Celebrity Traitors: Julie Hesmondhalgh is the third star banished during intense round table after traitors murdered their ‘biggest threat’

The Traitors suffered an early setback after losing one of their own, Richard E. Grant, at the first roundtable. 

But Maya Jama, James Acaster and Professor Hannah Fry had something to celebrate during Friday night’s episode of Celebrity Traitors, as Faithful Julie Hesmondhalgh became the latest contestant to be banished.

Julie, 56, and Hannah, 42, both found themselves in the firing line during the tense roundtable discussions, but it was the Coronation Street legend who ultimately received the most votes.

Speaking after being booted out of the castle, Julie shared: ‘You know how much I have loved every second of this experience. It has been immense, even chuffed to bits standing here because it is iconic. Alas, it may mean that I am not a phenomenal actor. I am indeed a Faithful.’ 

The celebrities reacted in complete shock at Julie’s exit, with Miranda Hart admitting she’s ‘so angry’, while James Blunt apologised for leading the charge against her. 

Claudia Winkleman said after the vote: ‘Faithful, you have just banished an innocent victim. You are doing the Traitors’ work for them. I’d say enjoy your evening, but I think that is going to be a little bit tricky.’

Julie, 56, and Hannah, 42, both found themselves in the firing line during the tense roundtable discussions, but it was the Coronation Street legend who ultimately received the most votes

Julie’s exit sparked a huge reaction from fans as they rushed to X to share their thoughts.

They wrote: ‘Julie was the best thing about this series. Absolutely cooked.’

‘Julie you are a faithful and a phenomenal actress. Gutted for you.’ 

‘Julie!! The icon that is Julie!!! She let her mouth run and she’s innocent!!’

‘NOOO NOT JULIE!! I’m happy Hannah is still in but I reckon she’s gone in the next episode.’ 

‘Me watching the castle banish national treasure Julie Hesmondhalgh while freshly recruited Traitor Hannah Fry tries to keep her trembling teacup still.. Banishing Hayley Cropper from Coronation Street when she’s 100% Faithful is an actual crime.’

Reflecting on her time in the castle, Julie said in her exit interview: ‘It’s been the experience of a lifetime, so joyful. I’ve laughed till I’ve cried, most hours of the day. I’ll really miss being part of it.’

On making history by catching Ricahrd, 69, in the first roundtable, she added: ‘It was the best feeling; I cannot begin to tell you how incredible that feeling is. Right up there with marriage and childbirth haha!’

Julie shared: ‘You know how much I have loved every second of this experience. It has been immense, even chuffed to bits standing here because it is iconic’

Reflecting on her time in the castle, Julie said in her exit interview: ‘It’s been the experience of a lifetime, so joyful. I’ve laughed till I’ve cried, most hours of the day. I’ll really miss being part of it’

Julie’s exit sparked a huge reaction from fans as they rushed to X to share their thoughts

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 

After learning their fate, Bella, 23, admitted they understood why they had been targeted

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. 

Celebrity Traitors picked up where Thursday’s episode left off, with the murderous trio – Maya Jama, James Acaster and Professor Hannah Fry – choosing who to kill between James Blunt, Sebastian Croft and Bella. 

Hannah’s recruitment has already roused suspicion from the Faithfuls and so the pressure was on to try to take the heat off the mathematician when it came to the round table.  

‘I think we should murder Bella. That is our biggest threat,’ Maya, 32, told her fellow Traitors as they plotted their next move.

After learning their fate, Bella, 23, admitted they understood why they had been targeted. 

They said: ‘Oh yes, I thought this might be occurring. This is a clever move by the Traitors because I was going to reset and start from the beginning.

‘I got it so wrong with Myha’la so I think that they were right to murder me because I think I would have maybe figured it out. I hope the Faithful win, I feel very attached to them. Goodnight, this is the end.’

Watching the scenes unfold, divided Celebrity Traitors fans were quick to share their thoughts on Bella’s exit.

They penned: ‘Heartbroken for Bella getting murdered, leader of the Faithful.’ 

‘ I am soooooo glad Bella has been murdered. Magnificent decision by the Traitors!!!!’

‘Still mad over them getting rid of Bella.’

‘The nation is currently in mourning over Bella’

‘Aww, I wanted Bella to stay a little longer’; ‘Wow gutted #Bella’s been murdered!!’

‘Bella being killed instead of recruited is one of the biggest blunders of the traitors EVER, they are such an amazing player I’m so #fuming.’

They said: ‘Oh yes, I thought this might be occurring. This is a clever move by the Traitors because I was going to reset and start from the beginning’

Hannah’s recruitment has already roused suspicion from the Faithfuls and so the pressure was on to try to take the heat off the mathematician when it came to the round table

During the latest episode of the hit BBC show, James became at risk of being murdered by Traitors Maya Jama, James Acaster and Hannah Fry, after they began to worry he would suss them out

Watching the scenes unfold, divided Celebrity Traitors fans were quick to share their thoughts on Bella’s exit

The celebrities reacted in shock at Bella’s departure

Following Bella’s exit, suspicion soon turned to Hannah, with Julie Hesmondhalgh leading the charge against her

Following Bella’s exit, suspicion soon turned to Hannah, with Julie Hesmondhalgh leading the charge against her. 

As she aired her suspicions to secret traitor Maya, the Love Island host later told the camera: ‘I’m doing GCSE level acting here! I’m a little bit worried about Miranda, she has theories and all the things to sniff out someone suspicious.’

Meanwhile, the next challenge saw the celebrities heading to a haunted cabin, where they were tasked with granting the dying wishes of spirits.

Claudia told the stars: ‘You’ll need to split into two groups. Each group will take it in turn to pay my cabin a visit. If you’re in there you could have the opportunity to find yourself a shield. This is how it is going to work. 

‘Half of you will be outside summoning the spirits, the other half will be inside waiting for contact. The spirit will then tell you about a treasured item they want to be reunited with. You only have three minutes to find that treasured item and then the spirit will come knocking. 

‘You will know the spirit is on their way because the lights will flicker in the cabin. You will have to elect one player to greet the spirit and hand over the treasure item.

‘If you’ve got it right, well done, £1,500 added to the prize fund. If you get it wrong, the spirit will take you. You will be out of the mission. There are four haunted spirits so £6,00 to be won today plus two shields.’

As a result of their diligent efforts, the group bagged £4,500 for the prize fund, while the actor Sebastian Croft, 24, and internet star, King Kenny, 29, won themselves a shield.

Later in the turret, Maya had to give stand-up comedian James A and Hannah a pep talk, telling them: ‘I can’t be the only one out here killing people.

‘Where is Richard when I need him? The spirit of Rich. If he were in here right now, he would be enjoying every moment of this. I need you guys to snap into that mentality. I never thought I’d have to tell you guys to snap into murder mode. It is called the Traitors!’

Meanwhile, the next challenge saw the celebrities heading to a haunted cabin, where they were tasked with granting the dying wishes of spirits

The celebrities added £4,500 to the prize pot, while Sebastian Croft and King Kenny won the shields

Later in the turret, Maya had to give stand-up comedian James A and Hannah a pep talk, telling them: ‘I can’t be the only one out here killing people’

‘Where is Richard when I need him? I need you guys to snap into that mentality. I never thought I’d have to tell you guys to snap into murder mode. It is called the Traitors!’

Claudia explained it was time to play a deadly game of Hide and Seek, which saw Ross, Leigh-Anne, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan called back to Ardross Castle at night

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

‘You have ended up with two of the biggest Faithfuls in the game,’ James, 41, tried to explain.

Host Claudia ,54, interrupted, explaining it was time to play a deadly game of Hide and Seek, which saw Ross, Leigh-Anne, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan called back to Ardross Castle at night.

The former Strictly Come Dancing host 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.

But once again the BBC have left viewers a long wait until next week to discover their fates.