The wait is finally over – Claudia Winkleman is back hosting the brand new Celebrity Traitors UK, and viewers are already calling it ‘one of the best TV launches of the year.’
The new series aired at 9pm tonight on BBC One and one traitor elected by Claudia – dubbed ‘worse than Linda’ – has got viewers chattering into the night.
Yep, that’s right, Linda, who was picked as a traitor in season 3, and managed to make everyone suspicious of her before they could even make it to their bedchambers.
Despite comedian and TV star Alan Carr’s obvious, flamboyant nature – which could be seen as polar opposite to the typical temperament of a traitor – fans have flocked to social media to share their excitement of Claudia’s choice.
At the first round-table, Claudia took laps, tapping a traitor one at a time, eventually selecting broadcaster Jonathan Ross, comedian Alan Carr, and singer Cat Burns as the traitors.
Viewers went crazy when the UK’s very own chattyman, Alan, was chosen as a traitor.
Alan’s one-liners had the audience in fits, after he called Cat ‘cool and calm’ and compared himself to ‘just the PR face.’
Fans were quick to take to X to share their thoughts, (ppoteacht64): ‘Celebrity Traitors is absolutely brilliant!!!! Alan Carr’s reaction to being a traitor is TV gold. This series is going to be excellent.’
One fan, @galaxywolf07787, wrote: ‘Making Alan Carr a traitor on Celebrity Traitors is honestly some of the best TV. As soon as I saw him, I was hoping he would be one, and he is so excited to see who he kills.’
‘Alan Carr is easily the most entertaining / potentially dreadful traitor ever!’ @joelivoryharte added.
Plenty of fans already have their pick for the top player, with one viewer, @BurningSunBon, tweeting: ‘My traitor of the year x’
The new spin-off takes the familiar formula of The Traitors – part murder mystery, part psychological mind game – and swaps in a star-studded cast, all competing for a £100,000 charity prize.
Filmed earlier this year at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the celebrity edition features 19 famous faces, including Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church, Tom Daley, Kate Garraway, Jonathan Ross, and Clare Balding.
The celebrities weren’t given much time to settle in before the games began.
Their next challenge saw them working together to set a giant wooden horse alight in a ‘Trojan horse’ task that added £15,000 to the prize pot.
Tensions began to show as some contestants accidentally triggered traps, while others suspected kindness might be part of a bigger game plan.
Alan Carr wasted no time charming the faithful, making viewers wonder if he might outwit his fellow traitors or sweat through his stylish wardrobe.
The comedian and presenter was later seen joining Jonathan Ross and Cat Burns in the castle’s turret to plot their first murder.
In true Traitors fashion, the elimination twist was theatrical – the traitor must find a black lily coated in ‘poison’ and discreetly touch their chosen victim to banish.
As the episode ended on a cliffhanger, fans couldn’t help but predict that Alan would slip up.
@garybolton41 tweeted: ‘I’d be shocked if Alan Carr makes it through 3 episodes without being banished’
With nine episodes in total, there is plenty of time for viewers to be betrayed by their most beloved entertainers.
Celebrity Traitors continues tomorrow night, where we will find out if Alan managed to touch the face of a faithful and commit the first murder.
Episode one of Celebrity Traitors is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Celebrity Traitors airs on BBC One every Wednesday and Thursday at 9pm.
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