The key facts

  • James A became the first Traitor in the show's history to admit his status right at the round table and was banished unanimously
  • King Kenny used his double vote and banished the Faithful Joanna McNally
  • The final airs on Friday on BBC One and iPlayer from 20:00 GMT

A confession like never before

In the ninth episode of the second season of The Celebrity Traitors, something happened that, according to BBC News reporter Emma Saunders, had never happened before in the show's history: the Traitor James A openly admitted his status right at the round table. Unable to defend himself against Michael Sheen's accusations, he declared: 'I was made a Traitor without wanting to be one,' adding that he had wanted to be a Faithful and that his experience was unique. The contestants unanimously wrote his name on their boards.

The Traitors' double strike

The episode began with Kenny, who had gained the power of a double vote, banishing another Faithful — between Sharon Rooney and Joanna McNally, both turned out to be Faithful, which was not the sharpest cliffhanger for viewers but a heavy blow for the Faithful's team on the eve of the final. Joanna left in tears, calling herself a 'convinced Faithful'. Later, the trio of Traitors — Kenny, Maya and James A — went to the tower to carry out a new 'murder': the victim, who did not appear at breakfast, was Sharon.

The Faithful strike back

Michael Sheen promised the Traitors a 'living hell', and then for the first time seriously pointed at Maya, telling her that she could be a 'brilliant Traitor' paired with Kenny. At the round table, James B was right for the first time, working out that on the night of the 'murder in plain sight', Maya, Kenny and James A had been near Ross Kemp. Romesh and Bash also drew attention to Maya, whom Bash called an 'Olympic-level glider'. By the end of the episode, Maya, in the author's words, looked 'sentenced to death' — the next likely banishment.

What's next

The final of The Celebrity Traitors will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday from 20:00 GMT; from 18:00 GMT the BBC is running a live text commentary. New episodes are released on Thursdays and Fridays, and banished and 'murdered' contestants talk about their experience on the spin-off Uncloaked.

King Kenny, Mya and Michael Sheen sit tentatively around the firepit on the penultimate night of The TraitorsImage source, Press Association
Ross Kemp's image in a belljar - he is shouting in the shot.Image source, Press Association
Image caption,

Ross Kemp hasn't been himself since he was murdered in plain sight

Graphic for The Celebrity Traitors showing 21 framed cast portraits arranged in a grid against a dark red background. Most portraits have been crossed out with large red X marks, indicating contestants who have been eliminated or are no longer in contention. Six portraits remain uncrossed: Romesh, James, Michael, Maya, Kenny, Leigh-Anne and Sebastian. The title The Celebrity Traitors appears near the bottom centre
Your Voice banner image. Your Voice is written in white against a purple background.
Romesh Ranganathan and Rob BeckettMaya Jama wearing a green cloak and holding up a lit lantern on the Celebrity Traitors.A figure in a red cloak holding a lampClaudia Winkleman is wearing a thick, cream coat with the hood up. Behind her is the blurred outline of Ardross Castle.Kenny, Maya and JamesLeigh-Anne Pinnock wearing a military-style top and red long gloves, sitting at the round tableLeigh-Anne and Miranda sitting on the floor and leaning backwards in the middle of a dance move