Celebrity Traitors: Romesh Ranganathan ‘will be happy’ to outlast Rob Beckett
Crawley comedian Romesh Ranganathan’s competitive streak could emerge on The Celebrity Traitors – with fellow comic Brennan Reece suggesting he will be happy as long as he outlasts Rob Beckett.
Speaking ahead of the next episode on Thursday (October 15), Reece praised Ranganathan’s approach but warned that his close friendship with Beckett could eventually attract suspicion.
His comments come with both comedians facing an uncertain future following the murderous hide-and-seek cliffhanger.
Asked whether Ranganathan wants to go all the way and win, Reece told OLBG: “I think he seems like a pretty competitive person. I believe Romesh will be happy as long as he gets further than Rob Beckett.”
Ranganathan, who was born in Crawley and previously taught at Hazelwick School, has become an influential voice among the faithfuls.
In our latest opinion piece, we raised concerns that this could make him a target for the traitors, with James Acaster describing him as a threat at the roundtable.
ActionNetwork.com subsequently published predictions putting Ranganathan as the favourite to become the next murder victim, ahead of Beckett.
However, Reece believes viewers could soon see the comedians taking an even more active role.
He said: “I think that Romesh has come across brilliantly. I think all the comedians actually have.
"No one's got involved in any of the spats. I do think that some of those comedians will be itching for either being recruited or eliminating a traitor.
"Comedians are so used to working on their own. It can only be a matter of time before they start being a bit more vocal.”
Ranganathan and Beckett’s friendship has already provided entertaining exchanges, including their early questioning of each other’s allegiances.
But Reece believes that familiarity could ultimately work against them.
“I think people will become suspicious of them,” he said.
"I think the celebrities will believe that there's no way both of them aren't traitors. They both can't just be faithful. So I think that's what might be their downfall.”
Despite that warning, Reece picked Beckett as the contestant he believes is playing the strongest game – even if he is doing so unintentionally.
He said: “I think Rob Beckett is playing the game best, and I don't even think he's playing a game.
"I think he's just there and enjoying the experience. But if I were to say I was a traitor and I had to recruit, Rob would be the first person I'd pick because I just think he seems too happy; he seems like he's having the best time. I don't think anyone thinks of him as being a traitor.”
The faithfuls will be hoping to recover after banishing innocent contestants Bella Ramsey and Julie Hesmondhalgh following their successful elimination of Richard E. Grant.
For Ranganathan, the immediate challenge is surviving the murder threat – before he can think about beating Beckett.
The Celebrity Traitors continues tonight (8pm on Thursday, October 15) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.