"It’s genuinely so pathetic": Richard Osman hits back at Celebrity Traitors backlash after finale

Richard Osman has weighed in on the right-wing backlash surrounding the final of Celebrity Traitors season two, which saw Heartstopper's Sebastian Croft and comedian Romesh Ranganathan win the prize cash for the Faithful.

Osman and his podcast co-host Marina Hyde addressed the criticism, which branded the duo's victory as "a stitch-up", given that Croft and Ranganathan's chosen charities both aid refugees.

"Even in a conspiracist culture, this is one too far," Hyde said on The Rest Is Entertainment, to which presenter, producer and novelist Osman branded the controversy "pathetic".

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"I'm done with it. It's genuinely so pathetic," he commented.

"15million people watched that. Let's say 1,000 people are being t***s about it. That’s like being in a Championship football game, 15,000 people watching, 14,999 cheering, and just one idiot who's not happy."

He added: "I tell you what, be incredibly popular and successful and then go on a hugely successful game show and then be the smartest player on that entire show and show empathy and show gameplay and show intelligence. Then you can give money to whoever it is that you want to."

Hyde went on: "I would say to the people, 'What have you done?'" Osman then agreed: "Don’t jump on the back of a show that’s made by incredibly talented people, that has been a hit, which is not something you’ve been able to do in your lifetime."

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Osman concluded: "Let people be free. Let people think freely because that’s what you’re supposed to think about. And I’m really sorry that two people who wanted to give money to refugees won this show, but that's the world that you are living in. Different people think different things to you."

Croft's chosen charity was Choose Love, which supports refugees and displaced people, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community. Ranganathan, meanwhile, opted for the Refugee Council, which also supports refugees who have been forced to flee their homes and are seeking safety in the UK.

In other news, The Celebrity Traitors star Michael Sheen has said he was given a "poisoned chalice" by his fellow players in season two.

The Celebrity Traitors season two is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. 

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).