How Richard E Grant got away with 'insane moment' in Celebrity Traitors as crucial rule explained

Warning: This article contains spoilers for episode one of The Celebrity Traitors

The Celebrity Traitors kicked off with quite a bang last night but many have been left questioning how Richard E Grant can possibly survive after a wild admission just moments into the show.

For those of you who missed the first episode of The Celebrity Traitors last night, Claudia selected Maya Jama and Grant as her two traitors, with those two then permitted to pick their third option up in the turret.

However, that choice was complicated somewhat by a rather big slip-up from the Swazi actor just moments after he'd been tapped on the shoulder at the round table, as when asked by Joe Lycett, he said twice that he was a traitor.

It's difficult to see a way back for the 69-year-old after that, even if some celebrities have come to his defence, but two of the biggest names after him were James Acaster and Amol Rajan, one of whom will become the third traitor, while the other will have their game ended. And it seems as if it has already inadvertently revealed who that will be.

The rules are a massive part of the game, especially with all the traitors staying in the same hotel close to the castle where you might imagine they'd be tempted to discuss aspects of the day without being on camera.

One of those rules includes the Traitors' Oath, where they promise to keep their identities and those of the other traitors secret, something Fiona didn't quite seem to grasp in her role as the secret traitor from last season.

Before they receive their cloaks, Claudia asks: “Do you commit to lie and deceive throughout the game? Are you willing to murder your fellow players every single night? And do you vow to keep your identity and the identity of your fellow players a secret?”

And fortunately for Richard E Grant, this oath came after he'd also announced to a room full of people that he was a traitor, so it seems as if he's managed to get away with that rather 'insane moment' when it comes to upsetting the BBC bosses at least, but the round table might not be so forgiving.

Comedian Ed Gamble, who hosts spin-off show Uncloaked, said: “It was absolutely incredible. He was just vibrating with excitement in the turret as well.

“It felt like he’d just been given the lead role in a film, and he just had to tell everyone. Such an insane moment to start a brilliant series.”

There's no doubting Grant's skills as an actor so he might well be able to swing the opinion and get away with his early mistake, but it's difficult to see him lasting the full game in the same way that Alan Carr did in the first season of the celebrity version.

Considering Maya Jama's name has already been brought up as well in the latter part of the episode, it seems as if this season will be far from plain sailing for the traitors.

The action continues tonight on BBC One at 8pm.