The tension was palpable for fans of BBC’s Celebrity Traitors as the third episode of the star-studded reality series aired on October 15, 2025. After a week of speculation and social media buzz, viewers finally learned who would be the first celebrity banished from Claudia Winkleman’s infamous round table—a moment that had been cruelly left hanging at the end of episode two. The show, set in the grand Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, has quickly become a must-watch, blending high-stakes intrigue with a cast of beloved and sometimes unexpected British celebrities.
The new series kicked off with 19 famous faces, including Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, Tom Daley, Kate Garraway, Celia Imrie, Stephen Fry, and more, all vying for a chance to outwit, outlast, and outplay their way to a £100,000 prize. But in true Traitors fashion, not everyone was destined to make it past the first week. The format remains as deliciously brutal as ever: contestants are either “murdered” by secret traitors or banished by their own peers in a roundtable vote, with each exit sparking waves of emotion and debate among both the players and the viewing public.
The first week ended on a cliffhanger that left fans “reeling,” as Digital Spy described it. The roundtable vote had resulted in a tie between Kate Garraway and Niko Omilana, with each collecting three votes, while Tameka Empson and Tom Daley also received at least one vote apiece. The episode cut off just before the decisive banishment was revealed, prompting a flurry of online speculation and frustration. “How rude!” one fan exclaimed, echoing the collective impatience of the show’s audience, who had to wait several days for the next installment due to the celebrity edition’s twice-weekly schedule.
Adding fuel to the fire, a fan-run “Stan account” on X (formerly Twitter) introduced an unofficial “Celebrity Traitors Simulator” called Traitorlytics. This simulator purported to predict the likely outcomes of the series by running the remaining game 5,000 times after each episode. According to the account, “I built a simulator to predict who will win #TheTraitors. I simulate the remaining game 5,000 times after each episode and tell you how likely each player is to win.” The results were eye-opening: traitors Jonathan Ross and Alan Carr emerged as the frontrunners, with 22.6% and 17.6% chances of winning, respectively, while Celia Imrie languished at the bottom with a mere 1.6% chance. The simulator also suggested that Niko and Kate were the most likely to be banished, with 62% and 79% probabilities, respectively, and identified Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, and Mark as the top “murder” targets.
Of course, as Digital Spy was quick to point out, the methodology behind Traitorlytics remains a mystery. Is it a sophisticated algorithm, some clever AI, or just a fan throwing darts at a wall? Nobody knows for sure, but the predictions certainly added an extra layer of anticipation to the proceedings. The simulator’s predictions, while entertaining, were not to be taken as gospel—just a bit of fun for the fandom as they waited for the real drama to unfold on BBC One and iPlayer.
When episode three finally aired, the suspense reached its peak. The roundtable banishment, which had been left unresolved, was finally concluded: Niko Omilana was voted out, leaving many fans stunned and disappointed. As reported by Birmingham Live, Niko received a series of compliments from his fellow contestants on his way out, with one remarking that he would have made an “excellent” Traitor. Revealing himself as a Faithful, Niko said, “I can’t believe I’m out so quickly, but it’s been an honour getting to know every single one of you.”
The reaction online was swift and emotional. Viewers flooded social media with complaints and laments about Niko’s early exit. “I dislike this season already this feels so unfair I wanted Niko to winnnn :(((,” wrote one fan. Another echoed the sentiment: “Justice for Niko!!!!! They’ve legit just decided it’s him bc he does pranks, so daft.” Others bemoaned the loss of entertainment value, with one saying, “Niko being voted out has really annoyed me,” and another admitting, “The way I lost all interest the second Niko was voted out should be studied.”
But the heartbreak didn’t end there. Mere minutes later, it was revealed that the second celebrity to be “murdered” by the Traitors was none other than Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley. The news left the cast “flabbergasted,” with Clare Balding confessing she was “bereft” and Charlotte Church admitting, “I’m gutted.” Claudia Winkleman, never one to miss a quip, remarked, “He won gold for this country, that wasn’t enough?” Upon learning of his fate, Tom Daley responded with characteristic good humor, saying, “Well that didn’t take long, did it? I am gutted to be leaving the game, I think I was murdered because I think people see me as a threat and I think they might think I’ll weasel them out eventually. Now I guess I’ve got to do one final dive into my grave.”
The double blow of losing both Niko and Tom in rapid succession left fans reeling. “Right so Niko and Tom both gone in the first 10 minutes of the episode, WHAT’S EVEN THE POINT,” one viewer fumed. Another lamented, “They’re getting rid of all my faves so quick wtf!!!! paloma, niko and tom i’m gonna cry.” The sense of frustration was palpable, with some fans even jokingly calling for the season to end then and there.
As the dust settled, the show’s unique blend of suspense, betrayal, and celebrity charm continued to captivate audiences. The castle itself—a 19th-century Scottish baronial masterpiece set on 100 acres near Alness, Easter Ross—provides the perfect backdrop for the drama. Owned by the McTaggart family since 1983, Ardross Castle has become synonymous with the intrigue and grandeur of The Traitors franchise.
With Paloma Faith, Niko Omilana, Tom Daley, and Tameka Empson already out of the running, and the Traitors—Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, and Cat Burns—still flying under the radar, the competition is wide open. As each episode airs, fans continue to speculate, root for their favorites, and debate the fairness of the game. Whether you’re a die-hard supporter or a casual viewer, one thing is certain: Celebrity Traitors has once again proven its power to grip the nation, one shocking elimination at a time.
For those eager to keep up with every twist and turn, Celebrity Traitors airs on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. With such an unpredictable start, the only certainty is that more surprises—and heartbreak—are sure to follow.
