Celeb Traitors Winners Romesh and Bash on the Castle, accepting compliments & answer YOUR questions

Episode Summary

Bash Croft welcomes Romesh Ranganathan for a warm, teasing catch-up after their Celebrity Traitors win. Bash’s introduction reads like an absurdly self-congratulatory bio—“borderline national treasure,” chart-topping podcast host, and all-round champion—until Romesh points out that Bash is essentially quoting Romesh’s own past praise of himself.

Sunday-Night Dread and Show Business

They compare their experiences of Sunday-night dread. Romesh recalls the ominous TV themes of Songs of Praise and Antiques Roadshow from his teaching days, while Bash admits that even exciting plans can feel overwhelming.

Romesh describes show business as “a pie-eating competition where the prize is more pie.” He also says his kids watch clips from Bash’s podcast, which delights Bash.

Slay of the Week: Refugee Charities

Their slay of the week is donating their Traitors winnings to refugee charities. They discuss the backlash and argue that the donations sparked a worthwhile conversation. Bash observes that if people react so angrily to helping vulnerable refugees, it is sobering to imagine how refugees themselves are treated.

They also joke about a comment that framed Bash’s support for queer refugees as noble, while describing Romesh’s support for “regular refugees” as less impressive.

The Traitors and Being Recognized

Romesh says he hadn’t realized how huge The Traitors was until children began recognizing him. Arsenal fans also chanted “Romesh is a traitor” at him, then added a cheeky chant about Rob Beckett.

The pair recall the cast cracking up at a song lyric that sounded like “Are you coming on a tree?” before round tables. Romesh admits that his naturally blank listening face made him look bored or unsympathetic on screen.

Compliments, Criticism, and Therapy

A recurring theme is how awkward they both find compliments. Romesh talks about imposter syndrome and avoiding both praise and criticism online, while Bash says his social-media feed became uncomfortably full of opinions about himself.

They turn the conversation into a mock therapy exercise: Bash gives Romesh a heartfelt compliment, and Romesh insists he can’t accept it. Bash then tries to practise not rushing to fix things when someone is annoyed with him.

Painting Nails

Romesh says he paints his nails because he likes it—and because the fact that it bothers some people makes him want to keep doing it. Bash paints one nail in his honor.

Romesh also describes being told off at the salon for neglecting his cuticles, but says he doesn’t need another thing to worry about.

Flop of the Week

For his flop of the week, Romesh recounts letting a pile of clothes grow on a bedroom futon until it encroached on his wife Lisa’s side. When she pointed it out, he took the request far more personally than she intended. He later realized he had turned a minor mess dispute into a story about being a terrible husband.

Bash sympathizes and praises Romesh for noticing his reaction and apologizing.

Bash’s flop is his low-effort Halloween outfit at Maya Jama’s party. He had hyped himself up to make an effort, but was exhausted and arrived as a “wishlist Edward Cullen.” They agree that fancy dress is fun for about ten minutes before becoming an inconvenience—especially when inflatable costumes deflate. Romesh recalls having to strip off his Superman costume in a toilet just to pee.

Romesh also pokes fun at their brief One Show interview after all the preparation, joking that their briefing lasted far longer than their appearance on air.

Listener Q&A

They discuss clothes and music. Romesh credits stylist Lindsay Moore for his Traitors looks, though he admits he is a clothes enthusiast himself.

Bash picks Taylor Swift’s 1989 as the album he listens to most. Romesh names formative hip-hop favourites, including:

• KMD’s Mr. Hood
• Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
• Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

A listener asks whether Bash and Romesh’s mothers should appear together on a podcast. Romesh firmly advises against it, joking that his own mother has revealed major family secrets on his show—and that listeners always side with her when she scolds him.

Looking Ahead

They close by discussing Romesh’s upcoming tour and the pressure of performing for big audiences. His intention for the week is to do the things he wants to do while worrying less about what other people think.

Personalities featured: Bash Croft, Romesh Ranganathan, and audience questioners heard in voicemail clips.