Like many fans of The Celebrity Traitors, the BBC’s release schedule for the Bafta-winning reality show is something we have mixed feelings about.
On one hand, only putting out new instalments on Thursdays and Fridays really drives up anticipation between episodes, which is exactly what you want in a show where the stakes and tension are supposed to be sky-high.
But at the same time, leaving almost a week between Friday’s and Thursday’s episodes can be agonising – especially when there’s a cliffhanger ending. Plus, it can be the case that we’ve sometimes forgotten the specific goings on in the castle in the interim, and need to brush up on what’s gone down before we can enjoy the next instalment.
If that sounds familiar, we’ve rounded up seven questions we’re in dire need for answers to in the next episode, after Friday night’s cliffhanger ending…
Who have Maya Jama and James Acaster killed?
Alright, this is the biggie. At the end of Friday’s episode, the Traitors found out that they’d been tasked for the first time with “murdering” one of their castmates in plain sight.
To do so, they had to get one of them to yawn before the end of the night, before delivering the fatal line: “Am I boring you?”
Maya Jama and James Acaster seemed to have two Faithfuls in their sights as their next victim, doing their best to get a yawn out of either Ross Kemp or Jerry Hall. But were the successful? And if so, which one of them has sealed their own fate with a yawn?
If it’s Jerry Hall that has been killed, will Ross Kemp notice Maya and James’ strange behaviour?
When Maya and James kept doing exaggerated yawns, in a bid to get one of their castmates to mimic them, it really did seem like Ross had it sussed that something strange was going on.
If it’s Jerry who doesn’t come down to breakfast in Thursday’s show, will he work out that he was present for her murder? Or were his reactions just a case of clever editing to drum up suspense?
On the other hand, if Ross is gone, will James Blunt avenge him by coming for Leigh-Anne Pinnock?
At the end of Friday’s Round Table, Ross took James Blunt aside to warn him – incorrectly, we might add – that he thinks Leigh-Anne is a Traitor.
If it’s Ross who wound up performing a deadly yawn, we could imagine James bringing up his parting words, which could well backfire for the former Little Mix singer.
That being said, the You’re Beautiful star has so far backed so many Faithfuls for banishment, and pushing Leigh-Anne out definitely wouldn’t help the suspicions that are already mounting against him.
Could banishment be looming for Joanne McNally?
We know who the Traitors are, and even we find ourselves suspecting Joanne McNally at times.
The comedian has opted out of voting out either of the Traitors who’ve been banished so far, and only had flimsy reasons when pressed about her reasons for doing so. Meanwhile, the suspicions raised by her clumsy comment that made out she was present during Rob Beckett’s murder are showing no sign of going away.
Now Joe is gone, we could imagine that if Maya and James have managed to slip under the radar for another day, fingers could well be pointed in her direction.
How is King Kenny going to fare as a Traitor compared to Maya and James?
Friday’s episode marked the YouTuber’s first full day as a Traitor. Since his appointment to the dark side, he’s not actually had all that much to do Traitor-wise aside from spraying a bit of perfume, and was even pulled out of the room by Sharon Rooney when Maya and James were trying to get a yawn going.
We reckon the first of this week’s episode will be crucial for Kenny’s place in the game – especially if Ross does manage to turn people’s attention towards James and Maya’s Traitor-hood.
Miranda Hart was one of the only contestants not to vote for Joe Lycett – but will that be a help or a hindrance to her?
Miranda Hart’s close bond with Joe Lycett meant her gut wouldn’t let her vote him off even when the rest of the group did, which turned out to be a correct decision as he revealed himself to the group as a Faithful.
Not only that, but Miranda was previously instrumental in former Traitor Hannah Fry’s banishment, proving herself to be an asset to the Faithfuls in the castle.
While this may make her more trustworthy in the group, it will also make her prime fodder for banishment, if the Traitors realise she’s not likely to ever be banished, so we’ll be curious to see how her reputation affects her spot in the castle.
Will we be getting another performance from Big Mix?
Yes, please. Perhaps this week a ballad…?
The Celebrity Traitors continues on Thursday night at 8pm on BBC One.
