Story summary
The Celebrity Traitors, a popular BBC show, is returning for its second series on Thursday, May 18th, at 20:00 BST. The new season features 21 celebrities, including actors like Michael Sheen and Julie Hesmondhalgh, comedians such as James Blunt and Rob Beckett, and content creators like King Kenny. Contestants will compete for a £100,000 cash prize to be donated to charity based on their performance in tasks designed to outwit each other.
In the first episode, the celebrities were divided into Traitors and Faithfuls, with Claudia Winkleman revealing only two traitors initially. This departure from tradition left viewers shocked, especially when veteran actor Richard E Grant declared himself a traitor just minutes after arriving at the castle, leaving many in disbelief about his honesty or bluffing skills.
Executive producer Sarah Fay emphasized that the show aims to evolve and push boundaries each year, incorporating fresh ideas while maintaining its core format. This season will air twice weekly on Thursdays and Fridays, with 10 episodes total, up from last year's nine. Additionally, BBC One, iPlayer, and Sounds will broadcast a spin-off series titled Uncloaked, hosted by comedian Ed Gamble. The first episode concluded on a cliffhanger, leaving fans eager to see who the traitors select as their first victims or allies in the upcoming episodes.
Written for “Celebrity Traitors Show Return” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 25 other(s) covering the same event.
Ross Kemp left fans in hysterics after he accused two Faithfuls of murdering him in plain sight during the first episode of Celebrity Traitors on Thursday night.
asserted
he → leave → night
As the new series kicked off it was Maya Jama and Richard E Grant that host Claudia Winkleman picked to be her Traitors.
However Ross clearly couldn't relax as he accused both Bella Ramsey and Leigh-Anne Pinnock of murdering him in plain sight.
asserted
he → kick → sight
After the day's mission, Bella put a sailor's cap on Ross's head and he immediately asked her: 'did you just murder me?'
asserted
you → put → me
Later in the car back to the castle he confessed his fears to his fellow Faithfuls before later turning on Leigh-Anne when she brushed his arm in the bar.
asserted
she → confess → bar
'Oh my god no, I just rubbed my arms because I was cold,' protested the singer, as Ross quipped back: 'I'm so paranoid, can you not get it!'
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you → rub → it
Celebrity Traitor star Ross Kemp left fans in hysterics after he accused TWO Faithfuls of murdering him in plain sight during a dramatic first episode on Thursday night
After the day's mission, Bella put a sailor's cap on Ross's head and he immediately asked her: 'did you just murder me?'
Taking to Twitter fans were left in hysterics at Ross's shifty antics as they joked: 'Obsessed with paranoid ross kemp.'
Others penned: 'This cast are tooooo eager, killed in plain sight doesn't usually happen until later in the show';
'Ross Kemp being a paranoid wreck and thinking he's been murdered in plain sight TWICE in the space of a few minutes';
'Ross Kemp thinking anybody brushing against him is him being murdered in plain sight';
'Ross Kemp thinking Bella Ramsay just murdered him with the captain hat.';
'Ross Kemp is PARANOID ngl that would be me LMAO Kemp and killed him.
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that → leave → him
He was already paranoid, telling everyone that Bella Ramsay 'killed him in plain sight' with the hat.
asserted
Ramsay → tell → hat
The faithfulls would have banished Bella thinking she's a traitor';
'Living for Ross Kemp thinking that Bella Ramsay has killed him in plain sight for putting a hat on him.
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Ramsay → banish → him
Later in the episode Maya and Richard picked James Acaster and Amol Rajan to join them in the church as they are left to decide which one to murder and which to recruit as a traitor.
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they → pick → traitor
Later in the car back to the castle he confessed his fears to his fellow Faithfuls before later turning on Leigh-Anne when she brushed his arm in the bar
Taking to Twitter fans were left in hysterics at Ross's shifty antics as they joked: 'Obsessed with paranoid ross kemp'
However one fan suggested they should have picked Ross to murder and Bella as the traitor – to frame her for his death.
uncertain
they → confess → death
They wrote: 'They should have picked Ross Kemp and killed him.
asserted
They → write → him
He was already paranoid, telling everyone that Bella Ramsay 'killed him in plain sight' with the hat.
asserted
Ramsay → tell → hat
The faithfulls would have banished Bella thinking she's a traitor.
asserted
she → banish → Bella
The second series of the celebrity version of the hit BBC began on Thursday night with each celebrity star filing into Claudia's office for a consultation on whether they wished to be a traitor or a faithful.
And after both expressing an interest in exploring their murderous potential, it was the Love Island presenter, 32, and legendary actor, 69, who took to the turret.
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who → begin → turret
A giggling Maya said to the camera: ‘Goodness.
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Maya → giggle → camera
I don’t even know what to say!
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I → know → what
I’m so excited.
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I → ’m → ?
I wanted to bring a different side of me out, and here she is.
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she → want → me
My villain era has begun.’
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era → begin → ?
Richard added: ‘Yes!
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Richard → add → ?
Absolutely thrilled, and I can’t wait to start murdering.
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I → wait → ?
I cannot wait!’
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I → wait → ?
The series began with its most dramatic opening yet as the celebrities filed into the pews of a church before Claudia arrived via coffin.
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Claudia → begin → coffin
Emerging out of the box, the host began: 'Wow, that was quite the nap.
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that → emerge → box
'
Warning the stars that their celebrity status won't save them inside the castle, she added that they should all be used to the 'fickle' and 'backstabbing' world of showbusiness.
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they → warn → showbusiness
Meeting in the turret for the first time, Maya and Richard were both equally shocked to see each other, especially after Richard's antics when he seemingly unveiled his status.
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he → meet → status
Just minutes after being picked and promising to keep his identity a secret – Richard made the biggest slip-up in Celebrity Traitors history.
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Richard → pick → history
As Richard mingled with Faithful Joe Lycett in the lounge area, the comedian jumped straight in with the question: 'What are you?
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you → mingle → question
'A Traitor,' Richard responded with a huge grin on his face.
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Richard → respond → face
Unsure what to believe, Joe said: 'I think you've just done something that has never happened in the game... bold strategy.
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that → believe → game
'
Talking tactics later in the turret with Maya, she warned him: 'You're in deep trouble,' before joking: 'He's like my unhinged uncle running around the castle.'
Many fans have suggested on social media that Richard's slip-up was in fact carefully curated to call the comedian's bluff.
uncertain
up → talk → bluff
It wouldn't be the Traitors without a gripping twist, and it was soon revealed to the pair that they would have the power to choose their third accomplice.
As Claudia revealed the twist she told the pair: 'You may have noticed there is only two of you.
uncertain
You → reveal → you
I'm giving you the opportunity to choose a third Traitor to join you.
asserted
I → give → you
Tomorrow night you will invite two people to a face-to-face meeting.
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you → invite → meeting
They will plead for their chance to join you as a Traitor.
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They → plead → Traitor
You will choose one of them to complete your trio, and the other one, well they will have seen too much, so there is only one way for them to go.
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them → choose → much
Embracing the role, Richard joked: 'Murder.
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Richard → embrace → Murder
They'll beg...
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They → beg → ?
they'll beg.
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they → beg → ?
Claudia asked: 'Are you happy with that power?' as Richard replied: 'Oh, I'm loving it.'
Maya and Richard then vowed to defend each other.
Opting to choose Radio 4 host Amol Rajan and comedian James Acaster - the pair were forced to lie in coffins.
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pair → ask → coffins
…and 17 more, not listed.
The Aporia
