Entertainment · Celebrity · 4 hrs ago
Julie Hesmondhalgh says Romesh Ranganathan and Ross Kemp became close friends
Julie Hesmondhalgh says Romesh Ranganathan and Ross Kemp became her first friends on The Celebrity Traitors.
The former Coronation Street actor was banished from the castle early, but said the three bonded soon after arriving.
She called the trio an unlikely friendship and said she adored Kemp.
Hesmondhalgh said time together away from the game helped friendships form, as contestants travelled in cars and shared stories.
She said the castle put everyone on the same footing, without status.
Those close ties mattered to her because contestants trusted one another with personal stories.
The Celebrity Traitors airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm.
Julie Hesmondhalgh said Romesh Ranganathan and Ross Kemp were the people she became closest to on The Celebrity Traitors.
She described the three of them as an unexpected group of friends and said she adored Kemp.
Hesmondhalgh said time spent together off-camera helped contestants form fast friendships.
She was banished from the castle after a short time on the show.
She discussed the friendships in an interview published in Good Housekeeping UK’s December issue.
- Who
- Julie Hesmondhalgh, Romesh Ranganathan and Ross Kemp.
- What
- Hesmondhalgh said she became close friends with Ranganathan and Kemp on The Celebrity Traitors.
- When
- During their time on the show. The interview was published on 21 October 2026.
- Where
- In the castle on The Celebrity Traitors.
- Why
- Hesmondhalgh said contestants spent time together travelling and talking about their lives when they were not discussing the game.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hesmondhalgh said she, Ranganathan and Kemp were together in the castle.
Hesmondhalgh was banished from the castle.
Digital Spy published an article about Hesmondhalgh’s comments in Good Housekeeping UK.
- Show
- The Celebrity Traitors
- Friends named
- Romesh Ranganathan and Ross Kemp
- Contestant
- Julie Hesmondhalgh
- Interview outlet
- Good Housekeeping UK
- Article publication date
- 21 October 2026
1 source
What people are saying
Romesh [Ranganathan] is one of the greatest human beings,
The three of us were a very unlikely little threesome.
I adored Ross, too.
The extraordinary thing is that you're all on the same footing.