<\/p>\n
R<\/span>emember when fans feared that an all-star edition would risk ruining the hit reality game\u2019s magic? A triumphant inaugural VIP series of The Celebrity Traitors has blown such worries out of the Highland loch water.<\/p>\n Ratings have surpassed 13m, overtaking Strictly Come Dancing as the BBC\u2019s biggest franchise. It has been the most talked-about TV show of the autumn, if not the year. Anticipation is now at fever pitch for Thursday night\u2019s final. As we approach the endgame, relive the highlights so far with our cloak-clad catch-up \u2026<\/p>\n <\/span>The cloaked crusader \u2026<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n Alan Carr\u2019s treacherous trajectory has been the most dramatic turnaround in Traitors history. When he got that fateful shoulder-tap from Claudia Winkleman, the chaotic comedian came over all a-fluster. Nervously glugging ros\u00e9, he lamented: \u201cI feel sick. I\u2019ve got a sweating problem and can\u2019t keep a secret.\u201d Just watching him remove his blindfold and put his specs back on was mildly farcical. The first shot of Alan in his cloak<\/a>, carrying a lantern into the turret like a Victorian nana, became an instant meme. Entering the conclave, he revealed himself to co-conspirators Jonathan Ross and Cat Burns \u2013 who promptly screamed with laughter. Alan was set to be the worst Traitor since head-swivelling Linda. Well, wasn\u2019t he?<\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018What have I done?\u2019<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n Of all the people to mess up, nobody predicted it would be the professionally capable Clare Balding. In the Trojan Horse task, the first gate was opened by answering the question: \u201cHow many characters die in Shakespeare\u2019s Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet combined?\u201d While the assembled luvvies worked it out, Balding briskly dialled in a random number and pulled the lever<\/a>. \u201cOh shit,\u201d she wailed, head in hands. \u201cI\u2019ve locked it in and I didn\u2019t mean to.\u201d She immediately looked like a Traitor for sabotaging the mission. \u201cClare had a flashback to Vegas and thought she was on the slots, the way she yanked that lever,\u201d cackled Carr<\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018Self-effacing\u2019 Nick Mohammed.<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n Castle residents kowtowed to Stephen Fry as the world\u2019s cleverest man, but faced with a sequence of fiendish puzzles, he was utterly upstaged by self-effacing Nick Mohammed. He recognised one as \u201ca basic Klotski puzzle\u201d, then worked out that word tiles bore anagrams of \u201ctraitor\u201d. As the team completed the mission, Kate Garraway hailed Nick as a \u201cpuzzle ninja\u201d. Social media lit up with viewers suddenly finding him strangely sexy<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/span>Dressed to kill \u2026 Jonathan Ross. <\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n From swishing capes to oversized knits, black veils to red fingerless gloves, every other series of The Traitors has seen Winkleman\u2019s outfits go viral. This time, though, it was Jonathan Ross who stole the style plaudits<\/a>. Highlights included his Top Gun jumpsuit, tartan trousers, furry stole and leopard-print cardigan. He even sported a tweed cape-and-fingerless gloves combo in tribute to La Winkle. It beat Garraway\u2019s selection of rubbish hats.<\/p>\n <\/span>Putting the knife in \u2026 Alan and Paloma.<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n When the Traitors\u2019 first murder had to be in plain sight, the job somehow fell to flapping Alan. Dodging detection in a crowded castle, he must fondle a black lily, rub his hands with poisonous pollen, then touch the face of the faithful he wanted to murder. He cornered his closest friend in the castle, singer Paloma Faith(ful), and tenderly brushed an imaginary hair from her cheek. \u201cI feel awful,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve gone and murdered one of my best friends.\u201d Jonathan Ross told him to \u201ctoughen up\u201d. Alan took him at his word and was soon writing death warrants with relish.<\/p>\n <\/span>Flabbers were gasted \u2026 Tom Daley. <\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n At Paloma\u2019s gloriously camp mock funeral \u2013 complete with veil-clad Claudia on horseback \u2013 Tom Daley went viral for the Olympic standard side-eye he gave Kate when she gasped: \u201cGosh, that is flabbergasting!<\/a>\u201d Tom took this as a clue that she was over-compensating for having killed her. \u201cWho uses the word flabbergasted anyway?\u201d he scoffed. \u201cIt\u2019s like saying \u2018whoopsie daisy\u2019.\u201d Alan shot back: \u201cYou can\u2019t accuse someone of being a Traitor just because they have a better vocabulary than you!\u201d<\/p>\n Misspelled names on chalkboards have become a Traitors trope. YouTube prankster Niko Omilana trolled us all at the first round table by writing \u201cTom Daylee<\/a>\u201d in his slate. The best we\u2019ve had since are \u201cJohnathan\u201d and \u201cClaire\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/span>Gone with the wind \u2026 Celia Imrie. <\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n During the creepy cabin mission, the gothic melodrama was undercut by an audible trump. \u201cWhat just happened?\u201d asked Winkleman. \u201cI just farted, Claudia,<\/a>\u201d said actor Celia Imrie sweetly. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry. It\u2019s nerves but I always own up.\u201d The blooper went viral and gave ratings, well, a following wind. It emerged that producers gave Imrie the option of having it edited out. She gamely insisted it was kept in.<\/p>\n <\/span>Walking the planks \u2026 Joe Marler.<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n Mohawk-haired man mountain Joe Marler has become the show\u2019s cult hero and, as the faithful\u2019s most outspoken sleuth, perhaps their best hope of victory. It was the ex-rugby player who hatched the fabled \u201cBig Dog Theory\u201d, positing that castle heavyweights Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry would be made leaders of the traitors and faithful, or vice versa. Joe later coined the term \u201cMy hundies\u201d for those who, like best buddy Nick, he believes are \u201c100% faithful\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/span>Well, well, well \u2026 Celia\u2019s anguished shriek. <\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n On a woodland mission, the teams imitated different banshee wails. They were reduced to hysterics when Imrie leaned into a well with a pained expression and let out a prolonged shriek<\/a>. Lucy Beaumont said it was \u201ca noise I\u2019ve never heard before in my life\u201d. Don\u2019t get us started on \u201cputting the pussy in it\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/span>Outspoken \u2026 Ruth Codd.<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n Irish goth actor Ruth Codd was one of the first to suspect Jonathan Ross, pointing out how he\u2019d promised to form an alliance with her, Niko and Clare \u2013 before turning on the latter two and abetting their banishment. The outspoken Codd<\/a> correctly predicted that he\u2019d stab her in the back next, dismissing his denials with the memorable turn of phrase: \u201cDon\u2019t piss in my ear and tell me it\u2019s raining.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Proud recipient of a shield \u2026 David Olusoga<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n A tense mid-series round table saw suspicion fall on actor Mark Bonnar and historian David Olusoga. When it moved to a banishment ballot, each received four votes. A tie is a rare enough occurrence in Traitors history. Both were allowed a final plea before the second round of voting. This time it was five votes apiece. Double deadlock has never happened on any UK series. The result had to be decided by fate, with the pair given \u201cthe chests of chance\u201d \u2013 one of which contained an immunity shield. Broken man Bonnar departed. Olusoga went on to reach the final.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018Sleep well \u2013 if you can\u2019 \u2026 Claudia.<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n After failing to find a traitor again and banishing another of their own, Winkleman witheringly told the round table: \u201cYou are breaking my heart. You\u2019re not getting it. What are you not seeing? Open your eyes, please, because there is no let-up. Another faithful will be murdered tonight. Sleep well \u2013 if you can.\u201d Two episodes later, they were back in her good books. When they completed the headless statues mission in the nick of time, she said: \u201cThat was better than my wedding day.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018Ice-cool\u2019 Cat with Stephen Fry.<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n Stephen Fry thought he\u2019d blown the case wide open when he spotted Cat Burns snoozing on a castle window seat. At the round table, he theorised that traitors would be more tired due to their midnight meetings, pointing the finger at Cat. Ice-cool Cat calmly pointed out that her autism and ADHD means that group interactions take more out of her and \u201csometimes I need time away\u201d. Fry backed down and was soon banished. She\u2019d advocated for the neurodivergent community and outplayed him at the same time.<\/p>\n <\/span>Taunted \u2026 Lucy Beaumont.<\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n When Lucy Beaumont was murdered face-to-face on the giant chessboard, she told the traitors: \u201cI hope you feel terrible about yourselves.\u201d While the others at least looked remorseful, Jonathan Ross gleefully taunted her with: \u201cBye, Lucy! See ya, wouldn\u2019t wanna be ya!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>A bridge too far \u2026 Alan Carr. <\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n With the celebrities challenged to cross a rickety wooden bridge, Alan Carr was first into the breach. \u201cIt\u2019s well wobbly,\u201d he squawked. \u201cNo, no, no! Stop it now! Shut up!\u201d Slowly and noisily, he somehow made it across. \u201cAlan, you\u2019re an absolute hero!\u201d cried Kate Garraway. Still dangling in mid-air, he adjusted his safety harness and said: \u201cGod, my testicles<\/a>. I feel like a winner and a eunuch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Famous last words \u2026 Jonathan Ross. <\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n They finally got him! Having dodged detection for seven episodes, Jonathan Ross\u2019s time as a traitor came to an end. The round table turned against him and he was banished with six votes out of eight. Yet he remained mischievous to the end, telling his fellow players they were idiots and pretending he was faithful: \u201cI am now, and have been all through the game, completely faithful … to the traitors!\u201d Their faces turned from despair to delight. \u201cMost ridiculous bow-out ever,\u201d muttered Joe Marler with grudging respect.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018Was it a chutney murder?\u2019 \u2026 Kate Garraway the hapless sleuth.<\/span> Photograph: BBC\/Studio Lambert\/Euan Cherry<\/p>\n The semifinal saw the traitors murder in plain sight again. At a congratulatory dinner party, they had to toast the player they wanted to kill with the Shakespeare line: \u201cParting is such sweet sorrow.\u201d Once again, reluctant assassin Alan got the job. He settled on \u201cqueen of the castle\u201d Celia Imrie as his victim, getting away with it by attributing the quote to departed boffin Stephen Fry. Hapless sleuth Kate Garraway was soon speculating about poisoned cheeseboards, sun-dried tomato symbolism and \u201cchutney murders\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/span>Is that Clare Balding \u2026 or Gordon Ramsay? <\/span> Photograph: BBC<\/p>\n In the castle museum mission, mannequin heads modelled after the celebrities had to be attached to headless statues. \u201cSome of them did not look lifelike,\u201d noted Alan. \u201cClare Balding looks like Boris Johnson.\u201d Fans on social media<\/a> also spotted a resemblance to Gordon Ramsay.<\/p>\n <\/span>He who laughs last \u2026<\/span> Photograph: BBC\/Studio Lambert\/Euan Cherry<\/p>\n At the penultimate episode\u2019s climax, the five finalists were summoned to the fire pit. Claudia asked them to look their fellow players in the eye and promise them: \u201cI am a faithful.\u201d Predictably, Alan couldn\u2019t finish the sentence without dissolving into nervous laughter. Joe Marler took this as further evidence of his traitor status. Could the giggly gaffe<\/a> prove crucial?<\/p>\n The Celebrity Traitors final airs on Thursday 6 November at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Join Stuart Heritage for every backstabbing moment in the Guardian liveblog of the final from 8.30pm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nAlan gets anointed (<\/strong>episode 1<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Clare fluffs it (<\/strong>episode 1)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Nick leaves Stephen in his dust (episode 1)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Jonathan overshadows Claudia (<\/strong>episodes 1-7<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Alan\u2019s betrayal (<\/strong>episode 2<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tom\u2019s <\/strong>side-eye (<\/strong>episode 2<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Daylee male (<\/strong>episode 2<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Celia breaks wind<\/strong> (<\/strong>episode 3<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Big Dogs v<\/strong> Hundies (episodes 3-8)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Celia wails down the well <\/strong>(episode 4)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Ruth\u2019s anti-Rossy rants (<\/strong>episode 4<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Never-seen-before stalemate (<\/strong>episode 5<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Claudia gets cross (<\/strong>episode 6<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cat nap explained (<\/strong>episode 6<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Checkmate from Ross (<\/strong>episode 7<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cash banked, Carr castrated (<\/strong>episode 7<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Jonathan\u2019s wind-up exit speech (<\/strong>episode 7<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Parting is such sweet sorrow (<\/strong>episode 8<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Looky not very likey (episode 8)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Alan\u2019s fatal giggle (episode 8)<\/strong><\/h2>\n