Maya Jama donates would-be BBC Celebrity Traitors winnings to children’s charity amid winners’ choice controversy

Her donation comes against the backdrop of a heated row that has broken out among the Celebrity Traitors fandom after winners Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian Croft chose to divide their £83,000 prize fund between two refugee charities.

The comedian and actor emerged as the last Faithfuls standing in Thursday’s finale of the BBC One competition, splitting the pot equally between the Refugee Council and Choose Love, respectively.

Taking to X on Saturday afternoon, Ms Jama revealed she’d made the donation after an X user had highlighted the would-be recipients had she won the competition.

“Just found out that @MayaJama was supporting @actnforchildren. Thank you Maya, AFC (or NCH as it was) made all the difference in my life and I’m forever grateful,” the social media user penned.

“Just donated what I would have won for my chosen charity @actnforchildren… amazing cause,” Ms Jama said in response, along with love heart and prayer emojis.

Within minutes, the Love Island presenter was inundated with applause from followers. “Even in defeat… still the star of the show,” one X user responded.

“You deserved to win, played a blinder, much respect to ya,” a second echoed, while a third said: “Great gesture. Was hoping for you to win, you did a great job.”

“Good on ya doll! You did a great job!” another commented, and a fifth concurred: “Queen…..donating the money that should’ve been yours after carrying the whole season.”

And a sixth wrote: “What a great gesture, you nearly got there, played a great game.”

The four-week series reached its climax on Friday night when Mr Ranganathan and Mr Croft correctly unmasked Ms Jama and YouTuber King Kenny as the remaining Traitors during two tense roundtable discussions.

The episode began with actor Michael Sheen’s murder, which left four Faithfuls and two Traitors heading into the final stretch.

Kenny turned on his fellow Traitor Jama at the last roundtable, sending her home before facing judgement himself.

When votes split between Kenny and James Blunt, it was Mr Croft who persuaded Mr Ranganathan to banish the YouTuber.

Mr Blunt then inadvertently sealed his own exit by voting for another round rather than ending the game, leaving Ranganathan and Croft as the final two.

Mr Ranganathan, 48, directed his £41,500 to the Refugee Council. Mr Croft, meanwhile, pledged his share to Choose Love, a humanitarian organisation previously known as Help Refugees that partners with grassroots groups aiding displaced communities globally.

Among the critics of the choices was GB News star Alex Armstrong. “Nothing for British people? The homeless? Cancer charities? Veterans? I could go on… No. Refugees of course, because that’s what these celebs do, it keeps them popular with studios, who’re all left wing,” he penned on X. (sic)

Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer branded the finale “the most BBC thing EVER,” objecting that the winners were donating “our licence fee money” to refugee causes, while political commentator Steven Barrett went further, accusing the celebrities of using public money to “fund the invasion of our country.”

There was plenty of support for the winners’ picks, too. Among them was Jeremy Vine regular, Narinder Kaur, who celebrated the outcome on X, writing: “I am bl**dy LOVING that not only did Romesh Ranganathan WIN #CelebrityTraitors alongside Bash Croft. But the best bit? They split the £83,000 between two refugee charities: Refugee Council and Choose Love. Well done lads.” (sic)

GB News has contacted the BBC for comment.