Comedian Romesh Ranganathan wins Celebrity Traitors finale

Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian 'Bash' Croft won the 2026 series of Celebrity Traitors on Friday. The finale concluded with Ranganathan declaring himself the worst winner in the show's history to the remaining finalists before the fireworks began.

Ranganathan played as a Faithful throughout the game. His victory highlights a new dynamic in the celebrity version of the show where comedians use humor to deflect suspicion. Michael Sheen admitted he gave James Acaster a free pass due to bias, recognizing the advantage comedians hold in diffusing tense situations with jokes.

The playing field shifted for the final five participants. Leigh-Anne Pinnock, the only woman in the group, was the first eliminated. The male players voted her out after she was seen dancing and laughing with Miranda Hart. Pinnock noted in the diary room that her crime was thrusting her hips and having a laugh, a move that might not have been so suspicious if a male comedian had led it.

Ranganathan survived the creaky floorboard mission as a Faithful. He kept the castle and viewers amused with constant quips. His ability to make others laugh kept him out of the murder circle, even though he was one half of a well-known comedy duo. Being a likable presence reduced the odds of players targeting him for elimination.

In the final bag-tossing segment, Bash Croft chose Ranganathan as his co-winner. Croft had previously stated he was most certain James Blunt was a Faithful. Instead, Croft gambled on Ranganathan because they had grown close during the game. Blunt's subsequent vengeful self-own reaction drew loud gasps from viewers watching at home.

Ranganathan managed to arouse little suspicion despite being one of the biggest names in the castle. He was not strong at hunting Traitors, but his primary goal as a Faithful was survival. His win suggests that humor is a powerful tool in the celebrity castle, potentially setting the stage for another comedian victory in the third season.

Celebrity Traitors is available to stream on iPlayer.