Why Surrey-born Celia will win Celebrity Traitors, according to an expert
Celebrity Traitors overtook Strictly Come Dancing as the UK’s most watched TV series after its first episode attracted 12 million viewers. And it’s the over-60s – namely Celia Imrie, 73, Stephen Fry, 68, and Jonathan Ross, 64 – that have quickly established themselves as popular players.
But Ross Mounsey, entertainment expert from luxury retirement villages brand Audley Villages, says CELIA is the sure-fire winner.
“Celia is much-liked among the Celebrity Traitors. Not only is she an acting legend, but also very charming and offers comic relief – from her “snooping” to accidentally passing wind in a challenge – which is welcomed in an intense, fraught game. Likeability builds trust. Age helps, too – studies show older people are innately more trustworthy so Celia is doubly fortunate.
“The spotlight is currently firmly on ‘national treasures’ – specifically Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry – because the contestants (rightly) imagine Claudia and the producers choosing at least one to be a Traitor.
“For now, Celia’s persona is jokily suspicious and quick-witted, her accusations quite scattergun. She’s still in because the Traitors don’t see her as a threat and has received a handful of votes, so there’s enough heat on her.
“As more women exit the game, eyes will turn towards Celia assuming there’s at least one female Traitor. Yes, that’s Cat – a strong strategist. But she lacks what Celia has in spades – acting ability.
“Crucially, she would make a great recruit as the players won’t suspect three ‘big dogs’ in Jonathan, Alan and Celia. If that happens, she’ll likely behave EXACTLY as she did when she was a Faithful which is a very smart move.
“But at the round tables specifically, we’ll see a cool-headed Celia that can hold her nerve. She’ll shirk off accusations and deflect. But there’s also a fire in her – if the writing is on the wall for a fellow Traitor, she’ll vote them out unflinchingly.
“As the game intensifies, Celia will become a safe space for the players. They’ll lower their guard – but that’s when she’ll strike.
“She’s met so many people from all walks of life over the years. From these experiences, she has accumulated knowledge and skills – otherwise known as ‘Crystallised Intelligence’ – which many (younger) contestants lack.
“That means Celia is emotionally intelligent. She’ll spot social cues – be that a Traitor faltering, or someone suspecting her. We’ll see her having more intimate one-on-one conversations where she gathers evidence and persuades others that she’s a 100% faithful.
“Let’s not forget that in the acclaimed film Thursday Murder Club, Celia played Joyce – a retiree who solves murders for fun with friends at fictional retirement village Cooper’s Chase. She will have extensively researched playing a sleuth – tactics she’ll no doubt employ to get her to the end.
“Older people particularly are easily underestimated. But Celia’s the big dog underdog.”