Celebrity Traitor: Maya Jama donates prize money after loss
The broadcaster gave away the sum she would have received had she not been unmasked by Michael Sheen in the series finale.
By Dominic Foster ·
Maya Jama left the BBC’s Celebrity Traitor without the trophy, but the Bristol native did not leave empty-handed. After the final episode aired this week, it was revealed that the television presenter donated the full amount of prize money she would have won to Action for Children. The gesture came after Jama was unmasked as a traitor by Welsh actor Michael Sheen, ending her run in the competition.
In the finale, comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian Croft emerged as the faithfuls. They split the total prize pot of £83,000. Jama had selected Action for Children as the cause she was competing to support. The organization, formerly known as the National Children’s Home, operates across the United Kingdom. It provides support to children in care, those living in poverty, and local communities through centres and food banks.
Jama, who attended Cotham School in Bristol before moving to London at age 16 to pursue a career in media, had planned to direct her potential winnings to the charity. Although she was banished from the game, she followed through on her pledge. She later took to social media to confirm the donation. In a tweet, she described Action for Children as an amazing cause and confirmed she had given what she would have won.
Katherine Woods, the director of fundraising at Action for Children, responded to the news with gratitude. She stated that the charity was incredibly thankful for the generous sum. Woods noted that Jama held her nerve until the very end of the series. She also pointed to the personal connection between the broadcaster and the charity’s mission, citing Jama’s own history with food insecurity during her upbringing.
The charity noted that four million children in the UK currently live in poverty. Woods explained that frontline staff see the impact of this hardship daily, including parents facing domestic abuse or difficult choices about buying food. As colder months approach, the organization said the donation will help staff support families in need. The money allows the charity to remain present for children and young people during their most difficult times.
