The second series of Celebrity Traitors reached its climax on Friday 30 October, when twenty-one celebrity participants were whittled down to a final showdown on BBC One. The format pits a hidden group of Traitors against the majority of Faithful players, each side trying to outwit the other before the endgame around a fire pit. After weeks of secret alliances, whispered accusations and daring challenges, the episode concluded with comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian “Bash” Croft emerging as the last two Faithful.
The final line-up and the first decisive vote
Entering the last roundtable, only seven competitors remained: Romesh, Bash, singer James Blunt, YouTuber King Kenny, Love Island host Maya Jama, Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock and the remaining Traitor. Maya and Kenny were identified as the two Traitors, and Maya was the first to be banished after a decisive vote that even saw Kenny—her fellow Traitor—cast the deciding ballot.
Fire-pit showdown and the tie that changed everything
With four players left—Rom Romesh, Bash, Kenny and Blunt—the contestants gathered around the iconic fire pit to decide whether another banishment was needed. The vote split evenly between Kenny and Blunt, creating a historic tie. Host Claudia Winkleman therefore turned to the two Faithful, Romesh and Bash, and asked them to break the deadlock. They chose to eliminate King Kenny, removing one of the two remaining Traitors.
James Blunt’s last-minute gamble
After Kenny’s exit, three Faithful still stood: Romesh, Bash and James Blunt. The rules allowed the remaining players to either end the game or trigger one final banishment. Blunt, perhaps hoping to force a double-elimination, opted for another vote. Both Romesh and Bash voted against him, sending Blunt out of the game and sealing the victory for the duo. A Daily Star source later quipped, “James Blunt was always saying he’d got it wrong across the whole series, and he was mostly right about that. At least he was consistent.“
Celebration, relief and charitable payout
When the smoke cleared, Romesh announced on his BBC Radio 2 interview, “Last night, I don’t know if you’re aware, was the finale of the Celebrity Traitors and I won.” Bash added, “I am feeling good, it’s so nice to finally be able to talk about it properly.” The pair split the £83,000 prize equally, directing Romesh’s share to the Refugee Council and Bash’s portion to Choose Love. Bash, known for his role as Ben Hope in Netflix’s Heartstopper, became the third consecutive gay male winner of the franchise, following Alan Carr and Stephen Libby.
James Acaster’s unexpected confession
The penultimate episode on Thursday 29 October added another twist when comedian James Acaster disclosed his Traitor status at the roundtable—a first for the series. Production halted briefly so welfare staff could check on his wellbeing. A BBC spokesperson reiterated that participant safety is the “highest priority” and that a dedicated welfare team monitors contestants throughout filming. The incident sparked discussion about the psychological pressure of the game, but the show continued without further interruption.
Viewership and legacy
The finale attracted an average live audience of 11.2 million, with catch-up figures expected to push the total even higher. Analysts noted that the climactic vote, combined with the emotional release expressed by the winners, turned the episode into one of the most-watched television events of the year. As the series prepares for a fifth civilian season in January 2027, the dramatic conclusions of this celebrity edition will likely shape future casting and game-play strategies.
