What's happened
The first UK celebrity series of BBC's 'Celebrity Traitors' concluded with a dramatic finale, crowning Alan Carr as the winner. The show received widespread praise, with viewers calling it the best UK season so far. Critics highlight its impact on celebrity culture and TV entertainment in 2025.
What's behind the headline?
The success of 'Celebrity Traitors' signals a shift in UK reality TV, emphasizing celebrity participation as a key driver of engagement. The show's format, blending social deduction with star power, has proven highly effective, drawing millions of viewers and generating social media buzz.
This season's finale, marked by Alan Carr's unexpected victory, underscores the show's appeal—fans enjoy seeing beloved celebrities in high-stakes, unpredictable scenarios. The show's ability to generate emotional investment and viral moments, like Carr's win and the audience's reactions, cements its place as a major entertainment phenomenon.
Critically, the series also highlights the changing landscape of celebrity culture, where authenticity and relatability are increasingly valued. The show's popularity suggests that viewers prefer seeing celebrities in more vulnerable, game-like settings rather than traditional scripted roles.
Looking ahead, 'Celebrity Traitors' is likely to return for a second season, possibly with even bigger stars and more elaborate twists. Its success may influence other broadcasters to develop similar formats, further blending celebrity culture with reality TV innovation. The series exemplifies how entertainment in 2025 continues to evolve, prioritizing engagement, social media integration, and star power.
What the papers say
The Scotsman reports that 'Celebrity Traitors' was a ratings hit, with fans praising Carr's win and the show's dramatic finale, calling it 'the best UK season so far.' Sky News highlights Olusoga's insights, noting the show's failure at the roundtable but praising its entertainment value. The Guardian offers a broader cultural perspective, comparing the show's impact to political figures' past engagement with reality TV, and emphasizing its significance in contemporary celebrity culture. These contrasting views underscore the show's popularity and cultural relevance, with some critics focusing on its entertainment and others on its societal implications.
How we got here
The BBC launched its first all-star celebrity edition of 'Traitors' in October 2025, featuring well-known personalities competing in a social deduction game. The series quickly gained popularity, culminating in a highly watched finale. The show’s success reflects a growing trend of celebrity-focused reality TV in the UK, with notable interest from fans and media alike.
Go deeper
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Alan Graham Carr (born 14 June 1976) is an English comedian, broadcaster, writer, and television personality. His breakthrough was in 2001, winning the City Life Best Newcomer of the Year and the BBC New Comedy Awards.
In the ensuing years, Carr's career
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David Adetayo Olusoga OBE is a British historian, writer, broadcaster, presenter and film-maker. He is Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester.