BBC Responds to Celebrity Traitors Charity Complaints

The BBC confirmed it received complaints about the charities chosen by the winners of The Celebrity Traitors, after £83,000 in prize money went to two organisations supporting refugees.

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan and Heartstopper actor Sebastian Croft won the reality show last month, securing £41,500 each for their chosen causes. Ranganathan selected the Refugee Council, while Croft chose Choose Love.

“We recognise that some audience members were unhappy with the charities chosen by the winning celebrities,” the BBC said on its complaints website. “This feedback has been shared with the relevant parties.”

Both winners addressed the criticism during an appearance on Croft’s Sunday Scaries podcast. Ranganathan said he chose the Refugee Council after becoming “so fed up with the rhetoric against refugees” and said that some people described his choice as a “disgrace.”

“The people kicking off about it has kind of galvanised the people that really think it’s a lovely thing,” Ranganathan said on the podcast. “I think that discussion, that back and forth, has actually been really positive.”

Croft expressed disappointment at the reaction to the donations. “It felt like such a nice moment at the time, but then to see the response, what it made me realise is that’s people’s response to a game show donating money to people who are really vulnerable,” Croft said. “Imagine how difficult it is for those people navigating that system.”

Ranganathan added that it was a coincidence both winners selected refugee charities. Following the victory, Choose Love acting chief executive Emma Stevenson said Croft’s donation would “quite literally change and save lives.”

Refugee Council chief executive Katie Ghose praised Ranganathan, describing him as a “brilliant champion” for the organisation. Ghose said his support would help the charity continue providing frontline services to refugees and people seeking asylum in Britain.