Clare Balding Axed from The Celebrity Traitors in Shock Vote

Clare Balding has become the latest celebrity to be banished from The Celebrity Traitors, following a tense roundtable that saw her receive seven votes from fellow contestants.

The 54-year-old sports broadcaster’s exit came during the latest episode of the hit BBC reality series, in which celebrities take on the roles of either ‘Faithfuls’ or ‘Traitors’ as they compete to unmask the saboteurs within their ranks.

Jonathan Ross, who is secretly one of the Traitors, narrowly avoided exposure during the heated discussion — and admitted he felt incredibly lucky to have survived.

“How am I still here?” he exclaimed. “I mean, I have got to be the luckiest Traitor in the history of the game. Without even having to work at it, the Faithfuls did our dirty work for us!”

Clare’s banishment left several of the remaining contestants stunned, with the atmosphere in the castle expected to grow even more intense in the coming days.

“Everyone’s coming out tomorrow with their claws out and everyone’s going to be scratching away at each other to see if under the otherwise faithful skin there lurks a black-hearted Traitor,” Jonathan added.

Tameka Empson Reflects on Emotional Exit

Earlier in the week, soap actress Tameka Empson was also banished from the castle. Reflecting on her departure during spin-off show The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, she admitted to feeling emotional about leaving so early.

“I think Claudia [Winkleman] saw the faithfulness in me,” Tameka said. “Being a Traitor is a headache. It’s a lot of game-playing, and you’re going to be up later than anybody else. I think it was right for me to be a Faithful, and I really wanted to be a great Faithful. I had plans to lead the Faithfuls to victory, but that was cut short.”

Despite the disappointment, the 48-year-old star revealed she thoroughly enjoyed her time on the show — particularly the stunning setting.

“I had a really great time. Scotland is beautiful and the castle is amazing,” she said. “Oh my God, it was incredible. And, you know, we were travelling in style in that iconic convoy of cars, which I adored. I couldn’t get anybody to give me a key and I’m a very good driver. That feeling as you drive up to the castle — it’s amazing when you watch it on TV, but in real life, it takes your breath away.”

Tensions Rise as the Game Intensifies

With Clare Balding’s unexpected departure and Traitor Jonathan Ross still in the game, the dynamics within the castle are shifting rapidly. The Faithfuls appear increasingly divided, and alliances are being tested as the contestants edge closer to the final showdown.

The Celebrity Traitors continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.