The first episode of The Celebrity Traitors hit BBC One with a bang on Wednesday, plunging a star-studded cast into a chilling and emotional spectacle. The opening challenge set a grim tone, as celebrities were led to a foggy graveyard, each standing before a tombstone etched with their own name. Host Claudia Winkleman, with her signature blend of charm and menace, delivered the rules: the first six to unearth a hidden shield from their graves would earn immunity from the night’s first “murder.” The stakes were high, and the drama was immediate.
Among the contestants, Charlotte Church stood out in her pristine white dress, a stark contrast to the muddy earth she soon found herself clawing through. While others wielded shovels, Charlotte, overcome with emotion, dove into her grave with bare hands, tears streaming down her face as she dug frantically. Her raw determination paid off—she was among the six to secure a shield, earning temporary safety alongside Jonathan Ross, Joe Marler, Joe Wilkinson, Kate Garraway, and Celia Imrie. Yet, in a shocking twist, Charlotte later sacrificed her hard-won immunity during a group task to boost the prize fund by £15,000, leaving herself vulnerable and the audience stunned.
As the celebrities moved from the graveyard to the castle, Claudia orchestrated the next bombshell: selecting the Traitors. With the group blindfolded around a roundtable, she tapped presenter Jonathan Ross, singer Cat Burns, and comedian Alan Carr to play the deceivers. Alan’s reaction was anything but subtle—his barely contained giggles as Claudia chose him sparked immediate suspicion. Speaking to the camera, he confessed, “I have a sweating problem, and I can’t keep a secret. What am I going to do? It’s a weight burning on my shoulders!” He even compared himself to series three’s Linda Rands, whose infamous blunder made her a Traitor target. Fans on X were quick to react, with posts like, “Alan Carr is gonna be the worst Traitor ever, so obvious,” and “Alan Carr having to bite his lip to stop laughing immediately. He has no hope whatsoever.”
Viewers are already buzzing about the trio of Traitors. While Jonathan Ross and Cat Burns may have a chance to play it cool, Alan’s nervous energy has fans predicting a swift unraveling. “Cat may surprise us, but feel like she’ll crumble. Alan has NO hope,” one viewer tweeted. Another quipped, “Alan Carr is somehow going to vote himself as a Traitor at the roundtable, isn’t he?” The comedian’s infectious charisma might be his downfall in this game of deception.
With the last civilian season pulling in seven million viewers per episode, BBC bosses are banking on The Celebrity Traitors to replicate that success. Rumors are already swirling about the next lineup, but Claudia has made one thing clear: no one gets a free pass. The celebrities will face the same wild, nerve-wracking challenges as their civilian counterparts. As Charlotte’s emotional grave-digging and Alan’s shaky start set the stage, two stars are now in the Traitors’ crosshairs. Who will survive the first betrayal? The game is on, and the cameras are rolling.