Miranda Hart has become the latest Faithful to be murdered on The Celebrity Traitors, after Maya Jama, James Acaster and King Kenny decided she was getting too close to uncovering their identities.
The 53-year-old comedian discovered her fate during Friday’s episode, reading the murder letter before saying: “No! Absolutely not. Oh bottoms. I knew it. I’m so cross with myself.”
Reflecting on her time in the game, Hart said it had been “quite extraordinary” to return to the work she loved, while also enjoying “wandering around the Scottish Highlands and being in nature and laughing and connecting”.
She added: “There were times that I didn’t think that would be possible again.”
Hart’s departure followed a suspected editing blunder at the end of Thursday’s programme, when the Traitors narrowed their potential targets to Hart, Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian “Bash” Croft.
As Jama and Acaster watched from the turret, viewers noticed King Kenny apparently beginning to write Hart’s name on the murder scroll before the camera cut away. One viewer complained: “Well done, you literally had one job producers, and you’ve ruined it.”
The episode’s challenge saw the celebrities enter a “field of screams”, where scarecrows bearing their names stood beside pitchforks. Working in pairs, one contestant collected bags of gold worth £500 while their partner placed them on the pitchforks.
Three bags on a single pitchfork caused its scarecrow to explode, eliminating that celebrity from the running for a secret power.
In an apparent twist of fate, the group chose Jama, Acaster and King Kenny as the three contestants they trusted most. King Kenny, whose real name is Kenny Oghenovo Ojuederie, was awarded a dagger carrying a double vote, while £13,500 was added to the charity prize fund, taking the total to £59,500.
Hart’s murder came one episode after Ross Kemp became the first contestant to be killed in plain sight. The EastEnders actor had previously accused Bella Ramsey and Leigh-Anne Pinnock of murdering him in that way.
Acaster carried out the killing by inhaling the “deadly sleeping powder” while yawning, telling Kemp: “Sorry Ross, am I boring you?”
The comedian later frustrated Jama and King Kenny during a mission, remaining behind his blindfold while they removed theirs to complete the task. He told the camera he was “too scared” to help.
Jama and King Kenny later confronted him in the turret, with Jama saying: “You did leave us out to dry.” Acaster replied: “Listen, I didn’t want to be a Traitor, but I’m going to admit something to you now.”
He then revealed: “When I killed Ross Kemp in plain sight, I loved it. And I have enjoyed today more.”
The confession lifted the mood, with Jama responding: “Yay! James, I’m so proud of you.” However, viewers have since predicted that Jama and King Kenny could eventually turn against Acaster after his failure to help during the mission.
