Celebrity Traitors fans 'heartbroken' over Richard E. Grant's banishment but joke he was the 'worst Traitor ever' after THAT gaffe

Celebrity Traitors fans are 'heartbroken' over Richard E. Grant being the first star to be banished in the first roundtable of the series. 

Thursday's episode of the hit BBC show picked up from last week's cliffhanger, where the celebrities debated whether Richard is a Faithful or not, after the actor made the biggest slip-up in history by openly admitting he was a Traitor. 

But following a landslide vote, in which 69-year-old Richard received 16 out of a possible 20 votes, he was banished.

'I have always wanted to be a Traitor, as you know. Sometimes in life your dreams do come true, and sometimes they don't,' he said to the group, before revealing: 'I am an unfaithful Traitor!'

Speaking to the camera, the actor added: 'I've been annihilated. I have managed to checkmate myself, which, as far as I'm aware, has never been done! My daughter is going to be like, "Oh, Dad", but I've just had a blast.'

Back in Ardross Castle, host Claudia Winkleman announced to the euphoric group of celebrities: ‘This has never happened before. Your first try and you’ve got one!’ 

Gutted fans have taken to social media to share their thoughts, joking that he was 'the worst Traitor in history' after his slip up.

They penned: 'I am genuinely heartbroken for Richard E Grant he was SO buzzin to be a traitor big fanny,'

'Making out they sussed out Richard was a traitor. He told you all so didn’t need to work that out,'

'I'm sad for Richard going this early, he was having the best time. But when you mess up that badly the result is always going to be inevitable,'

'Oh Richard! I wanted him to stay bc of how much he wanted it, but he had to be the one to go after that gaff,'

'Love Richard but he did this to himselffff',

'Such a shame cus I actually think Richard would’ve been good,'

'Richard had so much potential!',

'Richard E Grant is the worst traitor on Traitors UK ever, yet still one of the most iconic.'

Nominated as one of Claudia's Traitors, Richard perhaps already made the biggest slip-up in Celebrity Traitors history.

As he mingled with Faithful Joe Lycett in the lounge area, the comedian jumped straight in with the question: 'What are you?'

'A Traitor,' Richard responded with a huge grin on his face.

Unsure what to believe, Joe said: 'I think you've just done something that has never happened in the game... bold strategy.'

The surprise confession left the rest of the celebrities in a tailspin, with the actor acknowledging he would face the heat at the first round table.

The second series launch episode attracted a record-breaking nine million viewers on Thursday, surpassing all previous premieres for The Traitors UK.

Overnight figures show the first episode peaked at just over nine million and averaged 8.9 million viewers – up three million from the first celebrity series and 2.5 million from series four of The Traitors back in January.

Last year's star-studded celebrity series – featuring the likes of winner Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, Stephen Fry, Kate Garraway and Paloma Faith – launched with a peak audience of 6.5 million viewers, averaging 6.1 million across the episodes.

The last non-celebrity series opener in January garnered 6.9 million peak viewers and averaged 6.4 million views.

The total audience for the series is expected to go even higher in the coming days, with viewers who streamed the show on iPlayer yet to be counted.

It also beat ratings for Strictly Come Dancing's first live show, which have plummeted since presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly stepped away.

Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe have since replaced the iconic duo.

The first episode of the dance show had a peak of five million viewers, down from the 6.2 million who tuned in for the same stage of last year's competition.

Celebrities on The Traitors are playing the game in Ardross Castle in the Highlands, hoping to win a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.