Bonnar's emotional play could make him a target on Celebrity Traitors

Mark Bonnar, the Scottish actor best known for roles in Shetland and Line of Duty, has emerged as a breakout presence on the BBC’s first celebrity edition of Celebrity Traitors, with both viewers and a fellow celebrity warning that his visible emotional investment in the game could make him a target at the show’s elimination roundtables. The comments and social media reaction have come during the programme’s early episodes, ahead of the fifth episode.

Bonnar is playing as a Faithful, a role he said before entering the castle he preferred to reduce stress and keep the experience enjoyable. “I was thrilled to be asked,” he told reporters, adding that he is a fan of the format and that he wanted to “be a Faithful.” On screen, his strong reactions, including scenes in which he becomes visibly frustrated, have attracted attention from viewers and fellow contestants alike.

Audience responses on social media praised Bonnar’s commitment while also suggesting his behaviour might be interpreted as theatrical by others in the game. Some viewers said they were moved by his emotional displays, while others suggested he was “overegging” his reactions at the roundtable, where contestants vote...