Celebrity Traitors: Seven finalists confirmed after Acaster's dramatic exit

The seven finalists for the Celebrity Traitors grand final have been confirmed, following a penultimate episode defined by high stakes and an unprecedented confession. The Daily Mail reported ^[1] that James Acaster, Sharon Rooney, and Joanne McNally exited the castle, leaving Maya Jama, King Kenny, Sebastian Croft, James Blunt, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Michael Sheen, and Romesh Ranganathan to compete in Friday's finale.

The drama unfolded at Ardross Castle, where host Claudia Winkleman warned the remaining contestants that "the Traitors are thirsty for blood" ahead of the final murder. The episode saw Acaster take centre stage in a show first, revealing he was a Traitor at the roundtable before the voting had even begun. According to the Daily Mail ^[2], the comedian admitted he was made a Traitor without wanting to be, stating he had always wanted to be a Faithful.

Acaster's confession came after he was linked by the Faithfuls to Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight. Michael Sheen questioned Acaster on the specifics of the crime, including the deadly perfume bottle. Acaster responded, "I can promise you that I didn't spray him," before explaining his difficult position. Filming was briefly paused as Acaster became anxious and needed to gather himself before delivering his speech. He received all the votes and was banished, admitting a "weight has been lifted off his shoulders."

Earlier in the episode, the Traitors committed their sixth murder, targeting Scottish actress Sharon Rooney. The group, consisting of Acaster, Maya Jama, and King Kenny, chose to eliminate Rooney despite her having significant suspicion against her from the previous round. Maya Jama noted, "This could actually ruin all of our futures," while Acaster described the move as a risky but proud gamble. The Faithful also lost Joanne McNally, who was banished following last week's cliffhanger.

As the group gathered to celebrate reaching the penultimate night, Sheen expressed his apprehension to the camera. The 57-year-old actor revealed that he and Maya Jama, who had been the first two to meet in the Chapel, were the last two remaining. "I'm just sort of thinking, is this the last night I have here? Only the night will tell," he said. With the Faithfuls suspicious of Jama, the final episode promises to be a tense conclusion to the series.