Celebrity Traitors 2026 fan reaction: Unwilling recruitment deemed 'best thing ever'

Celebrity Traitors is firmly back on our screens, and new format twists, murders and unbelievable blunders have already left fans shocked.

The second season of the beloved BBC show returned on Thursday, October 1, with 21 stars arriving in the Scottish Highlands for the ultimate game of back-stabbing, debauchery and lies.

As the second episode began, we were left on a huge cliffhanger as to who, out of Amol Rajan and James Acaster, would be recruited and who would be murdered.

Amol Rajan is the first player to be eliminated

Here are our standout moments of episode two and what fans had to say.

Amol Rajan murdered and James Acaster recruited

The episode began with Acaster and Rajan both in their coffins, before we cut to breakfast. One by one, Faithfuls and Traitors entered the breakfast room for the first time.

As it got down to the final few, it was revealed to both viewers and the Faithfuls that Rajan had been murdered.

However, unbeknownst to the Faithfuls, Acaster walked back into the room now a newly recruited Traitor.

James Acaster is the newly recruited Traitor

BBC

After being seduced, Acaster said: “I can’t believe I’m a Traitor, I’m gutted to not be Faithful anymore, I don’t like lying, but if I don’t join, then they kill me.”

Some fans were shocked by Rajan’s early elimination. “Amol Rajan deserved so much better than being the first celebrity gone,” wrote one, whilst another said they were “gutted to see Amol gone”.

However, others were pleased with the decision. “The traitors elect to murder Amol!! Think that’s the correct decision,” one user declared.

On Acaster’s recruitment, many had mixed feelings. “I really feel for James Acaster, he wanted so badly to be a faithful and have fun being a detective, and now he looks so uncomfortable,” said one.

“Amended my opinion on james acaster traitor he gets so much screentime this is the best thing ever im exceptionally jolly,” another said.

"James actually being devastated that he's a traitor now... lord this is gonna be a bumpy ride,” said a third.

Jerry Hall and Hannah Fry left vulnerable

Tonight's mission saw the celebrities buried underground in individual coffins, with grave diggers working for the show tasked with burying them.

Hannah Fry and Jerry Hall have been left vulnerable

BBC

They had 15 minutes to remain inside their coffins, but any celebrity who shouted “haggis” would be released and put at risk of murder.Jerry Hall was the first to shout “haggis”, meaning her partner Hannah Fry also had to end the mission.

The pair were therefore left vulnerable to murder, while the remaining celebrities continued with the challenge.

Ross and Romesh were the first to dig the celebrities out and were then faced with a difficult decision over whether to free everyone or leave some behind while they collected more treasure.

The celebrities ultimately chose to prioritise their fellow contestants, managing to get everyone out of their coffins before working together to collect the remaining treasure.

They secured £5,000 for the prize fund, but despite successfully completing the challenge, Jerry and Hannah were left as the only two celebrities vulnerable to murder.

That means the pair will be firmly in the firing line when the Traitors return next week, with the rest of the cast protected from murder.

Fans were quick to express their concerns for the pair.

“Hannah Fry being down for murder, being accused of being recruited, AND completely sniffing out the Traitors' reasonings in the space of about five minutes. she might not be here for long but she's absolutely made her mark!”

Another said: “So sad that Jerry Hall or Hannah Fry will be murdered just because Jerry couldn’t handle being locked in a dark enclosed space like that cos I absolutely could not handle that either.”

No banishment... yet

Back at the castle, the celebrities gathered for the Round Table as they tried to work out who they believed could be a Traitor.

Richard E Grant found himself under increasing pressure over his behaviour, while Julie Hesmondhalgh, Hannah Fry and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were also brought into the discussion as the Faithfuls questioned who could be hiding a secret.

Richard E Grant attracted attention at the roundtable

PA Media

The tension continued to build as the group debated who they could trust, before Richard was eventually told: “You’ve forced our hands.”

But just as the Round Table reached its most dramatic point, the episode ended on a huge cliffhanger, leaving viewers waiting to discover who had been banished from the castle.

“I pray Richard gets away with it and survives this roundtable. He is far too entertaining to be kicked out so soon!.” wrote one fan.

“How can they end on that cliffhanger?!!!!!,” another moaned as they realised we would have to week to find out who has left.

The next episode of Celebrity Traitors will air on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.