Why ignoring Stephen Fry’s wonderfully chaotic idea on Celebrity Traitors was a missed opportunity
The Celebrity Traitors is well and truly in full swing. As we near the halfway point, a handful of Faithfuls have been eliminated, though not one single Traitor has been caught (although there are plenty of suspicions circulating around Jonathan Ross). As such, the contestants are barking up the wrong trees when it comes to the banishments.
Last night’s episode continued that trend, with Clare Balding becoming the latest celebrity to be thrown out of the castle after an overwhelming majority of the roundtable chose her. However, ahead of the table’s discussion, fellow Faithful Stephen Fry raised an interesting and somewhat chaotic suggestion that could have potentially changed the game up a bit. Namely, that they do away with having any discussion altogether, and instead go straight to the part where they each write a name on their board.
Host Claudia Winkleman began by noting the stars “work so brilliantly as a team” following the day’s task, positing: “So the question is, can you work as a team in here and banish a Traitor?”
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Stephen then proposed: “There is a way of doing this, which is exactly the opposite of what Claudia suggested. That is, we don’t have any discussion at all and write down who we think.”
“Because we’re very worried about how we influence each other,” he noted. “We are in trouble, it seems with our judgement, so we need to do something differently, perhaps. But other people might have a point of view.”
BBC
Kate Garraway wasn’t swayed, and joked that she might be seen as “weak minded”, further admitting she would be “interested to hear other people’s theories” even if they’re not going to vote for them, as it would be “helpful” to hear what others have to say.
The show didn’t heed to Stephen’s idea either, and a discussion ensued, leading to Clare’s banishment, despite Traitor Jonathan’s name also being floated around throughout the episode too.
One of the main weaknesses of the discussion element is the fact that it reinforces the herd mentality of the group, something that has become par for the course of The Traitors throughout its run. As we have seen repeatedly, players will largely go with the group consensus, and not necessarily who they had in mind when they first entered the room.
In the past – notably demonstrated last season with Kasim Ahmed – things can take a turn, and it can descend into a bit of a witch hunt against certain contestants.
BBC
While things thankfully haven’t fallen to those lows so far this season, Stephen’s suggestion nevertheless presents an opportunity to allow people to express what they really feel through their slates rather than being pulled by the tide of the crowd. Also, it surely would have made for some incredibly interesting telly.
As mentioned, suspicions about Jonathan were among those raised during the episode, but in the end most people went for the innocent Clare – in part led by Traitor Jonathan, as a way to deflect from him amid his so-far successful triple double bluff.
With many going for Jonathan during the episode, there could have been potential for him to face the comeuppance that otherwise eluded him when it came down to voting, and therefore the opportunity for the group to finally get a Traitor. The presenter was able to make a deceptive argument during the roundtable discussion, and appeared to convince some doubters.
He ended up with just one vote in the end – from Joe Marler, who decided to stick to his guns from earlier in the episode and thus, was the only one on the right track.
BBC
Jonathan had admittedly helped to plant seeds about Clare earlier in the day, and we of course can’t do away with any discussion whatsoever throughout the castle’s lavish rooms and corridors – after all, that wouldn’t make great TV, and it’s all part of the game.
However if the group had indeed scrapped the roundtable chat altogether – even if just this once – it may have gone some way to create a bit more fairness, and allow for players to digest their own thoughts free from some high-pressure last-minute influences.
A more open-ended vote also adds some tense entertainment value, which there were shoots of in episode three earlier this week. That vote saw a whole variety of names picked by the contestants, making the game far more interesting. While Tameka Empson was ultimately cast out, she only received two more votes than her closest rivals to get the boot, producing much more of a knife-edge contest.
Photographer://BBC
Of course, some players will inevitably be indecisive, and the roundtable can go some way to making one’s mind up. Kate, for example, did end up going with Clare, though without the discussion element we could have potentially have seen a more unpredictable choice from her.
There’s also captivating entertainment value in the roundtable discussions – and who doesn’t love the drama? But with a game that endlessly sees Faithfuls voted out, Stephen’s suggestion may have gone some way towards trying something new.
After all, aren’t the thrills what The Traitors is all about?
The Traitors series 1-3 are streaming on BBC iPlayer. The Celebrity Traitors airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.
