Celebrity Traitors 2026 fans react to awkward recruitment and early murder

The second season of Celebrity Traitors has returned to the BBC with dramatic format twists, early eliminations, and immediate fan reactions across social media. Twenty-one stars arrived in the Scottish Highlands for the ultimate game of deception, and the second episode quickly delivered high tension following a major cliffhanger regarding Amol Rajan and James Acaster.

As the second episode began, viewers and contestants discovered the fate of Rajan and Acaster. It was revealed that Rajan had been murdered, making him the first celebrity eliminated from the game. Fans expressed mixed feelings about the swift exit, with some posting that Rajan deserved better, while others thought it was the correct decision for the game's flow.

Meanwhile, Acaster walked back into the breakfast room as a newly recruited Traitor. Speaking about his reluctant transition, Acaster admitted he was gutted to leave the Faithful side because he dislikes lying, but noted he accepted the role to avoid being killed. Viewers quickly reacted to his visible discomfort, with one fan noting he looked like he wanted to be a detective instead, while another declared his awkward screen time was the best thing ever.

The episode featured a subterranean mission that required the celebrities to stay buried inside individual coffins for fifteen minutes while workers shoveled dirt over them. Contestants were allowed to shout the word haggis to escape early, but doing so would leave them vulnerable to murder. Jerry Hall became the first to shout the safe word due to the enclosed space, which also forced her partner Hannah Fry to end the mission early.

Although the remaining celebrities successfully completed the challenge by freeing everyone and securing £5,000 for the prize fund, Hall and Fry were left directly in the firing line. Fans shared sympathy for the pair, noting that Fry had already begun sniffing out the Traitors' reasoning before landing in jeopardy of the next murder.

Back at the castle, Richard E Grant found himself facing intense heat from his co-stars over his behavior. Alongside Grant, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Hannah Fry, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were brought into heated discussions as the Faithfuls attempted to figure out who might be hiding a secret.

The mounting suspicion culminated in a dramatic confrontation at the Round Table, where Grant was told by fellow stars that he had forced their hands. Just as the group debate reached its peak, the episode cut to a dramatic cliffhanger, leaving viewers waiting to see how the accusations will resolve.

With the group divided, early casualties confirmed, and key players vulnerable to the upcoming murder, the latest installment of Celebrity Traitors has set the stage for a volatile run in the Scottish Highlands as the remaining contestants navigate the ongoing game of lies and backstabbing.