Celebrity Traitors star King Kenny reveals why he turned on fellow traitor Maya Jama in tense finale showdown

The YouTuber says protecting Maya would have blown his own cover.

Maya Jama and King Kenny stood next to each other smiling ahead outside the castle.

BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry

Published: Wednesday, 4 November 2026 at 8:52 am

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King Kenny has explained why he chose to turn on his fellow Traitor Maya Jama at the final round table.

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Speaking after the dramatic episode, the YouTuber said he betrayed Jama because the other players' suspicion of her had grown so strong that defending her risked exposing him too. Voting her out, he reasoned, was his best chance of staying in the game.

"Voting Maya out was terrible because I really wanted us to win together as Team Traitors, but I just think it was difficult," Kenny said on BBC Radio 1.

He added: "Once the library and perfume theory was established, I was just like mate, I don’t know how I can possibly defend Maya here. To make myself somewhat have a chance at Team Traitors winning, I had to go for her."

Kenny had warned Jama beforehand that he might betray her if it came to it, but his plan did not pay off — Jama was banished at the final round table and eventually, the remaining Faithfuls turned on Kenny, voting him out at the fire pit and leaving no Traitors standing.

Maya Jama stood holding a lantern, smiling as she looks ahead.

Maya Jama in The Celebrity Traitors season 2. BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry

Speaking of that moment, Kenny said: "I was very surprised that Bash voted for me, because he kept saying I trust you, I trust you.

"But I think by the time it gets to the end game, you can trust everyone, but it becomes about degrees of trust, and I think that's where I didn't play it right."

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian Croft were crowned the winners as the last Faithfuls standing, splitting the prize fund between their chosen charities.

Jama later admitted she had half-expected the betrayal. Reflecting on the tense final round table, she told Variety: "My heart was jumping out of my chest."

Celebrity Traitors is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Katelyn Mensah, smiling against a lime green background.

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

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