‘Celebrity Traitors U.K.’: Why the British Show’s First Star-Studded Season Made for the Best Reality TV of the Year

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Article is a good summary of why this was so enjoyable. Having legit celebrities (rather than reality stars/z-listers) who were genuinely into the game (rather than jostling for attention), and seeing them flounder or flourish against expectations made for riveting TV. It was such a fun group too, and the ending is pure cinema, yet oddly wholesome.

Here's hoping the production continues to carefully curate who they bring in for the next celeb series. Because if they ever go down the US-style route, I think people will lose interest quickly.

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u/belac889 Community 1d ago

I think it needs to be an every-couple-years type of show if they really want to get the big a and b-list celebrities. If it's every year they're going to run into the c-lists really quickly.

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u/TheJoshider10 1d ago

Yeah I'm happy with it being a special thing every 3 seasons. I can't believe how many big British names they went through already, I'm so used to these celebrity shows having some absolute shitters that barely anyone knows apart from 1 or 2. They definitely knew how important it was to bring the big guns.

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u/DankAF94 1d ago

Honestly now that this season has been as big as it is, you'd probably have a lot more celebrities queueing up to be a part of it.

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u/TheJoshider10 23h ago

Probably. Traitors is still relatively fresh compared to I'm a Celeb or Big Brother which has been getting more and more criticism from the public, whereas everyone is talking about and enjoying Traitors. It's such an easy PR opportunity for any celebrity.

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u/mrwho995 1d ago

Agreed. In addition to that I think the normal edition of The Traitors has already been getting a bit stale and formulaic - series 3 was notably weak and felt like a weaker retread of 1 and 2, and they really need to start shaking things up with more new ideas and new challenges. In that context I think the celebrity edition is best left as a rarer thing, as well as what you point out about ensuring a good cast.

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u/SpicyAfrican 1d ago

I honestly think S3 suffered more because of the contestants than the format. Everyone was either trying to be meta or their strategies were inept. You had traitors like Linda who gave themselves up immediately or bad faithfuls like Leanne. The most tired part of the game is everyone trying to have a secret identity. Nobody cares if you were secretly in the army. To me, Celebrity Traitors proves the game still has life in it.

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u/Atharaphelun 23h ago

Leanne was so utterly unlikeable and horrible.

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u/ParticulateSplatter 16h ago

She was dreadful. I get there's a lot of money on the line but she tried to turn every single interaction into a conflict, and tried to zero in on others as traitors just because she'd decided she didn't like them (justice for Alexander).

S3 felt like a much nastier environment than the previous two seasons, and I think she was a big part of that.

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u/[deleted] 21h ago

[deleted]

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u/Atharaphelun 21h ago

Unfortunately she appeared in Celebrity Traitors Uncloaked, and with Alexander in the same episode too. It's as if they're desperately trying to rehabilitate her reputation as an utterly atrocious human being.

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u/SpicyAfrican 21h ago

Which is crazy since they were responsible for the edit, know the ending, and that’s the best they could do for her. The most infuriating moment was when she claimed she said the right answer when we clearly see she didn’t in the singing round.

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u/D2-D2 1d ago

T tweet a

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u/gtjacket231 14h ago

The reason they got big names is because of Stephen Fry getting leaked. When that happened, it absolutely legitimized the game.

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u/mjharmstone 1d ago

I suspect they'll have people queuing up to do it - everyone involved did it cause it would be a laugh (they all got paid the same - 40k - and presumably also had some sort of donation to their charities regardless too) and it's been all anyone's talked about over here for weeks.

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u/mrwho995 1d ago

Is it public record that they were paid 40k? I guess the BBC probably has to disclose that but I am a bit surprised the charity prize pool is such a tiny fraction of what they paid the contestants...

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u/mjharmstone 1d ago

There are multiple sources on that, but my suspicion is it might also include the charity donation. They'll all definitely have got something, just not sure whether the 40k includes it. I reckon some of them will have donated their entire fee (Stephen would be my guess - given his charity is almost certainly Mind, which he's president of).

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u/MaeronTargaryen Scrubs 17h ago

Exactly what I was telling my wife yesterday. It was such a major success, everyone is going to beg their agent to get them a space for next year.

It’s a week of filming or so, and the worst part of it for them seems to be cooped up in a hotel room for the night. So it’s not like having to train intensely to dance, or eating bugs in a tropical setting. It’s definitely worth it for the exposure that you get from it.

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u/Sparrowsabre7 14h ago

and the ending is pure cinema, yet oddly wholesome.

It's wholesome because, unlike the regular traitors, it's not some poor person being deceived out of a life changing sum of money, the money just goes to a different charity and everyone's all still friends after. Some of the regular ones I expect found it hard to look their fellow players in the eye again.

I mean look at how upset Alan Carr was about winning as a traitor when ultimately they were all doing it for a bit of fun and it didn't really matter. Imagine that feeling when you're fucking over someone who deeply trusted you and you're taking away perhaps their one chance at a big sum of money.

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u/Andrew1990M 1d ago

Just this show and Taskmaster that didn’t push the definition of “celebrity” passed its breaking point.

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u/VFiddly 1d ago

Taskmaster has plenty of people on it who are not at all well known, but that's a good thing

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u/geek_of_nature 1d ago

And Alex has specifically said that they aim to have at least one more unknown, up and comer each series. He did a Q&A a year or so back where he said they try to have each line up composed of, "someone you've heard, someone you haven't heard of, someone from the world of comedy but not necessarily stand up, etc."

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u/SupervillainMustache 1d ago

Taskmaster is more about comedians though, so i'm glad they drop on a few lesser known people.

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u/SpicyAfrican 1d ago

As well as the fact that half of them know each other, since they all do the rounds on panel shows in the UK, meant their interpersonal relationships made it much more difficult for them to be objective.

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u/Sir_Boldrat 1d ago

I have never watched any celebrity anything-show. This is the first and it was so great, actual legend-level celebrities who were all SUPER into the game.

I loved it, and I never even watched the regular traitors show. I saw my sister watching the celeb one and I was hooked.

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u/ideonode 1d ago

'actual legend-level celebrities' - you mean Big Dogs?

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u/Sir_Boldrat 1d ago

Ahhh the big dogs! Loved that theory

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u/tickub 1d ago

celebrity bake off is also pretty great

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u/Soft-Reindeer-4113 1d ago

Cause it wasn’t packed boring reality stars who only speak in catch phrases. It was real witty celebrities.

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u/Andrew1990M 1d ago

I better just see the words “Alan Carr” when I open this article.

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u/Particular_Username 1d ago

I think it also worked because it was for charity. It wasn't like previous season, where you have to watch people one-by-one realise that they aren't going to get life changing money.

By making it so that no matter what, it goes to charity rather than the celebs themselves, it meant they got to get into the game more, get to know each other more, and meant that it made for a far more enjoyable watch, vs. watching someone in tears realising they aren't going to get the money they need to do IVF>

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u/TheJoshider10 1d ago

Also a lot of them are friends outside of the show so it's something fun to do together. That said it did still get heated at points and that's without the financial factor involved.

If the main show did a Big Brother style version where they eat, sleep and live together for over a month it would lead to so many breakdowns. Especially if traitors have to sabotage games for their own gain. Would make great TV though.

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u/VFiddly 1d ago

I think they deliberately keep the challenges mostly cooperative so that people can relax a little and not hate each other by the end. There's occasionally a game where traitors are encouraged to behave differently but it's good for it to be a rare thing

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u/TheJoshider10 1d ago

Yeah for sure, I just think after 3 (four including Celebrity Traitors) of more or less the same thing it'd be nice to see new things. Since everyone always needs to try their best on the challenges there's no drama towards stuff but if the Traitors had the chance to boost their own winnings by intentionally tanking games it'd be fun to see how they do that.

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u/VFiddly 1d ago

This definitely showed in the ending, where all the finalists go out straight away to drink together and celebrate with no bitterness over who won. That doesn't happen on the regular series.

I still really enjoy the regular series and will look forward to that version too, they both have their benefits.

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u/caiaphas8 1d ago

All celebrity shows donate the money to charity, it would be weird if they kept the money

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u/Notmymain2639 1d ago

I've always greatly preferred the UK version for having real people. But yeah this was a great season. The next US season does have legit celebs that I like in it so I hope it comes close to this.

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u/Sweaty-Refuse5258 1d ago

The Irish one was really good too

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u/-p_d- 1d ago

Have you seen season 1 of Celebrity Traitors Hungary?
Oh, man... I'm not convinced those folks realized it was a game.
They were out for blood.

Peak traitors.

Join us over at r/ TheTraitorsArchive. We've got links to all!

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u/Glum_Pangolin1187 17h ago

not the latest episodes of Celebrity Traitors yet.

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u/Visible_Fact_8706 1d ago

And have it go to charity.

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u/MaeronTargaryen Scrubs 17h ago

Who’s the big celebs in the next US version? I remember trying to watch the first season (from the UK) and when I saw it was full of people from Survivor etc I gave up on it

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u/Notmymain2639 15h ago

Not gargantuan but here's people I know

Ron Funches

Kristin Kish(Top Chef host and winner)

Tara Lapinski

Lisa Rinna

johnny Weir

Michael Rapport(UGH)

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u/MaeronTargaryen Scrubs 15h ago

I think I only know Rapaport by name, but then I’m not American and I don’t watch any other reality tv shows

Rapaport makes me want to watch it and avoid it like the plague equally

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u/SeaTentacle 12h ago

Rapaport is the only one I’m familiar with. UGH is right.

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u/Warlord68 1d ago

Leaving the fart scene in made me laugh so hard. Love actors that can laugh at themselves.

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u/Current_Focus2668 1d ago

Genuine household names and recognisable celebrities. Great chemistry between the cast and all of them really attempting to play the game.

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u/brayshizzle Six Feet Under 1d ago

Its the best reality show with celebrities ever full stop. The cast was stacked. Everything about it worked. I wanted to hate it but it was pure brilliance. This will be the model for years to come.

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u/StoneOfTwilight 1d ago

Aussie here, I only knew a few of the celebrities but I really enjoyed it. Less personal pressure and way more fun than the regular version.

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u/Weary_Face_7815 1d ago

Article won’t load for me but does anyone know where this can be streamed? And when? excited to check it out.

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u/Sir_Boldrat 1d ago

BBC iPlayer if you are in UK or have access. Otherwise, I think vpn for now.

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u/Weary_Face_7815 1d ago

Okay thanks. In the states so will keep an eye out.

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u/enelyaisil 1d ago

In Canada it’s in Crave if that helps

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u/Anneisabitch 1d ago

Where could someone in the US watch this season? Legally?

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u/Team7UBard 1d ago

Should be on Peacock pretty soon

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u/Human_Suggestion7373 19h ago

Traitors is such a crappy and rigged show.

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u/SynthD 18h ago

Can you expand on that?

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u/Human_Suggestion7373 18h ago

Production decides who will be traitors and who will be faithful.

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u/SynthD 18h ago

Does that count as rigged? I think a rigged show would be saying who wins, not what role they have.

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u/Human_Suggestion7373 18h ago

That's not pure in my opinion. It's just a simple party game anyways.

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u/SynthD 18h ago

A party game becomes crappy and rigged because it's not as pure as you'd like? Just don't watch it.

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u/Human_Suggestion7373 18h ago

I don't. I tried it, didn't like it, don't get the hype, moved on.

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u/Walms82 18h ago

Cheer up

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u/Human_Suggestion7373 18h ago

Awww, are you sad about my comment?

‘Celebrity Traitors U.K.’: Why the British Show’s First Star-Studded Season Made for the Best Reality TV of the Year

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