Joanne McNally discusses the dynamics among comedians on "Celebrity Traitors," stating they are willing to betray each other for the show's sake. This celebrity spin-off of Claudia Winkleman’s original series features six comedians who haven’t strategized together, making genuine alliances unlikely. McNally highlights her competitive nature and ability to spot lies as advantages in the game. The article also includes reflections from Joe Beckett on the surreal experience and his readiness to compete despite past friendships with fellow contestants.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Joanne McNally, Romesh Ranganathan, Joe Lycett, and James Acaster are among six comedians participating in the British television show Celebrity Traitors, a spin-off of the original civilian version hosted by Claudia Winkleman. The comedians, who have known each other for nearly two decades since performing in small pubs in Soho with only eight people in attendance, now find themselves competing on what they describe as the biggest TV show. Despite being good friends, McNally and Beckett emphasize that none of them will hesitate to betray one another during the murder-mystery game to advance their own standing. The series premiered on Thursday, highlighting the comedians' journey from struggling performers to major entertainment figures.
Written for “Celebrity Traitors Show” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Joanne McNally: Celebrity Traitors comedians ‘willing to kill each other off’
asserted
comedians → kill → other
Joanne McNally has declared comedians will be “more than willing to throw each other under the bus” on Celebrity Traitors.
asserted
comedians → declare → Traitors
The show is the celebrity spin-off of the original civilian version, both of which are hosted by Claudia Winkleman.
asserted
both → host → Winkleman
This season there are six comedians in the line-up – many of whom have worked together before.
asserted
many → be → whom
However, McNally said they had not planned strategies together before filming.
asserted
they → say → filming
She said: “We haven’t been in cahoots at all.
asserted
We → say → cahoots
There’s been no chatting because we know that we’re more than willing to throw each other under the bus.
asserted
we → know → bus
“So, it’s not like we’re making fake allegiances.
asserted
we → ’ → allegiances
They are professional entertainers, and they will absolutely kill each other off for the craic.”
asserted
they → kill → craic
Asked about signing up for the series, McNally said her main drive was for the “social circle”.
asserted
drive → ask → circle
“It’s all about the celebrity WhatsApp group.
asserted
It → ’ → group
And what an eclectic cast we have.
asserted
we → have → cast
Like you couldn’t predict it.
asserted
you → predict → it
It’s like lining up all my ex-boyfriends.
asserted
It → ’ → boyfriends
I love it.
asserted
I → love → it
It’s so frantic.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It kind of has a bit of everything.”
asserted
It → have → everything
Aiming to be chosen as a Traitor, McNally said she was “quietly competitive”.
asserted
she → aim → Traitor
“I’m great at spotting lies.
asserted
I → ’m → lies
I can read body language, and I’ve dealt with a lot of snakes,” she said.
asserted
she → read → snakes
“She’s delighted.
asserted
She → ’ → ?
She’s like, get it, girl!
asserted
She → ’ → it
She said it would be really funny if I went in fully two-faced.
asserted
I → say → ?
It’s not a bad game plan,” she said.
asserted
she → ’ → ?
Beckett, 40, said he would probably find being on the show “hilarious”.
asserted
being → say → show
“It’s just so surreal to be around that group of people, and to be with a few people I know,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → people
“Romesh, obviously everyone knows we’re such good friends, but Joe Lycett and James Acaster, I did gigs with them nearly 20 years ago, in pubs in Soho in front of eight people, and now all of a sudden we’re in this situation.
asserted
we → know → situation
“So it’s quite a reflective moment to consider this journey we’ve all gone on to now be on the biggest show on TV.
asserted
we → ’ → TV
“Everyone wants to be on it, and we’re very lucky to be here and to be here with friends and people that I’ve come through the ranks with and been able to confide in over the years.
asserted
I → want → years
It’s quite nice to see all of us here as grown-ups.
asserted
It → ’ → ups
But Beckett added he would be able to betray any of them if the game required it.
“Oh yes, if it’s part of the game.
asserted
it → add → game
And I’d expect vice versa.
asserted
I → expect → ?
If I get done, I get done.
asserted
I → do → ?
“I’ll be competitive, but if I get murdered or banished or whatever the situation is, of course I’ll be disappointed for a minute, and then I’ll think, do you know what?
asserted
you → murder → what
I’m going home and I’ve got a couple of weeks off!”
asserted
I → go → weeks
He added: “I’ve got no qualms about killing people off.”
asserted
I → add → people
Other stars set to join them in the castle include The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, singer James Blunt, Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Love Island host Maya Jama and actors Richard E Grant and Michael Sheen.
asserted
stars → set → Ramsey
The first season of The Celebrity Traitors aired on the BBC last autumn, with the finale hitting a peak of 15.4 million viewers, according to the broadcaster.
uncertain
finale → air → broadcaster
The spin-off series brought in an average audience of 14.9 million people during its run, the biggest TV audience of 2025.
asserted
series → bring → 2025
The Celebrity Traitors starts on October 1 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
asserted
Traitors → start → BBC
The Aporia
