Richard E Grant has drawn sharp criticism for his performance on Celebrity Traitors, with The Telegraph calling him the worst Traitor the show has seen. The verdict came as the programme's third episode aired, according to coverage of the series.
The BBC reported that the Traitors claimed their first victim of the series, while Grant attempted to protect himself from suspicion. Good Housekeeping described his latest mistake as another blunder, asking why the moment had effectively sealed his fate on the show.
The Guardian covered the third episode as it happened, and The Independent has published the full lineup of famous names taking part in this year's run. The Telegraph's assessment of Grant was published on Thursday, 8 October 2026.
Celebrity Traitors places well-known contestants in the format of the hit reality series, in which a hidden group of Traitors works to remove other players while avoiding detection. The reporting indicates Grant is one of those cast in the Traitor role, and that his conduct in the game has become a talking point among viewers and critics.
Coverage of the episode focused on the first elimination of the series and on Grant's attempts to deflect attention from himself. The Telegraph's headline was blunt in its judgement of his play, while other outlets framed his misstep as a decisive moment for his chances.
With the first player now gone, attention turns to whether Grant can survive the next round of banishment and whether the remaining Traitors can keep their identities hidden.
