Richard E Grant says he 'perfectly understood' Maya Jama's betrayal but was stunned James Acaster voted him out

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

Richard E Grant has broken his silence after becoming the first traitor in Celebrity Traitors history to be banished at the very first roundtable, receiving 16 of a possible 20 votes. The Withnail and I actor, 69, accidentally sealed his fate in episode one by telling comedian Joe Lycett he was a traitor — a blunder he called "catastrophically idiotic." Both fellow traitors Maya Jama and James Acaster voted against him, with Grant saying he had "checkmated himself" in a move never seen before on the show.

Grant said he understood Jama's vote, telling spin-off show 'Uncloaked': 'She stabbed me right in the... hung, drawn and quartered.'

Ross Kemp stole the roundtable moment for viewers, pounding the table and yelling 'get in there' — with fans on X calling him 'absolute gold.'