Miranda Hart became the latest contestant to be murdered on The Celebrity Traitors on Friday after Maya Jama, James Acaster and King Kenny decided to eliminate the comedian.
The 53-year-old was targeted because the Traitors feared she was getting close to discovering their identities.
After reading the murder letter, Hart expressed her frustration at being eliminated from the BBC reality show.
“No! Absolutely not. Oh bottoms. I knew it. I’m so cross with myself,” she said.
She also reflected on her return to television after a difficult period marked by ill health, describing her experience on the programme as a significant personal achievement.
Viewers Threaten to Stop Watching After Hart’s Departure
Hart’s exit prompted an emotional response from viewers, with several taking to X to express their disappointment and claim they would no longer watch the series.
One viewer wrote: “Traitors not worth watching anymore.”
Another posted: “Miranda off, TV off,” while a third declared: “Cancel my TV licence right now.”
Other viewers described themselves as devastated and angry about the decision to eliminate Hart.
One fan wrote: “The way I just screamed at my TV. I’m devastated.”
Another added: “I’m actually raging! Was only watching the show for Miranda! F*** you traitors! Such Fun!”
A further viewer said they were “absolutely fuming” following the comedian’s departure.
Hart Describes Difficult Journey Back to Television
During her exit interview, Hart explained that taking part in The Celebrity Traitors marked an important stage in her return to professional television after years of ill health.
She said she had missed working on television and had faced a lengthy process to regain the fitness needed to participate in a programme of this nature.
“I have missed doing television so much and it has been a very hard road to get to a place after restricting long-term illness to be fit enough to do something again,” she said.
Hart also spoke about enjoying activities such as walking through the Scottish Highlands, spending time in nature, laughing and connecting with others.
She said there had been periods when she did not believe returning to those activities would be possible.
Comedian Reveals How Close She Came to Identifying Traitors
Hart revealed that she had nearly uncovered the identities of Jama and Acaster before they arranged her murder.
She explained that Rob Beckett’s belief that Joanne McNally was a Faithful helped her recognise that Jama had moved during a blindfolded challenge.
Hart also became suspicious of Acaster because of an earlier vote.
She said she had almost managed to alert fellow contestants James B and Michael to her suspicions.
“I was so close to being able to whisper to James B and Michael that I thought I had got them,” she said.
Her comments suggested that the Traitors’ decision to eliminate her came as she was beginning to piece together clues about their identities.
Viewers Accuse BBC Producers of Revealing Hart’s Fate Early
Hart’s departure followed criticism of the programme’s editing after Thursday’s episode appeared to reveal a possible target before Friday’s murder was confirmed.
At the end of the previous episode, the Traitors had narrowed their options to Hart, Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian “Bash” Croft.
However, viewers noticed that King Kenny appeared to begin writing Hart’s name on a scroll while watching the discussion in the turret with Jama and Acaster.
The camera then cut away, prompting accusations that the editing had given away the outcome.
One viewer criticised the production team, writing: “Well done, you literally had one job producers, and you’ve ruined it.”
Field of Screams Challenge Adds £13,500 to Charity Fund
Elsewhere in Friday’s episode, the contestants took part in a challenge called the “field of screams”, featuring scarecrows bearing their names beside pitchforks.
Working in pairs, one celebrity collected bags of gold worth £500 while the other placed them on the pitchforks to add money to the charity prize fund.
If three bags landed on one pitchfork, the associated scarecrow exploded, eliminating that contestant from the running for a secret power.
The challenge resulted in an additional £13,500 being added to the fund, taking the total to £59,500.
The group also selected Jama, Acaster and King Kenny as the three contestants they trusted most, inadvertently protecting the three Traitors.
King Kenny received a dagger that gave him a double vote at the Round Table.
Double-Vote Advantage Leaves Two Contestants Facing Banishment
King Kenny’s advantage became significant during the Round Table proceedings, when Sharon Rooney, 38, and Joanne McNally, 43, were left fighting to remain in the competition.
The episode ended with the contestants divided over which of the two women should be banished.
With the votes split, King Kenny’s double-vote dagger was set to determine the outcome, leaving viewers waiting to discover who would be eliminated next.
Ross Kemp’s Murder Adds to the Faithfuls’ Losses
Hart’s departure followed the murder of fellow Faithful Ross Kemp in Thursday’s episode.
The EastEnders actor had attracted attention earlier in the series for his suspicions about other contestants, including Bella Ramsey and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, whom he accused of murdering him in plain sight.
He was ultimately killed by Acaster through a task involving what was described as “deadly sleeping powder”.
As Kemp yawned, Acaster said: “Sorry Ross, am I boring you?”
The murder marked the Traitors’ first killing in plain sight and added to the losses suffered by the Faithfuls.
Tensions Grow Between Maya Jama, King Kenny and James Acaster
Acaster also faced tension with his fellow Traitors after failing to assist Jama and King Kenny during a challenge.
The task required the Traitors to move around a room and rearrange pieces of shield puzzles while the other contestants remained blindfolded.
Jama and King Kenny removed their blindfolds to complete the task, but Acaster remained hidden, telling the camera he was too scared to help.
The pair appeared frustrated by his decision, although they could not openly challenge him in front of the Faithfuls.
Later, in the turret, Jama confronted Acaster about leaving them to complete the task.
“You did leave us out to dry,” she said.
Acaster responded that he had not wanted to become a Traitor but admitted that he had enjoyed killing Kemp in plain sight.
“When I killed Ross Kemp in plain sight, I loved it. And I have enjoyed today more,” he said.
His admission appeared to ease the tension temporarily, with Jama replying: “Yay! James, I’m so proud of you.”
Fans Speculate Acaster Could Become the Next Target
The disagreement prompted viewers to speculate that Jama and King Kenny might eventually turn against Acaster because of his performance during the challenge.
Some fans called for the pair to remove him from the group, while others defended his decision to remain blindfolded, arguing that moving could have exposed his role to the Faithfuls.
One viewer wrote: “Kenny and Maya need to throw James under the bus.”
Another predicted that Acaster would be the next Traitor eliminated.
Other viewers argued that his reluctance to move had been a sensible decision given the positions of the contestants around him.
The disagreements added another layer of uncertainty to the competition as the remaining celebrities continued trying to identify the Traitors.
