Celebrity Traitors: Richard E. Grant reveals his late wife's poignant message about 'finding a pocketful of happiness'... but minutes later his unbridled joy was his downfall

Richard E. Grant followed his late wife's advice as he made his calamitous debut on Celebrity Traitors on Thursday night.

The actor, 69, was among the 21 stars to enter to Scottish castle for series two of the BBC's flagship show.

But minutes before his major mistake, the actor was revealing his happiness at fulfilling his beloved late wife Joan's wishes.

Joan, a renowned stage and screen dialect coach, died in September 2021, eight months after she was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. She and Richard had been married for 35 years at the time of her death and shared daughter Olivia, 35. 

Richard, who has shared his journey with grief on his hugely popular Instagram account, shared Joan's message to him as he revelled in his delight at being nominated a Traitor.

Richard E. Grant followed his late wife's advice as he made his calamitous debut on Celebrity Traitors on Thursday night (pictured with his wife Joan in 2012)

Nominated as one of Claudia Winkleman's Traitors, alongside Love Island host Maya Jama, Richard has already made the biggest slip-up in Celebrity Traitors history

'My wife said to me four days before she died, "Richard, try and find a pocket full of happiness in each day" and I feel like I've got a wheelbarrow full and then some,' he gushed to camera.

Just minutes later though and Richard's unbridled joy meant he made the huge mistake of revealing his identity.

As Richard mingled with Faithful Joe Lycett in the lounge area, the comedian jumped straight in with the question: 'What are you?'

'A Traitor,' Richard responded with a huge grin on his face. 

Unsure what to believe, Joe said: 'I think you've just done something that has never happened in the game... bold strategy.'

Fans were left in hysterics with Richard's game plan and suggested on social media that Richard's slip-up was in fact carefully curated to call the comedian's bluff.

They wrote on X: 'Na he’s actually lost his head in the first 5 minutes bless him',

'If Richard double bluff works than fair play', 'half an hour in and i’ve decided richard is already a hall of fame traitors contestant #celebritytraitors #thetraitors',

Richard, who has shared his journey with grief on his hugely popular Instagram account, shared Joan's message to him as he revelled in his delight at being nominated a Traitor

Just minutes later though and Richard's unbridled joy meant he made the huge mistake of revealing his identity

'Richard being a traitor and then immediately telling everyone he’s a traitor',

Jerry Hall was quick to defend Richard after co-stars began to question if he was one of the Traitors.

'I just don't believe Richard is a Traitor,' she insisted. 'I know Richard, I've known him 30 years, and he's my neighbour. 

'He says and does eccentric things. He is an amazing guy, but he is acting out because he wasn't chosen.'

'That may be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life', a despondent Richard said while contemplating his game tactics.  

He added: 'I was so thrilled to be picked as a Traitor but I clearly need to diffuse all the heat coming in my direction.'   

Richard recently shared that becoming a grandfather for the first time has taught him 'not to waste time on stuff', after his wife's death.

Five years on from her passing, Richard and Joan's daughter Olivia welcomed her baby boy.

Richard explained: 'I've felt that overwhelming thing that you're part of the cycle of life. You've gone through death and now there's a birth.

'I instantly thought, how many Christmases will I have to share with the grandchild? That's the thing that galvanises you — how many years of life you have left.'

Speaking to The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Richard added that he's begun to think 'forwardly' since the arrival of his grandson.

He added: 'A grandchild underlines your own mortality but that's a good thing because you don't waste time on stuff. You have a finite amount of time ahead of you.'

The Celebrity Traitors line-up 2026

 Jerry Hall

Jerry Hall, 70, rose to fame in the Seventies and became one of the era's most recognisable fashion icons 

Richard E Grant

Richard E Grant, 69, is celebrated for his roles in everything from the cult classic Withnail & I to modern flicks such as Everybody's Talking About Jamie 

 James Blunt

James Blunt, 52, shot to global fame with his debut album and the hit single You're Beautiful

 Ross Kemp

Ross Kemp, 62, who recently returned to EastEnders to reprise his role as hardman Grant Mitchell, is said to want to challenge himself

 Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen, 57, is celebrated for his incredible performances across stage and screen, particularly his work in Good Omens and The Queen

 Rob Beckett

Best friend of fellow Traitors star Ranganathan, comedian Rob Beckett, 40, is known for his high energy and booming laugh

 Sharon Rooney

Sharon Rooney, 37, is best known for her breakout role as Rae Earl in the acclaimed series My Mad Fat Diary

 Joanne McNally

Joanne McNally, 43, is known for her brutally honest humour and hilarious takes on dating, chaos and modern life

 Amol Rajan

Journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, 43, has carved out a successful career across major UK media, including radio and television

 King Kenny

King Kenny, 29, is a content creator known for his prank videos and street-style social experiments

 Sebastian Croft

Sebastian Croft, 24, is best known for his breakout role as Ben Hope in the Netflix series Heartstopper

  Maya Jama

Maya Jama, 32, is quickly becoming one of the UK's most popular stars and famously fronts Love Island

 Miranda Hart

Miranda Hart, 53, broke through with her hit sitcom Miranda, which became a resounding success and cemented her as a comedy legend

Romesh Ranganathan

Romesh Ranganathan, 48, has been taking British TV by storm in recent years is known for his deadpan delivery

 James Acaster

Comedian James Acaster, 41, is good friends with Ed Gamble, who hosts The Traitors: Uncloaked. The duo present the hit food podcast Off Menu 

 Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey, 22, rose to fame as Lyanna Mormont in Game Of Thrones and gained global acclaim for their leading role in The Last Of Us

 Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 34, is known as a member of the girl group Little Mix, which found fame on The X Factor in 2011

 Joe Lycett

From TV stunts to clever public pranks, Joe Lycett, 38, has built a reputation as one of Britain's most inventive comics

 Hannah Fry

Mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry, 42, is known for turning complex data into engaging content for viewers

 Julie Hesmondhalgh

Julie Hesmondhalgh, 56, is best known for her long-running role as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street – the first transgender character in a British soap opera

 Myha'la

Myha'la, 30, is known for her striking portrayal of brutal fintech expert Harper Stern in the HBO drama Industry