correct – answer possibly ever given. Professor Hannah Fry knows exactly who she is – and can deliver a line brilliantly (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative) Sat there in her red checked blazer, she replied: ‘I think I’d make a better Faithful than a Traitor… I’m like, dripping with prefect energy.’ Claudia found this as amusing as me: brains and wit from Hannah? I’m sold. Rob vs Romesh There’s a lot of chatter about having best pals and frequent collaborators Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan in the castle together, with many speculating how they’re going to betray each other. Let’s hope that’s the case for entertainment’s sake, but in the meantime, a short scene in episode one saw them sizing up to each other in a pointless exercise. ‘Are you a Traitor? No, are you a Traitor?’ they asked each other, secretly, like silly little schoolboys, before Rob conceded: ‘That’s not really resolved much, has it?’ Absolutely not, no. Romesh was my funnyman of the episode, despite not getting any major moments to himself… yet (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative) Romesh vs Joanne The moment poor Romesh got savaged by Joanne McNally was one of the funniest interactions of the episode, not least because it took barely any effort from her to bruise his ego. Having a moment of downtime playing pool, comic Joanne told Romesh bluntly: ‘I just don’t think you’re a Traitor.’ Clearly offended, Romesh replied: ‘Well, look, I’m not, but I could be if I wanted to be.’ Pulling a face, Joanne said: ‘If I was Claudia, I just wouldn’t pick you… I just don’t think she’d trust you with that job.’ Asking ‘why, why why?’, Romesh looked increasingly baffled. ‘It’s just a vibe I get,’ she concluded. ‘I trust you complicitly.’ Seizing his moment to take back the power, Romesh quickly corrected her, quipping: ‘What I’m getting from that is that you don’t know what complicitly means…’ James Blunt going into full military mode Yes, we all know You’re Beautiful crooner James Blunt used to be in the army, but it’s not really been a big part of his public identity since rocketing to fame 20-something years ago. He’s known for his music and, more so in recent times, being a bloody funny guy. Dry, sarcastic, wickedly self-deprecating – this is the James Blunt we know and love. Legitimately forgot James Blunt knows his way around a mission… until Celebrity Traitors started (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative) So seeing him suddenly snap into military mode was a whiplash moment, but quite funny given the sharp contrast between the two personas. Yelling at everyone instantly to get into teams for the burning pirate ship challenge (‘Listen! Four teams of five people each, two teams over that side, I suggest a near team and a far team!’) is perhaps giving us a big hint as to how much of a dominant leader he may become in the castle. Who is in the Celebrity Traitors season 2 cast? Amol Rajan – Journalist Bella Ramsey – Actor Hannah Fry – Mathematician James Acaster – Comedian James Blunt – Musician Jerry Hall – Model Joanne McNally – Comedian Joe Lycett – Comedian Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor King Kenny – Social media personality Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer Maya Jama – Presenter Michael Sheen – Actor Miranda Hart – Actor Myha’la – Actor Richard E. Grant – Actor Rob Beckett – Comedian Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian Ross Kemp – Actor/Presenter Sebastian Croft – Actor/Singer-songwriter Sharon Rooney – Actor Keep up with all the latest castle drama on our dedicated Celebrity Traitors page Romesh is a better Jerry Hall than Jerry Hall As well as accusing Jerry Hall of being a Traitor because of the lack of carbs on her plate at lunchtime, Romesh couldn’t help but take a light-hearted pop at her by mocking her after the mission. Jerry was quite ‘bossy’ during the challenge and, speaking in the castle afterwards, Romesh wasted no time in taking the mick. Putting on a drawling American accent, he mimicked: ‘Hurry up! Get over here! Stop lollygagging!’ ‘I dunno if she said that, but it’s the sort of thing she’d say…’ I’m predicting a lot more Romesh moments in this series, let’s be honest. Celebrity Traitors continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday at 8pm. Deals of the Day Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather I’ve found the Hoover gadget that could make cleaning your floors so much easier I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.