The Celebrity Traitors: Cornered at the Round Table

Amy Kan, Co-deputy Editor, BA International Relations and Japanese

In case you haven’t been caught up with the rest of Britain, the first season of The Celebrity Traitors (The Traitors spinoff) was finalised November 6 (2025). 19 celebrities gathered, with Claudia Winkleman appointing three of them as traitors. A cash prize is typically won by the winner of the show, but in this edition, it was being donated to a charity of the victor’s choosing.

The format of the show follows two elimination styles. A round table vote (banishment), or murder by the traitors. In this season, some notable faces included: Tom Daley, Alan Carr, Tameka Empson, Stephen Fry, and Niko Omilana.

With celebrities in this show, everyone came with preconceptions of one another. There were alliances formed from day one, based on their shared traits - like sitting in the same car, or as the youngsters of the group. With little to no information, everyone relied on their ‘gut feeling’ - but was this just their unconscious bias?

This cast featured five POC celebrities, from actors to historians. And at the first round table, both Niko and Tameka’s names were mentioned due to their ‘changes in behaviour’. Based on senses or discussions amongst others, these allegations of behavioural changes stemmed from no evidence. Unlike accusations towards white celebrities, where outrage and explosive expressions were evident, Niko and Tameka hadn’t shown any change. The suspicion against two black celebrities reflects the bias of negative assumptions, with the betrayal role of a traitor. Niko, after less than 48 hours in the castle, and despite a compelling argument, received 10 votes against him. 

This may not just be an unconscious racial bias, but a status hierarchy. Going in as an unknown YouTuber was thought to be an advantage, until Stephen Fry spoke about Niko’s videos. Now they knew him as a ‘conniving prankster’. More prominent celebrities like Stephen Fry and Jonathan Ross were quick to garner a ‘big dog’ repertoire. Like pack leaders, the group believed one led the traitors, and the other led the faithful. Their status as prominent white men in the British industry benefitted them; the long-term trust they’ve gained with the other celebrities holds strong, and you don’t want to be calling Britain’s national treasure a traitor. 

Stop reading here if for some reason you haven’t watched the finale, but Alan Carr’s nickname as the Chattyman helped him tremendously. Known by his personality as a laughter-filled celebrity, it gave him a massive helping-hand with the faithful for being a little cheeky. Having ‘murdered’ his best friend, Paloma Faith, all suspicions of him were always quickly shushed. His win shocked the remaining faithful, despite being unable to seriously say he was not a traitor. The Traitors reveal the unconscious bias of contestants, but bringing in the status quo and pressure with celebrities, these layers unveil structural beliefs.