The Celebrity Traitors spoilers follow.
Four episodes in and The Celebrity Traitors is really hitting its stride, with celebrities who previously clinked their champagne glasses together backstage at awards shows now glaring across the round table in a so far fruitless attempt to work out who is a Traitor among them.
While Alan Carr has provided many of the laughs (how has no one spotted him grinning during the banishments?), and Celia Imrie’s “pussy in the well” comment on Thursday night’s episode managed to eclipse her farting from the night before, it is the two ‘Big Dogs’ of the series – Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry – who have become the core of the show and the best reason to watch every episode.
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It was former rugby player Joe Marler, in conversation with comedian Joe Wilkinson, who first gave the two TV titans the title of ‘Big Dogs’ in a discussion about who could be a Traitor. Marler suggested Stephen Fry could be being secretly murderous, while Wilkinson suggested chat show host Jonathan Ross should be a suspect. Joe Marler then noted that it would be a genius move by Claudia Winkleman and the producers to pit the two ‘Big Dogs’ of the series against each other, having one leading the Faithfuls while the other was leading the Traitors.
Of course, everyone watching at home knows that is exactly what is happening, and the two Joes are right on the money with their guesses – even if they haven’t followed through on the theory by convincing everyone at the round table just yet.
Jonathan and Stephen are arguably the biggest names on the show, and their casting in the series is a stroke of genius in itself. Stephen Fry is one of the most intelligent and erudite celebrities on television (and the only celeb to bother checking out what books are in the castle library).
He’s an accomplished writer, comedian, broadcaster and actor, so he has naturally become something of a leader and father figure in the castle with his wise words and deep thinking.
BBC
He’s also such a class act that when Thursday’s mission meant he had to dunk his head into a well to hear the cries of a banshee, he not only made us laugh as he muttered “I’m a grown man, what the hell am I doing,” as he tried to smooth down his dripping hair during the challenge, he also forced Claudia Winkleman to look away to hide her giggles as she said, “Oh no, Stephen Fry is in the water, I can’t look,” while covering her eyes.
Jonathan Ross, meanwhile, with his ‘triple double bluff’ plotting that dispatched Ruth and his calculated mentions of Clare Balding that led to the Faithful sports presenter being banished, is playing a skilful game of hiding in plain sight.
He’s clearly competitive and not afraid to stand out, whether it is dressing up as Claudia for breakfast or letting Stephen Fry have a shield to protect him from murder. Being a Traitor, Jonathan could protect Stephen anyway, but perhaps handing the shield over is a way to keep Stephen onside, with veteran TV star Jonathan no doubt well aware that their onscreen pairing could make for some really good TV.
What is clear from the sheer joy of watching Stephen and Jonathan on the show, and fellow competitors including Celia Imrie, Alan Carr and Joe Wilkinson, is that the normal rules of celebrities on reality TV shows don’t apply here.
While younger players like Tom Daley, Ruth Codd and Cat Burns have all had their own enjoyable moments during their time at the castle (we’re going to miss Ruth’s seething looks at Jonathan), it is the older, experienced, and witty celebrities who are the true stars.
BBC
Because The Traitors is as much about guess work, luck and brain power as it is about any physical strength needed on the missions (and we have Joe Marler for that), everyone is on an equal footing and it is the older and wiser personalities who are shining through and being celebrated.
On other reality series where celebs get involved – be it Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins or I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here – older celebrities are seemingly brought on board to be grumpy, to slow everyone down, or in the worst cases (often on Strictly, as was the case with Ann Widdecombe and John Sergeant), to be used as a punchline.
Instead of just being cast to placate viewers who want to see a few oldies in the mix alongside younger contestants, here the older celebrities are the strongest aspect of the show, and at the halfway stage it is worth noting that they are also now in the majority at the castle – the only players under 40 who remain are Cat, Joe Marler and Charlotte (who is 39).
Of course, with such a smart mix of people on screen, from the funny (Alan and Joe W), and competitive (Mark Bonnar, Jonathan, Cat and Tom if he’d survived), to the clever (Stephen, David, Joe M) and eccentric (Celia and Kate), it is hard to imagine that the BBC could capture lightning in a bottle for a second time, and find another 19 celebrities who could provide as much joy as the current selection.
While there are plenty of celebrities who would love a chance to play Faithful or Traitor in a second series, trying to find another two ‘Big Dogs’ to square up to each other and deliver such great TV is surely a task even more impossible than getting Alan Carr to keep a straight face.
The Traitors series 1-3 are streaming on BBC iPlayer. The Celebrity Traitors airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Freelance film & TV writer, Digital Spy
Critic and writer Jo Berry has been writing about TV and movies since she began her career at Time Out aged 18. A regular on BBC Radio, Jo has written for titles including Empire, Maxim, Radio Times, OK!, The Guardian and Grazia, is the author of books including Chick Flicks and The Parents’ Guide to Kids’ Movies.
She is also the editor of website Movies4Kids. In her career, Jo has interviewed well-known names including Beyonce, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Kiefer Sutherland, Tom Cruise and all the Avengers, spent many an hour crushed in the press areas of award show red carpets. Jo is also a self-proclaimed expert on Outlander and Brassic, and completely agrees that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
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