Who won Celebrity Traitors 2026?

The second series of BBC One's The Celebrity Traitors reached its nail-biting climax on Friday night with millions tuning in to see how the drama unfolded.

And after a string of twists and turns, it was comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian Croft who won as faithfuls.

The pair were the last two remaining at the firepit at the end of the BBC reality gameshow, with the players having voted out traitor and TV presenter Maya Jama during the final roundtable, with her fellow traitor, social media star King Kenny sealing her fate.

Speaking as they revealed their identities, Croft told Ranganathan: “I began this game as a faithful, but I’m ending this game as a faithful.”

Ranganathan said: “Bash, I began this game as a faithful, and I’m ending this game as a faithful.”

The pair then cheered and embraced shouting “oh my God”.

Speaking in an emotional cutaway scene, Croft said: “That was just incredible, this might actually be the best day of my life.”

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian Croft after they have won the 2026 series of BBC1's The Celebrity Traitors as faithfuls

PA

Ranganathan added: “I just really hope my mum’s proud, and also my youngest son Charlie, who wanted me to come on the show. Dad won, please show me some respect.”

It came after all contestants decided to banish again in the first round at the firepit, with former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock receiving the most votes and being banished, with all of her fellow players voting for her.

Players chose to banish again in the second round, with Ranganathan saying he thought singer James Blunt was a remaining traitor with the You’re Beautiful singer replying that he was “entirely wrong”, but Kenny opted to end the game.

The second banishment saw two votes each for Blunt and Kenny, splitting the vote, leaving Ranganathan and Croft to vote again to try and break the deadlock, eventually deciding to banish Kenny.

Players were then given the option to banish again, with Blunt choosing to banish again despite Ranganathan saying his conversation with Croft had changed his mind on whether he was a faithful or a traitor.

Ranganathan and Croft voted Blunt out, with the singer explaining his actions by saying Ranganathan had “left a question mark in my head”.

Before voting for faithful Blunt, Croft said: “I believe you’re both faithful, and I’m sad to be in this predicament, and I’m sorry James because I truly believe that you’re a faithful, but I’m a man of my word, and so I’ve had to go for you.”

Earlier in the show, the final mission saw the teams tasked with finding two underground bunkers in the Scottish Highlands filled with gold, with one team boarding a helicopter and others getting into buggies.

Once they found the bunkers they had to blow them up with dynamite.

The final took place on Friday (BBC/Studio Lambert)

To find the bunkers, the team in the buggies had to answer questions, before waving in the helicopter team to drop off the dynamite and detonator, with Jama, Croft and Pinnock hanging off the side of the helicopter to deliver the equipment.

The group successfully found and detonated both bunkers, adding £18,500 to the prize pot, bringing it to £83,000.

After being voted out at the final roundtable, Jama did not reveal her identity as a traitor as per the rules for the last episode, but told her fellow players: “Thank you, alright, love you all, good luck, you’re going to need it.”

The murder followed a meeting between the pair of traitors in the turret, which saw Kenny opt for Sheen as he was “too authoritative on that table”, but Jama worried that the murder may turn the heat on her.

After discovering his fate on the BBC gameshow, Sheen said: “The time has come, can’t say I’m surprised, but I am incredibly disappointed, gutted that I got so close to the end.

“It’s been absolutely unforgettable, and I’ve loved every minute.”

Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian Croft celebrate their victory

PA

Heartstopper actor Croft said he would be donating his £41,500 half of the prize pot to the charity Choose Love, while Ranganathan said he would be giving his money to the Refugee Council.

Croft said of his charity: “It’s an organisation that I used to volunteer at.

“The money will be going to refugees and displaced people, but predominantly queer refugees and displaced people, and they are just the best organisation.”

Ranganathan added: “I am playing for the Refugee Council, helping displaced people who need help, and of course it’s very close to my heart. So I’m very, very grateful for this.”

Presented by Claudia Winkleman, the show sees 21 celebrity contestants take part, with those assigned as faithfuls attempting to identify those who have been made traitors.

The traitors “kill off” players in the middle of the night.

The stars play the game at Ardross Castle in the Highlands, with a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice up for grabs.