The second season of The Celebrity Traitors has officially returned to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. It brings 21 famous faces to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands for a high-stakes game of deception, strategy, and deduction. Hosted once again by Claudia Winkleman, the BAFTA and RTS award-winning competition airs weekly on Thursday and Friday nights at 8 p.m. Companion show The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked follows immediately after on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sounds with host Ed Gamble.
The newly launched series builds on the massive success of its debut run, which concluded with comedian Alan Carr taking home the crown. This year’s contestants compete to win a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice. They must navigate overnight murders and tense round-table banishments while trying to uncover who among them plays for the dark side.
The Complete Cast of 21 Celebrities
The BBC has assembled an expansive and diverse line-up spanning broadcasting, comedy, acting, music, and online entertainment for the 2026 series. The 21 famous contestants heading into the castle include:
- Amol Rajan – Journalist and Broadcaster
- Bella Ramsey – Actor
- James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster
- James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter
- Jerry Hall – Model and Actress
- Joanne McNally – Comedian
- Joe Lycett – Comedian
- Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor
- King Kenny – Content Creator
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer/Songwriter
- Maya Jama – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
- Michael Sheen – Actor and Presenter
- Miranda Hart – Actor and Author
- Myha’la – Actor
- Professor Hannah Fry – Broadcaster and Mathematician
- Richard E. Grant – Actor and Author
- Rob Beckett – Comedian
- Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian
- Ross Kemp – Actor and Presenter
- Sebastian Croft – Musician and Actor
- Sharon Rooney – Actor
Early Twists and Gameplay Mechanics
The opening episodes immediately immersed the cast into the show’s rigorous physical and psychological demands. Contestants faced an opening challenge requiring them to race through freezing water in a Scottish loch to retrieve cash-filled crates for the prize pot. This provided early opportunities to observe each other’s behavior under stress.
Following the initial selection process overseen by Claudia Winkleman, veteran actors Richard E. Grant and Maya Jama were revealed as the first Traitors. Comedian James Acaster subsequently joined their clandestine ranks to expand the sabotaging trio. Meanwhile, the Faithfuls face the daunting task of identifying the hidden saboteurs before they are eliminated from the game.
Where to Watch and Follow the Series
Episodes of The Celebrity Traitors broadcast every Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. on BBC One. They are also available to stream concurrently on BBC iPlayer. Fans looking for deeper tactical analysis and exclusive behind-the-scenes debriefs can tune into The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked on BBC One and BBC Sounds, which features interviews with recently banished and murdered players.
