The Celebrity Traitors series 2
2026 series of The Celebrity Traitors
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The second series of British reality television series The Celebrity Traitors is currently airing on BBC One since 1 October 2026.[1] Claudia Winkleman is presenting the ten-episode series.[2] The companion show The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked has also returned, hosted by Ed Gamble.[3] The celebrities are competing to win up to £100,000 for their chosen charities.[2]
| The Celebrity Traitors | |
|---|---|
| Series 2 | |
Promotional poster | |
| Presented by | Claudia Winkleman |
| No. of contestants | 21 |
| Location | Ardross, Highland |
| Companion show | The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 1 October 2026 – present |
| Series chronology | |
Production
In November 2025, following the first series (the finale of which was the most viewed television broadcast in the UK in 2025),[4] it was announced that The Celebrity Traitors had been renewed for a second series.[3][5] Produced by Studio Lambert, the series began filming in May 2026 at Ardross Castle, had concluded by June, and will air later in 2026.[6][7][8] Soon after being announced, the celebrities arrived at the nearby Inverness Airport.[9] During filming, the cast stayed at the Inverness Airport Courtyard by Marriott hotel.[10]
Prior to the official cast announcement, many celebrities expressed interest in appearing on the show, including Amanda Holden, Tom Hiddleston and Danny Dyer, who had turned down appearing on the first series. However, none of these celebrities were cast.[11] Despite this, in March 2026 host Claudia Winkleman hinted that "the cast is extraordinary".[12]
A teaser trailer was released simultaneously with the cast announcement on 2 May 2026, depicting the contestants' names on Traitors slates at an airport; some were misspelt, including "Richardy Grant", "Miranda Heart", and "Rob Bucket" (a reference to the series, in which players often spelt names incorrectly as they voted at the Round Table).[2] A first-look trailer featuring the celebrities was released on 27 August 2026.[13] Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August 2026, BBC content chief Kate Phillips said that the series will feature "tears and surprises".[13] On 5 September, The Rest Is Entertainment host Richard Osman accidentally revealed the series start date as 23 September, but this was incorrect and denied by the BBC.[14] On 15 September, the series was confirmed to begin on 1 October, with episodes airing on Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One at 8pm. A special programme titled Traitor or Faithful? Claudia Decides was released on BBC iPlayer after the first episode aired.[15][16]
Contestants
The 21 celebrities competing in the series were revealed on 2 May 2026.[6][17][18] The Guardian dubbed the line-up "one of the most high-profile casts ever assembled for a reality TV show".[19] Significant pre-existing relationships between celebrities include the close friendship of comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan,[17][20] who have appeared together on Rob & Romesh Vs,[2] Ranganathan and Julie Hesmondhalgh, who are the presenter and narrator respectively on The Weakest Link.[20], while Jerry Hall and Richard E. Grant are close friends and neighbours.[21] The contestants' ages below are as shown on screen.
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| Contestant | Age | Notability | Affiliation | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amol Rajan | 43 | Journalist & broadcaster | Faithful | Participating |
| Bella Ramsey | 23 | Actor | Faithful | |
| Hannah Fry | 42 | Broadcaster & mathematician | Faithful | |
| James Acaster | 41 | Comedian & presenter | Faithful | |
| James Blunt | 52 | Singer-songwriter | Faithful | |
| Jerry Hall | 70 | Model & actor | Faithful | |
| Joanne McNally | 43 | Comedian | Faithful | |
| Joe Lycett | 37 | Comedian & presenter | Faithful | |
| Julie Hesmondhalgh | 56 | Actor | Faithful | |
| King Kenny | 29 | Content creator | Faithful | |
| Leigh-Anne Pinnock | 34 | Singer-songwriter | Faithful | |
| Maya Jama | 32 | Broadcaster & entrepreneur | Traitor | |
| Michael Sheen | 57 | Actor | Faithful | |
| Miranda Hart | 53 | Comedian & actor | Faithful | |
| Myha'la | 30 | Actor | Faithful | |
| Richard E. Grant | 69 | Actor | Traitor | |
| Rob Beckett | 40 | Comedian & presenter | Faithful | |
| Romesh Ranganathan | 48 | Comedian & presenter | Faithful | |
| Ross Kemp | 62 | Actor & presenter | Faithful | |
| Sebastian Croft | 24 | Actor & singer-songwriter | Faithful | |
| Sharon Rooney | 37 | Actor | Faithful |
Elimination history
Key
- The contestant was a Faithful.
- The contestant was a Traitor.
- The contestant was ineligible to vote.
- The contestant was murdered by the Traitors.
- The contestant was banished at the round table.
- Notes
- The Traitors were asked to choose two players to have the opportunity to plea their case and be recruited as a Traitor. Whoever was not selected by the Traitors would be murdered. Maya and Richard both chose Amol and James A.
- Julie was nominated by her fellow players as the most trustworthy. She was given two shields. She chose herself and Joe.
Missions
| Episode | Task description | Time limit | Money earned | Money available | Running total | Shield winner(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The mission took place at the wreck of the traitors' ship. Crates needed to be retrieved from the water and brought ashore. Three crates contained gold worth £3,000 apiece. Finding all the gold revealed a code to access the captain's safe, enabling an additional £6,000 to be banked. | 25 minutes | £15,000 | £15,000 | £15,000 (of £15,000) |
No shield on offer |
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date [22] | UK viewers (millions) [23] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | "Episode 1" | 1 October 2026 | TBD | |
|
After the contestants meet in the Traitors Church, Julie is deemed by the group as the most trustworthy and given two shields to distribute – she chooses to keep one for herself and gives the other to Joe. At the Round Table, Claudia selects Maya and Richard as Traitors, but warns the players that the Traitor team is not yet complete. When asked by Joe, Richard states he is a Traitor, startling the Faithfuls. After meeting in the turret for the first time, the Traitors are informed that they must summon two players tomorrow, with one becoming a Traitor and the other being murdered. The next day, the players succeed in the mission, earning £15,000. Ross is suspicious of being murdered in plain sight by Bella and Leigh-Anne. Amol and James A. question Richard about his offhand comment, but Richard deflects by claiming he was joking and just disappointed. The Traitors summon Amol and James A. to the church, and they plead their case to be recruited. As Amol and James A. lie in coffins, Maya and Richard make their decision. | |||||
| 11 | 2 | "Episode 2" | 2 October 2026 | TBD | |
| 12 | 3 | "Episode 3" | 8 October 2026 | TBD | |
| 13 | 4 | "Episode 4" | 9 October 2026 | TBD | |
Reception
Critical reception
Some outlets commented on the lack of sportspeople compared to the previous series, which included Tom Daley, Clare Balding, and finalist Joe Marler.[19][24] In September 2026, The Times ranked Hesmondhalgh as most likely to win the series.[25]