Quick Answer: The second series of The Celebrity Traitors begins on Thursday, 1 October 2026, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the new second season brings 21 celebrities to the Scottish Highlands, where they must decide whom to trust and whom to banish.
The cast includes actors, comedians, singers, presenters, a mathematician, a YouTuber and a former boxer. They will compete in missions and round-table votes, while the hidden Traitors secretly “murder” fellow players. NME describes the format as the Faithfuls trying to banish the Traitors to win up to £100,000 for their chosen charities.
Who is in The Celebrity Traitors 2026?
Here is the full cast for season 2.
| Celebrity | Age | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Amol Rajan | 42 | Journalist, broadcaster and University Challenge presenter |
| Bella Ramsey | 23 | Game of Thrones, The Last of Us and Time |
| Professor Hannah Fry | 42 | Mathematician, author and broadcaster |
| James Acaster | 41 | Comedian and Netflix stand-up performer |
| James Blunt | 52 | Singer-songwriter |
| Jerry Hall | 70 | Model and actress |
| Joanne McNally | 43 | Comedian, writer and podcast host |
| Joe Lycett | 37 | Comedian and presenter |
| Julie Hesmondhalgh | 56 | Actor known for Coronation Street |
| King Kenny | 29 | YouTuber, boxer and Beta Squad member |
| Leigh-Anne Pinnock | 34 | Singer and former Little Mix member |
| Maya Jama | 31 | Television presenter |
| Michael Sheen | 57 | Actor |
| Miranda Hart | 53 | Actor, comedian and writer |
| Myha’la | 30 | Actor known for Industry |
| Richard E. Grant | 69 | Actor |
| Rob Beckett | 40 | Comedian and presenter |
| Romesh Ranganathan | 48 | Comedian and presenter |
| Ross Kemp | 61 | Actor and presenter |
| Sebastian Croft | 24 | Actor and singer-songwriter |
| Sharon Rooney | 37 | Actor |
The cast details above are based on the BBC’s contestant material and the published line-ups from Cosmopolitan and NME.
What is the format?
The new NME coverage says that viewers will see how Claudia chooses the Traitors in a new spin-off, Traitor or Faithful? Claudia Decides. Everyone else becomes a Faithful.
The Traitors must secretly remove players from the competition without being identified. The Faithfuls, meanwhile, must look for suspicious behaviour and banish potential Traitors during the round table.
The game has two separate pressures:
- Missions: Contestants work together to build the prize fund.
- Round tables: The group debates who they believe is a Traitor before voting to banish one player.
- Murder decisions: The hidden Traitors choose which Faithful should leave the game.
- The final: Any Traitor who remains undetected can take the prize instead of the Faithfuls.
The BBC says that the Faithfuls must identify and banish the Traitors before becoming their next victims. If a Traitor survives until the end, that person can win the money.
Full cast Profiles
Amol Rajan
Amol Rajan is a journalist, broadcaster and presenter of University Challenge. He has described his strategy as “alliances, evolution and victory”, suggesting that he plans to build relationships before making major moves.
His journalism background could make him a natural questioner, but it may also make the other contestants wary of him. Rajan has said he wants to avoid becoming an obvious investigator in the early round tables.
Bella Ramsey
Bella Ramsey is known for Game of Thrones, The Last of Us and Time. Ramsey is also a major fan of the format and has played versions of The Traitors with friends.
Ramsey has described their approach as “instinctive, measured and perceptive”. They have also said that watching changes in behaviour may be more useful than simply trying to catch people in a lie.
Professor Hannah Fry
Professor Hannah Fry is a mathematician, author and broadcaster. She has studied earlier games and intends to use statistical patterns as part of her approach.
Fry has described herself as careful, analytical and slightly mischievous. However, she also recognises that the emotional reactions of the Faithfuls can make the data difficult to interpret.
James Acaster
James Acaster is a comedian known for his stand-up specials and panel-show appearances. He has been a fan of The Traitors since the first season and said he would prefer to play as a Faithful.
His self-declared strategy is “absolutely no touching”, a joke referring to the possibility of being murdered in plain sight. Acaster has also highlighted his interest in puzzles, crosswords and games.
James Blunt
Singer-songwriter James Blunt joins the castle with a deliberately flexible approach. Rather than arriving with a fixed plan, he believes contestants need to observe the other players and respond to their behaviour.
Blunt is known for songs including “You’re Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover”.
Jerry Hall
Jerry Hall is a model and actress. She has said she can be competitive and may naturally take on a leadership role during games.
Her confidence could help her organise the group, but an outspoken player may also attract attention at the round table.
Joanne McNally
Joanne McNally is a comedian, writer and podcast host. She has joked that she could either leave very early or survive for a long time.
McNally’s comic timing may help her deal with pressure, but the group may also question whether her humour is hiding a serious strategy.
Joe Lycett
Joe Lycett is a comedian and presenter known for shows including The Great British Sewing Bee and Late Night Lycett.
Lycett has said he would like to begin as a Faithful and potentially be recruited as a Traitor. He expects the experience of being a Faithful to be less stressful because it does not involve constantly lying to the group.
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh is best known for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street. She has described herself as a “Traitor hunter extraordinaire”.
Her long experience as an actor could make her difficult to read, but her declared determination to identify the Traitors may put her under pressure if her suspicions are wrong.
King Kenny
King Kenny is a YouTuber, boxer and member of the British online group Beta Squad.
He plans to analyse the group while remaining flexible. His experience in online entertainment means he is familiar with performance and audience reaction, but the castle’s private conversations may require a different kind of social strategy.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Leigh-Anne Pinnock is a singer and former member of Little Mix. She has said her aim is to remain calm and “cool as a cucumber”.
Pinnock has also spoken about building friendships and enjoying the experience rather than allowing the round table pressure to overwhelm her.
Maya Jama
Maya Jama is a television presenter known for hosting programmes including Love Island. Her starting strategy is to build genuine friendships and make connections with the rest of the cast.
That approach could help her as either a Faithful or a Traitor. A player who is well-liked may avoid suspicion, but strong social connections can also make someone look strategically dangerous.
Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen is an actor known for films and television projects including Frost/Nixon, Good Omens, The Damned United and Masters of Sex.
Sheen has suggested that the best plan is not to become too visible too quickly. With 21 big personalities in the castle, he may attempt to stay below the radar during the opening stages.
Miranda Hart is an actor, comedian and writer known for the BBC sitcom Miranda and Call the Midwife.
Hart has described herself as a mixture of a team player, leader and lone wolf. She has also spoken publicly about living with ME and said she is approaching this season as an exciting return to television and a personal challenge.
Myha’la
Myha’la is an American actor best known for playing Harper Stern in Industry. Her other credits include Bodies Bodies Bodies and Leave the World Behind.
She has said that she wants to separate herself from the sharp, competitive image of Harper. Myha’la considers herself a gentle leader who builds relationships and community rather than commanding attention.
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant is a veteran actor known for Withnail and I, Gosford Park, Doctor Who and Saltburn.
Grant has described himself as a team player. His long career may make him a powerful social presence, though the other contestants may also assume he can perform under pressure.
Rob Beckett
Rob Beckett is a comedian and presenter who has appeared on panel shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also known for narrating Celebs Go Dating.
Beckett’s stated strategy is simple: play in the moment. His comic personality may make him popular in the castle, but it could also cause players to wonder whether he is using humour to mask his true thoughts.
Romesh Ranganathan
Romesh Ranganathan is a comedian and presenter who hosts The Weakest Link and has appeared on programmes including Last One Laughing and Have I Got News For You.
Ranganathan has admitted that he is not naturally observant and wants to become a more active listener. He will also be playing alongside his friend Rob Beckett, creating a potentially complicated alliance.
Ross Kemp
Ross Kemp is an actor and presenter best known for playing Grant Mitchell in EastEnders. He later presented documentary series, including Ross Kemp on Gangs.
Kemp believes his experience with physical challenges could help during the missions. He has also completed hostile-environment training and is a qualified health and safety diver.
Sebastian Croft
Sebastian Croft is an actor and singer-songwriter known for Heartstopper and Game of Thrones.
Croft has said he would enjoy playing as a Faithful before being recruited as a Traitor. He also sees the missions and the castle environment as major parts of the experience.
Sharon Rooney
Sharon Rooney is an actor known for My Mad Fat Diary, Two Doors Down and Brief Encounters.
Rooney has said she does not want to follow the crowd during the round-table votes. Her plan is to remain true to her own judgement, even if disagreeing with the majority makes her appear suspicious.
When does The Celebrity Traitors start?
The Celebrity Traitors 2 starts on Thursday, 1 October 2026, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. This season will air on Thursday and Friday evenings, with an extra-long opening episode.
Where can viewers watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the programme on:
- BBC One.
- BBC iPlayer.
- The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, the companion programme hosted by Ed Gamble.
BBC iPlayer is also the place to catch up with episodes after their broadcast.
FAQ
Q. How many celebrities are in The Celebrity Traitors 2026?
A. There are 21 celebrities in Season 2.
Q. Who hosts The Celebrity Traitors?
A. Claudia Winkleman hosts the season.
Q. What is the prize fund?
A. The winner can compete for up to £100,000 for a chosen charity.
Q. Who is the youngest contestant?
A. Bella Ramsey is listed by NME as 23, while Sebastian Croft is 24. Age listings should be treated as time-specific because contestants’ ages can change depending on when a publication updates its article.
Q. Which contestants are comedians?
A. The comedy names include James Acaster, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
Q. Which contestants are actors?
A. The acting cast includes Bella Ramsey, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Richard E. Grant, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft and Sharon Rooney.
Q. Is the cast playing for themselves?
A. No. The celebrity contestants are competing to raise money for charities of their choice, with a prize fund of up to £100,000.
Sources
- The Celebrity Traitors season 2 cast: Meet the full lineup of celebrities heading into the castle — Cosmopolitan UK
- Who is taking part in The Celebrity Traitors season two? — NME
- The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 contestants — BBC Media Centre
- The Celebrity Traitors: What you need to know ahead of the first show — BBC News
