Comedian and television personality Joe Lycett has drawn considerable scrutiny following his strategic interactions with actress Julie Hesmondhalgh on the second series of BBC’s Celebrity Traitors. The unfolding drama on the reality game show has sparked discussions among viewers, former winners, and fellow contestants, highlighting the balance between genuine camaraderie and tactical gameplay in the Scottish Highlands castle.
The Ardross Castle Chapel Opening Task
The controversy began during the opening episode when 21 celebrity contestants gathered at Ardross Castle’s chapel. Host Claudia Winkleman instructed the group to identify the most trustworthy person among them. The contestants unanimously selected former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh.
However, Joe Lycett interrupted the consensus. He questioned the implications of the choice, asking whether labeling someone as trustworthy meant putting them at risk in the game’s coffin mechanics. Despite his interjection, the group stood by their selection. Later, Claudia Winkleman awarded Hesmondhalgh two protective shields, allowing her to keep one and gift the second to another player. Hesmondhalgh handed the second shield directly to Lycett, stating that he was the person who “very, very desperately did not want me to end up in the coffin.”
Accusations of Strategic ‘Fake’ Behavior
Following the broadcast, Rachel Duffy-who won the civilian version of The Traitors alongside Stephen Libby-appeared on companion show The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked to analyze the move. Duffy accused Lycett of being tactical and insincere.
“I think that was strategic by Joe,” Duffy said during her appearance. “If someone is saying she’s the most trustworthy and it’s a consensus that this person is a really lovely person, you could go, ‘I’ll stick up for them here.’ And he obviously benefited from that decision. I don’t know Joe, but I would be thinking that it’s the perfect time to cement, ‘Aw, we’ll look after her.'”
While former winners viewed the gesture through a cynical lens, reactions among fans on social media were mixed. Many viewers took to platforms like X to argue that the burgeoning alliance between Lycett and Hesmondhalgh appeared genuine, with numerous fans predicting an iconic on-screen friendship.
Roundtable Scrutiny and Michael Sheen’s Remark
The scrutiny surrounding Lycett’s approach intensified during a subsequent roundtable discussion in the castle. Addressing his suspicions regarding Hesmondhalgh’s potential role as a Traitor, Lycett attempted to articulate his stance.
“Obviously I’m going to say this, I’m not a Traitor,” Lycett told the roundtable. “Pero I also wrote down when I got back on the first night that if Julie is a Traitor she is-and I put in caps-a phenomenal actress. Because I just don’t believe that you are a Traitor.”
The comment prompted a swift interjection from fellow contestant and actor Michael Sheen, who quipped: “So you’re saying she’s not a phenomenal actress?”
While Lycett looked visibly embarrassed by the delivery, he refrained from mounting a formal defense of Hesmondhalgh’s extensive theatrical and television credentials, which include National Television Awards and British Soap Awards. Hesmondhalgh took the exchange in stride, responding with a quizzical “Thanks?!” before defending her vocal presence in the castle.
“I think that I would be playing a very bold game if I was doing the amount of talking that I’ve been doing over the last couple of days and to be a Traitor,” Hesmondhalgh noted.
Broader Context and Ongoing Game Dynamics
The friction highlights the psychological environment of Celebrity Traitors, where every word and vote is analyzed for hidden motives. As the season progresses on BBC One and iPlayer, players like Lycett and Hesmondhalgh continue to navigate shifting alliances while avoiding banishment.
Beyond her appearance on the reality show, Hesmondhalgh remains in the cultural spotlight for her upcoming theatrical work, including an announcement that she will star in an ensemble cast for The Pelicot Trial at London County Hall later in the year. Meanwhile, Celebrity Traitors continues to capture public attention as contestants grapple with the psychological toll of deception under the watchful eye of Claudia Winkleman.
