Who are the real winners of Celebrity Traitors?
BBC/Studio Lambert
Spoiler warning: This article reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors final
In some ways, all the players on the Celebrity Traitors can be seen as winners.
They all got to appear on a hugely popular TV show, rubbing shoulders with other stars and gaining new fansalong the way.
But there are certain celebrities, such as Miranda Hart, King Kenny, Maya Jama and Joanne McNally, who have been tipped by industry experts as getting the biggest career boost after the show.
Sebastian “Bash” Croft – who won the game, alongside Romesh Ranganathan – could also now be in line for greater roles.
We’ve taken a look at the breakout stars of the series and what might lie ahead for them.
Miranda Hart
After a spell of ill-health, the show has done wonders for bringing Miranda Hartback into the public eye.
There was that incredible “Little Mix Big Mix” viral dance moment, but Hart also displayed a level of vulnerability which stood out in a show where the stars don’t really talk about their personal lives.
When her friend Joe Lycett was banished, her tearful reaction to his exit provided a rare poignant moment.
“Connection and laughter and joy are bigger than this game – and to meet someone and just play and laugh, it’s all us humans need, you know?” she said.
When she was murdered, she also demonstrated genuine emotion in her response. “Ultimately, in my little personal story, this has been quite extraordinary,” she said.
For culture journalist Natalie Jamieson, Hart’s openness and relatability made her the “standout” star from this year’s series.
And it could also lead to us seeing more of Hart on the small screen. According to The Sun, the BBC is looking to bring back her self-titled sitcom after her stint on Celebrity Traitors led to fresh interest in the show.
BBC/Studio Lambert
The BBC declined to comment on the possible return of Hart’s show.
But she’s not the only one who won hearts by showing real warmth.
The same could be said for Romesh Ranganathan – who, in a departure from his usual cynical, deadpan stand-up persona, seemed really to care about his fellow cast members.Jerry Hall also won viewers over with her charming eccentricity.
And then there’s James Acaster, who showed genuine vulnerability as he struggled to come to terms with being a traitor.
Social media users seemed split after his bombshell confession to being a traitor, with some totally exasperated and others saying they respected him for going out on his own terms.
Either way, he’s definitely got the nation talking.
King Kenny
When it comes to celebrities who are most likely to see the biggest career boost, most experts say Kenny is King.
Going into the castle, the 29-year-old was best known to younger fans as a member of the popular British YouTube collective Beta Squad.
But Kenny will have been “the least familiar name to a mainstream audience,” says showbiz journalist Nikki Onafuye.
That all changed as he was recruited as a traitor, bringing much-needed energy to the turret – and he made it all the way through to Friday night’s tense final.
Having shown he can hold his own alongside established broadcasters, actors and comedians, big things could now be in store for Kenny.
“He 100% has just been minted as a mainstream star now,” said Marina Hyde, on The Rest is Entertainment podcast.
“The next steps could be panel shows, presenting roles, reality competitions or entertainment formats,” adds TV reporter Siobhan Synnot.
Maya Jama
Fellow traitor Maya Jama also sailed all the way to the final with her cool-as-a-cucumber persona making her a traitor to be reckoned with.
Despite being banished in dramatic fashion, she could now be in line to receive £1m per deal, according to a report in The Times earlier this week.
What Celebrity Traitors has done for Jama is allow her to reveal more of her personality than on Love Island, says Onafuye.
But TV reporter Synnot thinks between the two, Kenny has more to gain because he has introduced himself to millions of new viewers – whereas Jama was already one of Britain’s best-known TV presenters before Celebrity Traitors.
“Maya’s gain is subtler: she can emerge looking less like the presenter of Love Island and more like a genuinely versatile television star,” she says.
Joanne McNally
Of all the comedians in the castle, Joanne McNally was initially the least well known, says Caroline Frost, TV editor at Radio Times.
But she flourished on the show, lasting right up to Thursday’s semi-final.
“And she’s taken her own path, ignoring the herd and making her own voting decisions, sometimes chaotically, but always with charm, wit and good humour,” says Frost.
The Irish comedian’s podcast was already popular before the show.
But after her stint as the joker of the pack, bigger things could now lie in store for her.
Just a few days ago, it was announced that her stand-up tour has been extended into 2027, “due to phenomenal demand”.
And her agents will be “fielding calls” for her to bring her star power to other shows, adds Frost.
Culture journalist Jamieson says some of the other female contestants – such as Sharon Rooney, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Myha’la– also stood out for showing their wit and wisdom, which could serve them well in the outside world.
Things got a bit awkward in one of the episodes, when Sharon disagreed with some of the cast on a challenge, with some social media users saying she was acting in a “childish” way.
But others argued it was a classic case of women being drowned out by men.
“There’s been a subtlety in the smartness of women on display here, alongside the frustration of not always being listened to in the game,” says Jamieson.
Sebastian ‘Bash’ Croft
In the end, it was faithful duo Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian ‘Bash’ Croft who emerged victorious.
Comedian Ranganathan was already a huge star, but the show has introduced Croft, 24, to a much wider audience.
He’s had previous acting roles in Game of Thrones and Heartstopper,but Traitors allowed him to show his own personality, “which as we’ve seen has endeared him both to other players and the huge watching audience”, says Frost.
He is also building his career as a pop star, and he’s had a strong presence on social media during the series, posting videos of his tracks.
His debut EP comes out later in November, perfect timing to capitalise on his Traitors win.
And what’s in store for the others…
What’s clear is that the true victors aren’t necessarily the ones who get their hands on the prize pot.
Arguably, what matters most is the amount of screen time you get – and what you do with it.
On that note, spare a thought for those who left the show early, such as Amol Rajan, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Hannah Fry.
But all made an impact in their own way and, as Synnot points out, they get “a nice anecdote” for future interviews.
And what of James Blunt, who stole hearts with his military approach to the challenges and eccentric Top Gun-style outfits – and who came so close to winning the whole show?
Maybe he’s the mystery man in contention for the new James B(ond) – although his hapless theories could mean he’ll be in line to be the new Johnny English instead.
