Romesh Ranganathan apologises to James Blunt after Celebrity Traitors mix-up

Romesh Ranganathan has issued a public apology to James Blunt after accidentally banishing the singer from the finale of Celebrity Traitors. According to the Mirror ^[1], the comedian and actor Sebastian 'Bash' Croft won the second series, splitting £83,000 for charity, but not before Romesh made a dramatic error in judgment seconds before the end.

The mix-up occurred when Romesh misinterpreted a parting comment from Love Island host Maya Jama. As reported by the Daily Star ^[2], when Maya was banished, she told the remaining players, "Good luck, you're going to need it." Romesh, whose nerves were reportedly "on the outside of your body," took this as a subtle hint that James was a traitor. In reality, James was a fellow Faithful, making his elimination a catastrophic mistake for the pair.

James was visibly indignant at being voted off, prompting Romesh to joke during the show that the singer would likely "kill me" in the future. The fallout continued on Romesh’s BBC Radio 2 show the following morning, where he sought to clear the air. He played James’s new single Circles from the album Airplane Mode, prefacing it with a heartfelt message. "James, I'm sorry. I latched onto something I shouldn't have," Romesh said, per the Mirror ^[1]. "I got scared and I feel like I let you down a bit. But James, I love you, I would have played this song anyway because I think you're great."

Romesh admitted he was terrified of the backlash, fearing the wrath of the "You're Beautiful" singer’s devoted fanbase. He confessed to having conflicting emotions: genuine remorse for the error and dread of the reaction. "His reaction terrified me," Romesh explained, noting he considered leaving the studio to make a separate charity donation to avoid the confrontation. He described the moment as "clutching at straws," admitting the clue he relied on was "wafer-thin."

The second series of Celebrity Traitors, presented by Claudia Winkleman, has been a massive success, averaging over 11 million viewers. The finale also featured appearances from YouTuber King Kenny and former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock. Despite the drama, the show concluded with Romesh and Bash securing the victory, though the lingering tension between the two stars adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.