Celebrity Traitors reveals Amol Rajan as first murder victim
Rajan is the first Faithful murdered in Celebrity Traitors series two, as James Acaster joins Maya Jama and Richard E Grant as a Traitor.
Amol Rajan has become the first Faithful murdered in The Celebrity Traitors series two, losing his chance to continue after Richard E Grant and Maya Jama chose to save James Acaster. The University Challenge presenter’s departure was revealed in Friday’s episode, resolving the opening instalment’s coffin cliffhanger.
Amol and James had been summoned to the chapel to meet the Traitors face to face, with each given the opportunity to argue why they should be recruited. One would join Richard and Maya, while the other would leave the competition immediately. Both were left lying in open coffins as Claudia Winkleman brought the decision to its dramatic conclusion.
The outcome gave James a new role in the castle and ended Amol’s game before he could take part in a banishment vote. James had initially wanted to remain a Faithful, but accepting recruitment allowed him to survive and become the third Traitor.
The opening episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer, with the next instalment airing on Thursday 8 October at 8pm on BBC One. Amol also discusses his departure on The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, available through iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
In his official exit interview, published on Saturday 3 October, Amol described the disappointment of leaving a programme he loves so early. He said he was “sort of grieving what might have been”, while also regarding the experience as an extraordinary privilege.
Being the only journalist among the celebrities had presented a particular challenge from the start. Amol explained that he had considered whether his reputation for asking questions could help him, or whether leaning into it would make the other players suspicious.
Speaking on Uncloaked, he also acknowledged that watching the episode back had made him question his approach. He had tried to avoid drawing attention to himself, but believed that spending time as a Faithful could have helped him become an effective Traitor if he had been recruited.
Despite losing their direct contest for survival, Amol backed James to excel in his new role. His assessment was that the remaining Faithful would face a difficult task with the comedian now working alongside Richard and Maya.
Amol’s advice to those still playing was to recognise how little information they had gathered at this early stage. He also pointed to Richard’s admission that he was a Traitor as something the Faithful needed to take seriously, leaving that unresolved suspicion hanging over the castle.
Image credits: BBC
