Image source, BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative/PA WireByNoor NanjiCulture correspondent- Published8 minutes ago
Spoiler warning: This article reveals details from the first two episodes of The Celebrity Traitors
"I know Rob very, very well. I mean, I've sat next to him as he's had a colonic."
That was Romesh Ranganathan, reminding us - in case we were in any doubt - of his close friendship with Rob Beckett in the opening episode of The Celebrity Traitors.
His words sum up the key difference between this series and the regular civilian version. In Celebrity Traitors, the players aren't just on-screen competitors - many actually know each other outside the show.
Lots have worked together, and some are even friends. And those previous connections can have a huge impact on the show's dynamics.
It's also partly why it is quite so delightful to watch - as friendships unravel, and former co-stars turn on each other.
We've been unpicking the six degrees of separation. Here are some of the connections we've found - if you spot any more, we'd love to know. Get in touch with your thoughts in the comments section below.
The Rob and Romesh bromance
The dynamic between Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan is one of the most enjoyable to watch play out this year.
As well as being great friends in real life, they have also worked together repeatedly, including in their travel show, Rob & Romesh Vs.
They've also frequently made joint appearances on panel shows such as Mock the Week.
But their friendship could count for nothing in the castle, Ranganathan said ahead of the show.
Image source, Joe Maher/Getty Images"Rob is one of my best friends, and we've worked together for a decade now, but I still won't be able to trust it," he said.
"I mean, he's just as easily going to be on my side as he is going to twist the knife in my back given the opportunity."
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Joe and James are also friends (for now)
Joe Lycett has said publicly that he's friends with James Acaster, and the pair have a running joke about how everyone gets them confused (Lycett cleared that up here, external).
They’ve also worked together on the TV show Travel Man.
Lycett is also friends with Joanne McNally, external - he's described her as "one of my favourite people in the world".
But those loyalties could be about to be tested, especially now that Acaster has been recruited as a traitor (anyone remember how things panned out for "good friends" Alan Carr and Paloma Faith...?).
Lots of them are on the comedy circuit
There are SO many comedians in this year's series.
And they are all likely to know each other. In addition to the alliances above, Joe Lycett was on the TV show Last One Laughing with Rob Beckett.
Joanne McNally and Romesh Ranganathan appeared on game show Unacceptable together, and James Acaster went on Ranganathan's hip hop podcast.
Speaking ahead of the show, McNally insisted she and her fellow comedians "haven't been in cahoots at all".
"We know that we're more than willing to throw each other under the bus," she said.
As for Acaster, he's admitted the other comedians are his “biggest threat” when it comes to being detected as a traitor.
“Romesh, Joe, Rob know me really well. They all know that I don’t change my mind overnight,” he said, as he pondered whether to turn and help fellow traitor Richard E Grant clear his name.
Maya has rubbed shoulders with several of the stars
It won’t surprise you that the two broadcasters of the group - Maya Jama and Amol Rajan - have met their fair share of the other stars before.
Rajan had previously hosted both Michael Sheen and Joe Lycett on the Radio 2 Breakfast show, and also interviewed Romesh Ranganathan on BBC Asian Network.
He's also been joined on the One Show on separate occasions by Ross Kemp, Miranda Hart and James Blunt - and earlier this year, he discussed AI on stage with Hannah Fry.
But in the end, Rajan became the first player to be murdered, before we really got to see the impact of those past connections.
Image source, Daniele Venturelli/WireImageImage caption, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Maya Jama were pictured together on the front row during Milan Fashion Week in 2024
Meanwhile, Maya Jama is best known for hosting Love Island, but she's also popped up in loads of other places - including at this year's Brit Awards, where she presented an award with James Blunt.
She's also been on Ranganathan's hip hop podcast, attended Milan Fashion Week with Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and she, Joe Lycett and James Acaster all appeared on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.
But Jama played down her connections on Celebrity Traitors, saying ahead of the show: “I've met a few people in the cast, but nobody really knows me, so we're all starting from scratch.”
Bella and Sebastian are Westeros alumni
Usually the younger celebs in the castle tend to know fewer people, but Bella Ramsey is pretty well connected.
Notably, Ramsey and another younger cast member, Sebastian Croft, both starred in season six of Game of Thrones.
Ramsey also worked with James Blunt on the film Sunny Dancer, was interviewed by James Acaster on his Off Menu podcast - and had a funny chat about their "vegan-ish" diet with Romesh Ranganathan on The Jonathan Ross Show.
Ahead of the show, Croft said he didn't know many people aside from Ramsey before joining.
"One of the other things I'm excited about is this will be the first time I'm playing with people who, on the whole, don't know me and don't know how I work,” he said.
Richard and Jerry go way back
“I just don't believe Richard's a traitor. I've known him 30 years and he's my neighbour.”
That was American model Jerry Hall, speaking after actor Richard E Grant came under (admittedly self-inflicted) pressure in the opening episode of the series.
As well as being neighbours, the pair are linked in lots of other ways.
Image source, Rune Hellestad/Corbis via Getty ImagesImage caption, The pair pictured together at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2003
Grant was pictured leaving Hall's wedding to Rupert Murdoch in 2016; in 2003, they were pictured together at Chelsea Flower Show, and they also acted in children's film Tooth back in 2004.
"It was ridiculous,"Jerry said of the film. "We had such a laugh, and I went on holiday with him earlier this year, just after Christmas to Africa with some friends. And we danced all night. We had so much fun! Little did we know back then that we'd both be here [on Celebrity Traitors]."
Now they've taken the next step and moved in together, will they be arguing over who takes the bins out? We are here for it.
Romesh and Julie connected by The Weakest Link
Yes, you know Romesh Ranganathan is the host of The Weakest Link.
But did you know actor Julie Hesmondhalgh is the voiceover narrator for the quiz show?
Here are a few other connections you may not have known about.
Hesmondhalgh and Michael Sheen both fronted Papyrus's online child safety campaign back in 2020.
YouTuber King Kenny was one of 10 online stars competing in the game show Would You Rather, hosted by Romesh Ranganathan.
And singers James Blunt and Leigh-Anne Pinnock are both Brit Award winners. Both being successful musicians, it wouldn't be surprising if they have mingled together at events over the years.
Where does this leave those with fewer friends?
While some of the celebrities have known each other for 30 years, others have no friends in the castle at all.
My Mad Fat Diary actor Sharon Rooney and Industry star Myha'la, for instance, have fewer connections than the others.
And that can be a disadvantage. Remember Niko Omilana and Ruth Codd last year?
After they were banished early on, a theory spread on social media that they were voted out because the other celebrities didn't know them that well.
But it can definitely go both ways.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock has said the fact she doesn't know many people might actually help her.
"I think I'm at a slight advantage because people just know me as Leigh-Anne from Little Mix, and they don't really know my personality that well," she said.
What's clear is that these prior connections are "exactly the sort of thing" that makes Celebrity Traitors so fascinating, as TV reporter Siobhan Synnot told me.
But - like Pinnock - she agrees that having loads of friends doesn't necessarily end up helping you.
"Quite often in The Traitors," she says, "that familiarity becomes a disadvantage".
Players, you have been warned.
When is The Celebrity Traitors next on TV?
There are new episodes of The Celebrity Traitors every Thursday and Friday. The next episode is this Thursday 8 October at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer, with another at the same time on Friday 9 October.
The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked is next on this Thursday 8 October at 9.05pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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