Fans of The Celebrity Traitors have accused the BBC of cynically milking the drama around Richard E. Grant after an episode ended on a cliffhanger before a single banishment vote was cast.
The row erupted after the round-table discussion focused almost entirely on Grant, who had already blurted out his Traitor identity to fellow contestants. Viewers were poised for the voting slips to be written, but the credits rolled before anyone's name was put down, leaving the fate of the 69-year-old actor unresolved for a week.
The decision sparked a fierce reaction online. Fans pointed out that no UK series of The Traitors had ever ended before the names went on the slates, with one viewer writing on The Traitors UK Facebook group: 'I've done a bit of digging and no UK Traitors series has ever ended before they even put names on their slates, which is what happened on Friday. The closest we've come before is when the names are revealed and there was a tie in the voting. Then the show ended. And that's only happened twice.'
Others were convinced the manoeuvre was a deliberate ploy to maximise viewing figures. 'I said exactly the same! They've dragged it out another week for him to get some interviews in. I know they have cliffhangers all the time, but I felt Friday's episode ended abruptly just so we have to wait another week to find out,' one viewer wrote. Another added: 'Been saying it all week. Getting their moneys worth by keeping him in the conversation.'
Grant's predicament has been the standout storyline of the celebrity edition. Having admitted his Traitor role to Joe Lycett within minutes of being chosen by Claudia Winkleman, the actor has spent the series trying to convince his co-stars that the confession was either a joke or a double bluff. Comedian Joe Lycett is reported to be firmly convinced that Grant is a Traitor.
The row over the editing highlights the stakes for the BBC. The second celebrity series has been a ratings phenomenon, with the premiere becoming the most-watched debut episode of any series of the programme in the UK, averaging 8.9 million viewers.
The Celebrity Traitors airs on Thursday and Friday nights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Whether Grant survives the delayed banishment, and whether the BBC's cliffhanger gamble keeps those record audiences tuning in, will be decided in the next episode.