Richard E Grant exited The Celebrity Traitors early after being voted off as a traitor, a result he attributes to openly confessing his role during the first episode. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, the actor said his blunt admission was a strategic blunder.

“I never thought they would take me seriously,” Grant said. He admitted the confession was a complete miscalculation. Instead of playing the part, he let his excitement override his game plan. Fellow contestant Joe Lycett noted the unprecedented move at the time, but Grant now recognizes the fatal flaw in his approach.

He wished he had framed the revelation as a joke to deflect suspicion. Grant recalled that his daughter had predicted his early departure before filming began, warning him that his inability to mask his true feelings would make him an easy target. His candid nature ultimately proved to be his undoing.

Grant also described the intense psychological pressure of the show's set. He explained that contestants are confined to isolated rooms with guards, receive delivered meals, and have no internet access. The production removes all timekeeping and assigns daily outfits, creating a highly controlled atmosphere that leaves players feeling infantilised and institutionalised within 24 hours.

Despite the intense experience, Grant has decided not to watch the broadcast series. He noted that seeing himself perform without a script is deeply uncomfortable for any actor. Without a safety net of dialogue, viewers see the unfiltered person behind the performance.