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.
Celebrity Traitors 2026: Who is favourite to win after blockbuster launch show?
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Who → win → show
Celebrity Traitors is back, and the first episode has already delivered plenty of chaos, with 21 famous faces entering the Scottish Highlands for a new series of secret missions, deception and betrayal.
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faces → deliver → missions
And viewers didn't have to wait long for the first major twist, with Winkleman choosing just two Traitors at the beginning of the game rather than the usual three.
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Winkleman → have → three
Love Island host Jama was the first celebrity chosen by Winkleman, before Oscar-nominated actor Grant was selected to join her.
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Grant → choose → her
Jama appeared delighted with her new role, while Grant was equally enthusiastic about being given the chance to play the game from the dark side.
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Grant → appear → side
The decision to start with just two Traitors is a major change from the usual format of the show.
However, viewers were left with another huge twist at the end of the first episode, with the identity of a potential third Traitor still hanging in the balance.
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identity → start → balance
The first episode ended without a murder or banishment, with the celebrities instead facing a series of challenges as they began to work out who they could trust.
Julie Hesmondhalgh and Joe Lycett were also shielded from the first murder.
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Hesmondhalgh → end → murder
Later, Grant and Jama agreed to “lock in” their plans as Traitors.
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Grant → agree → Traitors
But the biggest twist came towards the end of the episode, when Amol Rajan and James Acaster were summoned to the chapel.
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Rajan → come → chapel
The pair had been invited there by the Traitors, with the episode ending on a major cliffhanger.
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episode → invite → cliffhanger
One of the two celebrities is set to be recruited by the Traitors, while the other faces being murdered.
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One → set → Traitors
Viewers will have to tune into the next episode to discover which fate awaits Rajan and Acaster.
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fate → have → Rajan
While the Traitors attempt to remain undetected as they "murder" contestants from the game each night, the Faithfuls must work out who is lying before they are picked off.
There is also a cash prize of up to £100,000 for the winner's chosen charity.
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they → attempt → charity
Who is taking part in Celebrity Traitors 2026?
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Who → take → Traitors
The second series features a star-studded line-up, including actors, comedians, musicians and some of Britain's best-known TV personalities.
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series → feature → personalities
Irish comedian and podcaster Joanne McNally has entered the castle after making a name for herself with her stand-up shows, podcasts and TV appearances.
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comedian → enter → shows
She is one of the most recognisable comedians in the cast and has been priced among the early favourites to win.
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She → price → favourites
The acclaimed actor is another of the celebrities bookmakers have placed towards the front of the market.
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bookmakers → place → market
James Blunt
Singer-songwriter James Blunt has swapped the stage for the castle after finding fame with hits including You're Beautiful and Goodbye My Lover.
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You → swap → hits
Known for his outspoken sense of humour and social media presence, Blunt is hoping his personality does not make him too obvious a target.
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him → know → humour
Actor Bella Ramsey rose to international fame playing Ellie in HBO's The Last of Us, having previously appeared as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones.
The actor joins a cast featuring several other major names from the worlds of film and television.
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actor → rise → film
The Love Island host has also presented shows including Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star and BBC Radio 1 programmes.
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host → present → Glow
Comedian James Acaster is known for his stand-up career, Taskmaster appearances and distinctive deadpan style.
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Acaster → know → career
He is now putting his ability to read a room to the test as he attempts to work out who he can trust.
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he → put → who
Comedian and presenter Joe Lycett is another familiar face who has joined the castle.
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who → join → castle
Known for his comedy, television work and elaborate public stunts, Lycett is attempting to navigate the game's alliances and betrayals.
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Lycett → know → alliances
Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh is best known for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street.
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Hesmondhalgh → know → Street
She has since appeared in a number of acclaimed television dramas, including Broadchurch and Happy Valley.
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She → appear → Broadchurch
Scottish actress Sharon Rooney is known for roles in My Mad Fat Diary and Barbie, as well as her work across television and film.
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Rooney → know → television
She is representing the acting contingent as the celebrities attempt to spot the Traitors among them.
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celebrities → represent → them
She has enjoyed a long career in fashion, television and entertainment and is now be taking on one of reality TV's most deceptive games.
Professor Hannah Fry
Mathematician and broadcaster Professor Hannah Fry brings a very different skill set to the castle.
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Mathematician → enjoy → castle
She is known for making mathematics and science accessible through television, books and podcasts.
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mathematics → know → television
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock has joined the series after establishing herself as a solo artist and television personality.
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Pinnock → join → artist
Pinnock has also made headlines with her acting work and documentary projects since Little Mix went on hiatus.
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Mix → make → hiatus
Comedian and actress Miranda Hart is best known for her hit BBC sitcom Miranda, as well as appearances in Call the Midwife and films including Spy.
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Comedian → know → Spy
Her comedic timing could prove useful around the round table, where contestants must decide who they believe is lying.
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they → prove → table
Comedian, presenter and writer Romesh Ranganathan has become one of the most familiar faces on British television.
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Comedian → become → television
He hosts shows including The Romesh Ranhanathan Show podcast and The Weakest Link and is known for his dry style of humour.
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He → host → humour
Rob Beckett
Comedian and presenter Rob Beckett is another familiar face who has entered the castle.
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who → enter → castle
He has appeared on numerous comedy and entertainment shows and co-hosts the popular Parenting Hell podcast with Josh Widdicombe.
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He → appear → Widdicombe
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
