Celebrity Traitors is thrown into chaos by a racism row, leaked spoilers and cast fallouts - and there's still another two weeks to go!

The second season of Celebrity Traitors has drawn in millions of viewers, with households up and down the UK tuning in after getting hooked by the series one last year. 

Yet while the show may have pulling power when it comes to viewers, the series threatens to be overshadowed by the many scandals engulfing it. 

From the start, it was clear that this series would not be like the others, with Richard E. Grant immediately declaring he was a Traitor – prompting him to be banished first. 

The move was so incredulous that fans began to speculate if Richard had planned his banishment all along. 

That is, until he proved his reputation as a blabbermouth. 

It emerged this week that Richard had accidentally let slip the news back in June, shortly after filming, when he appeared on BBC Radio 6, forcing the show's producers to edit it out of the broadcast. 

Contestants on The Traitors, both celebrity and civilian versions, face potential lawsuits and fines of upwards of £100,000 for breaching their non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

The celebrities signed the documents before heading to Ardross Castle in Scotland to film the series in May, with Ross Kemp saying the NDA was 'longer than the Bayeux Tapestry'.

The Mail understands that the BBC is aware of Richard's interview slip-up and will take no further action, however a BBC insider revealed: 'Players have once again been reminded about keeping the outcome of the game to themselves following a number of incidents'.

Despite this, news of who made it to the final was reportedly leaked over the weekend by someone close to one of the players.

'It's vital the leaks don't make it to gossip forums online and on social media where fans can find the information,' one source said.

With the final reportedly airing on October 30, BBC bosses are said to be scrambling to keep any leaks under lock and key beforehand. 

Yet it isn't just leaks that could spoil the viewers' enjoyment, but the contestants themselves. 

Viewers have voiced their frustration at Hannah Fry and James Acaster being recruited as Traitors when they wanted to remain Faithfuls, claiming their 'hearts aren't in it'. 

Fans penned on X/Twitter: 'I’m finding #CelebrityTraitors a bit boring this year! The Traitors aren’t evil enough Come onnnnn';

'My big issue with this season is the #CelebrityTraitors don’t seem like their hearts are in it being traitors'; 'Is it just me or do we have the 3 dullest traitors this yr on celebrity traitors'; 

'#TheCelebrityTraitors - it’s going to get tedious with so many cliff hangers and such a long wait in between the episodes #dull #boring #frustrating';

'the first series of the celebrity traitors was way better than the second. despite the star names, it feels a little flat'.

There was also controversy when American actress Myha'la became the second person to be banished.

Over the years The Traitors has been accused of having an issue with unconscious bias, with mutterings from fans on TikTok that contestants have shown microaggressions towards men and women of colour on the show.

This accusation arose again following Myha’la's exit, with one fan commenting on her Instagram: 'Unfortunately you were banished because you are BLACK.

'This is a consistent thread in this racist show. You were the first one to be strategically banished.' 

Myha’la was quick to defend her co-stars, replying: 'I understand why you feel this way, and I may have agreed with you had I not… sealed my own fate,' highlighting that she’d winked at Traitor Richard before voting for him. 

She continued: 'That early in the game, there is very little to grasp on to, and I gave them a lot.

'However, I do agree that unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in this game where my authenticity or honesty or the ways in which I choose to express myself look suspicious to people who are unfamiliar with people like me. 

'I had this fear coming into the game, as I am a BIG fan and also clocked right away how prevalent this is in this game.

'I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist, but I do have to defend my dear friends on this show who in no way consciously put bias on me because of my race. That’s not a fair or complete assessment of what really happened in my case.'

She went on to say that she believes games like The Traitors should encourage 'more conversation around unconscious bias'. 

While Myha’la had nothing but kind words for her co-stars, it's believed not everyone has been getting on well. 

The Daily Mail reported that when the cameras stopped rolling, contestants on the BBC One show were still 'at one another's throats' as the tension and 'utter paranoia' between them spilled over into real life.

Sources say that unlike last year's celebrity version of the programme, when the line up had fun and enjoyed it, this time it became extremely stressful behind the scenes.

A show insider told The Mail on Sunday: 'The tension is coming across on screen, but it was just as bad if not worse when the cameras stopped rolling.

'It is a tense environment, and they are cut off from the outside world; it is hard for them to switch off even when they head back to their individual lodgings.

'They were constantly thinking about the game.'

Even funnyman Rob Beckett surprised his co-stars with high energy behaviour, which was at times hard for the others to deal with while filming in Scotland early in the summer.

The source added: 'They were all making each other more stressed out. A lot of them just couldn't hack it, I'm not sure what they thought they were signing up to.

'One contestant really lost their nerve at one point and their co-stars were absolutely stunned.

'And Rob, who is usually so funny, really struggled at points and surprised the others with his behaviour. They put it down to the fact that things were so tense.'

Another source said that some on the show, which also stars Miranda Hart, Maya Jama and Jerry Hall, struggled to remember it was just a game.

The pressure became so intense for comedian James Acaster, who was recruited as a Traitor in the second episode, that filming had to be paused.

The 41-year-old became 'very anxious' on set in Ardross Castle and some of the other contestants were forced to speak up and insist the cameras stop rolling.

BBC bosses later stressed that the welfare of contestants was a priority.

Viewers of the game show have watched James become increasingly distressed on screen, repeating: 'I'm not good at lying.'

The stand-up comic expressed his wish to remain a Faithful on the show.

Faithful Ross Kemp – best known for playing hardman Grant Mitchell on EastEnders – has entertained viewers by becoming increasingly paranoid when other cast members touch him.

And it wasn't just the celebrities feeling the stress.

During filming, their teams were kept completely in the dark and had no contact with their clients until they exited the game.

Agents and publicists have no say in what is shown and can only hope their clients get a good edit.

Last week's episode saw Julie Hesmondhalgh become the latest contestant to be banished. 

And Julie wasn't the only Faithful to leave the game, as Thursday's cliffhanger was resolved with the shocking news that Game Of Thrones actor Bella Ramsey, 23, had been murdered.

Now it remains to be seen if Ross, Rob, Leigh-Anne Pinnock or Romesh Ranganathan will be targeted by the Traitors. 

The foursome were chosen by the Traitors to take part in a deadly game of hide and seek in the castle's grounds.  

Host Claudia Winkleman explained: 'Soon the Traitors will gather, stalking through the wood, all with the hope of opening your door and murdering you face to face.'

She added: 'But you have a chance of survival.

'This key ensures safety for one of you. Whoever possesses this key can lock the door of their crypt and therefore stop the Traitors from entering and killing you. The rest of you will be left at risk.'

After discussion, Leigh-Anne was given the key and therefore is protected from murder, while the others may not survive the night.

Fans will learn of their fates when The Celebrity Traitors returns on Thursday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.