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Celebrity Traitors: James Acaster recruited as third Traitor, Amol Rajan 'murdered'

In the latest Celebrity Traitors episode, Richard E Grant and Maya Jama recruited comedian James Acaster as a third Traitor, while journalist Amol Rajan was "murdered" after a cliffhanger.

2 outlets · 0L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Evening Standard
Image: Digital Spy

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The story, neutrally told

Centre · 2Celebrity Traitors revealed that comedian James Acaster had been recruited as the third Traitor, while journalist Amol Rajan was "murdered". Centre · 1Richard E Grant and Maya Jama, the original Traitors, were given the choice between Rajan and Acaster, and had to decide who would be murdered and who would be recruited. Centre · 1Digital Spy reports it was a first for the show: Jama and Grant could recruit face-to-face after picking two celebrities who each pleaded their case, and both Acaster and Rajan gave convincing arguments.

Centre · 1The previous episode ended on a cliffhanger, with the two men escorted to open coffins and host Claudia Winkleman walking up to them before the outcome was shown. Centre · 1The next episode answered it when Rajan did not appear at breakfast; a flashback showed Winkleman slamming shut the lid of Rajan's coffin, confirming Acaster as the recruit. Centre · 1Grant welcomed Acaster with the words "James, we'd like to welcome you as a new Traitor to the coven"; Acaster said, "This is like every emotion I've ever felt."

Centre · 1Acaster later said he was "gutted not to be a Faithful anymore" and did not like lying, but that "if I don't join them, they kill me"; Rajan said it was "gutting to be the first out" and guessed Acaster would be less suspected than himself. Centre · 1At breakfast, Hannah Fry raised concerns about Leigh-Anne Pinnock, saying she had seen the singer putting on make-up very late in the evening, and Rob Beckett called this a "bold strategy from a Faithful". Centre · 1Joe Lycett also appeared to have Ross Kemp in his sights.

Centre · 1Grant said the Traitors had a "game plan" and that "enough people" were looking in the wrong direction; the Evening Standard says 20 celebrities now remain, with the others playing as Faithfuls trying to banish the Traitors. Centre · 1Fans on X reacted with sympathy for Acaster, who had said he wanted to be a Faithful, and some predicted a "bumpy ride"; Digital Spy also notes the series had its largest ever launch in the ratings.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Both outlets treat the story as an entertainment recap. The Evening Standard leads on the twist and the breakfast suspicions; Digital Spy leads on the cliffhanger resolution and fan reaction.
Emphasis
The Standard stresses the recruitment, murder and Faithful suspicions; Digital Spy stresses the new recruitment format, the contestants' quotes and social media reaction.
Leaves out or plays down
The Standard does not explain the cliffhanger or the face-to-face recruitment format. Digital Spy does not cover the breakfast suspicions or the remaining contestant count.
Charged language
“huge twist”“shock cliffhanger”“bumpy ride”
For example
“Celebrity Traitors delivered a major twist as a familiar face was “murdered” while another celebrity was secretly recruited to join the Traitors.” — Evening Standard
“Celebrity Traitors fans have reacted to the result of last night's cliffhanger” — Digital Spy

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.