Matt Richardson: Celeb Traitors is now 'hot ticket' for desperate comedians

Matt Richardson has declared that the next edition of Celebrity Traitors is the "hot ticket" in British entertainment, with comedians desperate to follow in the footsteps of Romesh Ranganathan. Speaking to the Mirror ^[1], the comedian admitted that industry colleagues will be chomping at the bit to head to Ardross Castle following Romesh's recent victory. Richardson noted that the BBC show has become so prestigious that it attracts guests who do not typically participate in reality television, offering a career boost without the grueling dance rehearsals of Strictly Come Dancing.

Romesh secured the prize alongside Sebastian 'Bash' Croft, becoming the second comedian to win the series after Alan Carr. Richardson argued that while Romesh did not need the financial boost, the appearance reinforces his national treasure status. The Mirror reported ^[1] that Richardson would happily pay to appear on the show himself, praising Romesh as a "great guy" who allows the public to see his true personality.

However, the victory has sparked speculation regarding the dynamics among the cast. James Acaster has firmly denied any friction with Romesh and Rob Beckett, insisting they have been friends for over a decade. Speaking on Alan Carr's podcast, the Daily Star Showbiz reported ^[2], Acaster stated he had no complaints about his fellow players. He dismissed reports of an alleged fallout, which suggested he felt singled out due to his middle-class background compared to his working-class co-stars, a claim reported by one source only and not confirmed by the parties involved.

Acaster revealed that he has received minimal public attention since the show aired, noting that most interactions have come from friends. He did, however, recall a peculiar encounter where a white van man stopped to tell him he felt sorry for him. This comment came amid claims from a show insider that Acaster had discussed feeling targeted by remarks about his upbringing. Romesh and Rob reportedly viewed these exchanges as harmless banter.

In his acceptance statement, Romesh admitted he had been a "mug" during the game, struggling to identify the Traitors correctly. He joked that James Blunt would likely be furious with him for setting up a hate campaign against Michael Sheen. Despite the drama, Richardson believes the show’s appeal lies in its prestige, predicting a surge of high-profile applicants for the next series.