Celebrity Traitors is thrown into chaos as James Acaster is BANISHED after revealing his true identity in show's biggest twist yet - leaving Maya Jama and King Kenny in the firing line ahead of the final

He has emerged as the unlikely heartthrob of the series, sailing through the competition largely unscathed.

But James Acaster took centre stage on Thursday night, and in a show first, the comedian revealed he was a Traitor at the roundtable, before the vote had even begun.

Acaster and Maya Jama both came under fire, as the Faithfuls linked them to Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight.

The Love Island host, 32, defended herself, particularly against Michael Sheen, 57, who said: ‘If you are Traitors, you’ve done it brilliantly.’

Sheen then turned to Acaster, 41, and quizzed him on the specifics of the murder in plain sight, including how he knew about the deadly perfume bottle.

‘I understand how you’ve put it all together,’ Acaster responded, adding: ‘I can’t really argue that it sounds feasible, and that sounds like it could have happened. I can promise you that I didn’t spray him.’

James Acaster took centre stage on Thursday night, and in a show first, the comedian revealed he was a Traitor at the roundtable, before the vote had even begun 

Acaster and Maya Jama both came under fire, as the Faithfuls linked them to Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight 

Then, speaking to the group, he shockingly said: ‘I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be.

‘I’ve had a unique experience on this that no one has had before, where I wanted to be a Faithful; that’s all I wanted to be. I couldn’t just go, “Guys, it’s me, vote for me.” But that’s all I can do, really.’

Filming was paused as Acaster became ‘anxious’ and had to gather himself before making his speech.

‘The pressure got to him, and it was clear he was finding it difficult. Everyone agreed filming should be stopped before things got too heated,’ one insider told the Daily Mail.

‘Everyone was aware of the pressure getting to James throughout the series; it was difficult to watch him struggling.’

Acaster received all of the votes, and before his exit told his fellow celebrities: ‘When I came into this experience, I told Claudia that all I wanted to be was a Faithful and all I wanted to do was go round this castle and help the Faithfuls as much as possible, catching Traitors. I’m really proud to say that’s what I’ve been able to do under the circumstances.

‘I am, reluctantly, a Traitor,’ he added, admitting a ‘weight has been lifted off his shoulders’.

Producers are convinced it will be one of the most talked-about TV moments of the year and go viral online. The explosive scene is also likely to boost ratings for the final.

The Love Island host, 32, defended herself, particularly against Michael Sheen, 57, who said: ‘If you are Traitors, you’ve done it brilliantly'

Sheen then turned to Acaster, 41, and quizzed him on the specifics of the murder in plain sight, including how he knew about the deadly perfume bottle - before he finally cracked

Viewers also bid farewell to Faithful Joanne McNally, 43, who was banished during a tense roundtable after last week’s cliffhanger 

Then it was Scottish actress Sharon Rooney who was brutally murdered by the Traitors 

Ms Jama appeared defeated, telling viewers: ‘Tonight was the hardest night of the whole experience.

'No words, no thoughts. I knew James didn’t want to be a Traitor after we chose him. There was not one piece of me that could jump up when he said he was a Traitor. I’ve played a good acting game so far, but that part I just couldn’t pretend.’

The Traitors' downfall started earlier in the episode when they committed their sixth murder.

Acaster, Ms Jama, and King Kenny, 29, chose to kill Scottish actress Sharon Rooney, 38, despite the actress having heat on her from the previous roundtable.

‘This could actually ruin all of our futures,’ Ms Jama said, with Acaster adding: ‘This is a risky move, but I’m proud of us that we are taking such a big gamble at this point.’

Earlier at the breakfast table, Ms Jama also made a slip-up, which luckily went undetected among the Faithful.

When discussing catching Traitors, she shouted, 'Let's murder them,' when she meant to say, 'Let's banish them'.

Viewers also bid farewell to Faithful Joanne McNally, 43, who was banished after last week’s cliffhanger.

Ms Jama, Kenny, Sheen, Romesh Ranganathan, 48, James Blunt, 52, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 35, and Sebastian Croft, 24, will battle it out to win the prize pot, currently at £64,500, for their chosen charity

Outside the picturesque Ardross Castle, the group raised a glass to celebrate alongside host Claudia Winkleman

But in the celebratory moment, Sheen told the camera: ‘Right at the end there, it was just me and Maya again. Just the two of us. And yet now I think she’s a Traitor'

With the Faithfuls on to Ms Jama, and after Acaster’s downfall, it is all to play for

Speaking about her experience in an exit interview, the comedian explained: ‘It was confronting. It was more hardcore than I could ever have imagined, and the speed at which you get sucked into the game is frightening.

‘You go in, everyone's holding hands and laughing, and within 24 hours you're living in a palace of paranoia, accusing your own mother of killing people, and she's not even in the show.’

On Friday, Ms Jama, Kenny, Sheen, Romesh Ranganathan, 48, James Blunt, 52, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 35, and Sebastian Croft, 24, will battle it out to win the prize pot, currently at £64,500, for their chosen charity.

Outside the picturesque Ardross Castle, the group raised a glass to celebrate alongside host Claudia Winkleman.

But in the celebratory moment, Sheen told the camera: ‘Right at the end there, it was just me and Maya again. Just the two of us. And yet now I think she’s a Traitor.

‘I’m just sort of thinking, is this the last night I have here? Only the night will tell.’

With the Faithfuls on to Ms Jama, and after Acaster’s downfall, it is all to play for.