The BBC has faced criticism from viewers of The Celebrity Traitors after the latest episode ended before King Kenny revealed which contestant he had banished from the castle.
The episode concluded with millions of viewers waiting to discover whether Irish comedian Joanne McNally, 43, or Scottish actress Sharon Rooney, 38, had been eliminated following a tied Round Table vote.
Four contestants voted for Rooney, while three backed McNally, leaving Kenny, 29, with a deciding double vote.
However, as presenter Claudia Winkleman asked him to reveal his decision, the programme cut to the closing credits.
The ending means viewers must wait six days to learn the outcome, prompting complaints about the programme’s use of cliffhangers.
Fans Accuse Producers of Stretching Out Key Moments
One viewer told the Mail on Sunday that the programme was withholding conclusions rather than building genuine suspense.
The viewer said the latest cliffhanger was particularly frustrating because Kenny’s decision would only produce a different outcome if he changed his vote.
They also questioned why the programme had not completed the banishment, given that only two episodes remained.
The viewer added that although they remained engaged with the series, the repeated delays made it harder to maintain interest between episodes.
The criticism follows a similar ending the previous Friday, when the programme stopped during a murder attempt involving Traitors Maya Jama and James Acaster.
Previous Cliffhanger Also Left Viewers Waiting for a Result
In the earlier episode, Jama and Acaster attempted to make either Ross Kemp or Jerry Hall yawn in a room sprayed with what was described as sleeping powder.
The programme ended before viewers discovered which celebrity had succumbed.
Six days later, the next episode revealed that Kemp, 62, had yawned first and been murdered.
The repeated use of unresolved endings has led some viewers to argue that the programme is relying increasingly on editing to create suspense.
Viewers Believe Another Edit Revealed a Traitor’s Choice
The programme also attracted attention after Thursday’s episode ended with Kenny beginning to write the name of the next murder victim on a scroll.
The Traitors had narrowed their options to Miranda Hart, Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian “Bash” Croft.
Viewers studying the footage believed Kenny’s pen movement suggested he was writing a name beginning with the letter M. They concluded that Hart was the likely target.
Their theory was confirmed when Friday’s episode began and Hart was revealed as the victim.
The viewer who spoke to the Mail on Sunday said the programme risked undermining its own mysteries when editing appeared to reveal answers before the official announcement.
Social Media Users Criticise Cliffhanger Strategy
Viewers also expressed frustration on social media following the latest episode.
Some described the ending as pointless, while others criticised the technique as an artificial way of prolonging suspense.
One viewer said the repeated cliffhangers felt insulting to the audience, while another described the approach as a cheap television technique.
Despite the complaints, the programme continued to attract a substantial audience.
Thursday’s episode recorded an overnight audience of 10.03 million on BBC One, compared with 2.40 million for EastEnders, the next most-watched programme.
The final two episodes are scheduled to air on Thursday and Friday at 8pm.
Ardross Castle Business Reportedly Owes Almost £2.6 Million
Separately, financial documents have revealed that the company behind Ardross Castle, the Scottish Highlands property used in The Celebrity Traitors, has reported substantial debts.
Companies House records show that Ardross Castle Enterprises Ltd owes creditors almost £2.6 million, leaving the business around £2 million in the red.
The debt is largely attributed to an outstanding loan from Alness Ltd. According to the accounts, the lender will not seek repayment for at least a year or until the company has sufficient funds.
The documents do not explain why the loan was required.
Castle Ownership Includes Offshore Company
Ardross Castle and its 100-acre estate are 95 per cent owned by Frontex Investments, an offshore company based in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean.
The remaining five per cent is owned by Donald McTaggart, whose family purchased the castle in 1983.
Although the business remains in debt, the latest accounts show that its debt fell by almost £500,000 in the 12 months to March 2025, following three series of the television programme.
Ardross Castle Enterprises Ltd was approached for comment.
