Joe Lycett banished from Celebrity Traitors after a round table slip
An overwhelming round table vote sealed the comedian's fate after an open push to change allegiances backfired in front of James Blunt.
British comedian Joe Lycett was banished from The Celebrity Traitors series 2 during the October 16 episode on BBC One after receiving 11 of the 14 cast votes at the round table. Following the overwhelming vote, the television presenter stood before the group and revealed that he was a Faithful, as confirmed on the BBC One broadcast and reported by the Evening Standard and The Independent.
Lycett’s exit followed mounting suspicion from his fellow players, triggered by his open lobbying to be recruited into the Traitors’ turret and a slip of the tongue during round table deliberations. While trying to defend himself, Lycett discussed recruitment mechanics, telling the group, “If you banish me tonight, they will have to recruit again”
How the vote turned against him
Contestant and singer James Blunt pushed back against Lycett’s explanation during the discussion, disputing his efforts to redirect the group’s focus and noting that his phrasing sounded like insider Traitor knowledge. As reported by The Mirror, Blunt confronted the comedian directly, telling him, “No Joe I think the heat’s on you.”
Viewers posting on X described Lycett’s exit as self-inflicted, noting that his public campaign to be recruited and his slip of the tongue during the vote cemented his banishment, according to the Daily Express.
What Joe Lycett said after his exit
Standing in front of the remaining contestants, Lycett addressed his desire to switch allegiances before confirming his real role. “I always wanted to start as a faithful and end as a traitor. I started as a faithful, I did not get my wish, I am a faithful,” he told the cast, as reported by the Evening Standard.
Speaking about his vocal game plan, Lycett acknowledged that his transparency worked against him. “I did not and I am sad about it, because that is something I wanted in this game. I’ve probably been too vocal about it,” he said.
In comments shared with Female First, Lycett reflected on his strategy. “I sort of didn’t play being a Faithful or a Traitor right. I tried to straddle both, and I was being greedy and I was rightly punished for it,” Lycett said. He added: “The word that comes to mind for this whole experience is gratitude. It’s made me really grateful for my life. I’m really grateful that I am in a position that I get to experience this, because I’m famous enough to be in the mix.”
Where the game stands now
Lycett’s banishment came after a fast-moving shift in the castle. Traitors Maya Jama and James Acaster recruited YouTuber and content creator King Kenny to join them in the turret following the banishment of Traitor Professor Hannah Fry. Because of the recruitment, no player was murdered overnight heading into the episode, WalesOnline and the Evening Standard reported. Comedian Rob Beckett had previously been murdered face-to-face in the October 15 broadcast.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, series 2 of the celebrity edition premiered on BBC One on October 1, 2026, following the first series in 2025 won by Alan Carr. At the close of Friday’s episode, the Traitors were tasked with a plain-sight poison mission, leaving viewers waiting to see whether Jerry Hall or Ross Kemp will become the next victim.
