Michael Sheen murdered by the Traitors in Celebrity Traitors finale

Mixed · 2Michael Sheen was murdered by the Traitors in the grand finale of The Celebrity Traitors on Friday 30 October, the last kill of the series. 1 2 Centre · 1The Evening Standard reports that Jama worried the murder might turn the heat on her. 3 Right · 1The choice was between Sheen and Heartstopper actor Sebastian Croft; the Daily Mail reports that Kenny told the turret, "He's too authoritative on that table. It's time for him to go." 1

Right · 1The Daily Mail says the murder was carried out by the two remaining Traitors, Maya Jama and King Kenny, after Sheen had identified Jama as a Traitor in the previous episode. 1 Mixed · 2In the previous episode, James Acaster revealed at the round table that he was a Traitor, after Sheen had questioned the comedian about the 'murder in plain sight' of Ross Kemp; the Daily Mail says Acaster received all the votes. 1 2 Right · 1The Daily Mail also reports that filming was paused as Acaster became anxious, citing an unnamed insider, and that Jama slipped at breakfast by toasting "To killing em" before correcting to "Banishing them even". 1

Centre · 1The Evening Standard adds that contestants collected £5,000 on Thursday's mission, bringing the prize pot to £64,500 for the final, and that Acaster was the second Traitor to out himself after Richard E Grant. 3 Right · 1On leaving, Sheen said: "I'm gutted that I got so close to the end but it has been unforgettable." 1 Mixed · 2The Evening Standard and Daily Express give the same reaction, with Sheen saying he could not say he was surprised but was "incredibly disappointed" and had "loved every minute". 3 4

Right · 1The Daily Express says viewers reacted angrily on X, quoting posts such as "NO MICHAEL, YOU WILL BE AVENGED", and lists the seven finalists as Sheen, Jama, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, James Blunt, Sebastian Croft and Romesh Ranganathan. 4 Centre · 1Speaking to Radio Times after the exit, Sheen called being voted head of the Round Table a "poison chalice" that made them vulnerable, as it became harder to explain why the Traitors had not murdered or recruited them. 2 Centre · 1Sheen, who began the series as a Faithful, said the role was "incredibly stressful", and that early success in removing Traitors backfired because each departure triggered new recruitments. 2

Centre · 1Sheen said they expected to go out soon and vowed at breakfast to make life a "living hell" for the Traitors, which they described as partly a tactic; they named Maya Jama and Leigh-Anne as the players they suspected, and tipped Romesh Ranganathan to win, with James Blunt a possible surprise. 2