The full lineup and launch date for the first ever celebrity version of The Traitors has been announced after filming took place “in secret” earlier this year.
An all-star version of the game show phenomenon will see 19 famous faces enter the Scottish castle, where host Claudia Winkleman will decide whether they’re playing as Faithfuls or Traitors.
The BBC used the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 to announce the show will premiere on Wednesday 8 October. The series will air three episodes a week for three weeks.
Contestants include broadcasters, an Olympian and actors who have appeared in TV shows and films ranging from Line of Duty to Ted Lasso and the Bridget Jones franchise, with Winkleman telling them in a new trailer: Don’t get comfortable. This game doesn’t care who you are. In here, your glamorous lives count for nothing.”
Leading the crop of celebrity contestants is Stephen Fry, the QI host who reportedly “jumped at the chance to appear” on the series.
He’ll be joined by comedian Alan Carr, presenter Jonathan Ross and Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway.
There are several actors entering the castle: British thespian Celia Imrie, whose credits include Calendar Girls and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel; Nick Mohammed, best known as Nathan “Nate” Shelley in Ted Lasso; and EastEnders star Tameka Empson (Kim Fox).
They’ll join Mark Bonnar, who appeared in the BBC crime procedural series Line of Duty as DCC Mike Dryden.
Irish star Ruth Codd, known for the Netflix series The Midnight Club, will be entering the game, also, with singers Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church and Brit Award-nominated singer Cat Burns also on the contestant list.
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Joe Wilkinson, the comedian known for panel shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats, as well as recent Prime Video series Last One Laughing, will also participate.
Another comedian, Lucy Beaumont, who is the ex-wife of 8 Out of 10 Cats star Jon Richardson, has also been tapped by producers to appear on the show.
Sports broadcaster Clare Balding will also enter the castle as will Olympic swimmer Tom Daley, who is believed to have selected Celebrity Traitors over Strictly Come Dancing, and professional England rugby player Joe Marler, who has won the Six Nations three times.
Rounding out the contestants for the inaugural celebrity series are Professor David Olusoga, a Bafta-winning historian and author of numerous best-selling books, and YouTube prankster Niko Omilana.
Celebrities had to follow strict rules put in place by producers. They were forced to ditch their phones for the duration of recording, which was believed to have lasted for up to a fortnight, and had to abstain from using social media, too.
