Amol Rajan becomes first victim in Celebrity Traitors series

Amol Rajan became the first victim of the second series of The Celebrity Traitors after being removed from the game before the first banishment. The episode began with traitors Richard E Grant and Maya Jama inviting James Acaster to join them. At the same time, they selected Rajan to be “murdered”.

He was taken away in a coffin and later said it was disappointing to leave before having the chance to participate fully. Rajan suggested that his earlier confrontation with Grant may have contributed to the decision. He said he might have been “a bit bullish” with the actor, while accepting that the game required both winners and losers.

Jama appeared confident in her new role, saying she was surprised by her ability to lie. Grant, by contrast, spent much of the episode trying to contain suspicion after apparently telling several players that he was a traitor. The players then took part in a challenge involving pairs being buried underground.

Ross Kemp was protected from burial and paired with Romesh Ranganathan, who helped choose between digging for gold to add to the prize fund or freeing the other contestants. They chose to release the players. Jerry Hall asked to be freed using the emergency word “Haggis” after becoming uncomfortable in the grave.

She and mathematician Hannah Fry were subsequently viewed as vulnerable to the traitors. During the first banishment discussion, Grant remained under pressure. Some players believed his behaviour made him an obvious suspect, while others thought he was being used as a decoy.

Acaster called him a loose cannon and Jama said he had created a difficult situation for himself.