Celebrity Traitors is set to return to One and iPlayer on Thursday, 1 October, bringing a new group of stars to the castle for a high-stakes game of deception. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the competition features 21 contestants tasked with identifying the secret traitors hidden among the faithfuls. The ultimate winner will earn a £100,000 donation for their chosen charity. Celebrity Traitors returns next week for a second round of deception and amateur detective work. The Traitors castle will welcome 21 new celebrities on Thursday, as a group of famous “faithfuls” attempts to work out which among them are – and perhaps, always have been – “traitors”, secretly murdering contestants each night, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. With his brightly coloured outfits, Lycett will bring some glamour to the castle, if and when he’s not donning the famous dark cloak.
Contestant Strategy and Perspectives
- Rajan, 43: Plans to use his skills as a political interviewer to pursue answers, while initially keeping a low profile to avoid drawing attention.
- Ross Kemp, 62: Likely to be a physical asset during challenges.
- James Blunt, 52: His participation remains a wildcard, with uncertainty over whether he will adopt a serious or humorous persona.
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 34: Leverages her experience handling public scrutiny from her pop music career to manage relationships under pressure.
- Joe Lycett, 38: Utilizing his quick wit, the comedian sought advice from previous winner Alan Carr on spotting liars.
- James Acaster, 41: A long-time fan of the series, he prefers the role of a faithful due to his own admission that he struggles with lying.
- Romesh Ranganathan, 48: Joined the cast at the request of his son, bringing his signature dry humor to the competition.
- Miranda Hart, 53: Returning to television, she aims to embrace the joy of the game despite her character’s history of awkwardness.
- Joanne McNally, 43: Known for her brutally honest stand-up, she faces the challenge of adapting to a game where honesty may be a liability.
- Amol Rajan, 43: Acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining a low profile while naturally seeking out the truth.
The show’s “Big Dog Theory,” established in previous seasons, suggests that high-profile celebrities are often either targeted as suspects or recruited as traitors. This season features a diverse cast of industry veterans, including award-winning actor Michael Sheen, 57, and film star Richard E. Grant, 69. Jerry Hall, 70, and Love Island presenter Maya Jama, 32, are also among the notable names entering the fray. Julie Hesmondhalgh, 56, known for her role in Coronation Street, plans to use her approachable personality to build alliances, while specifically curating her wardrobe to distinguish herself from her previous television roles. Then, at who might follow in Jonathan Ross’s footsteps as this year’s “big dog”, and who, like singer Cat Burns, could fly under the radar, let’s have a stab in the dark. Stand-up star Joe Lycett, 38, is one of the leading candidates for the role of class clown, this time around.
Last year’s edition of the show secured a Bafta for the most memorable TV moment after Alan Carr successfully bluffed his way to the end. The current contestants are looking to emulate such strategic success. As the competition unfolds, the group must navigate the tension of the roundtables, where comedians hope their talent for misdirection will provide an advantage in spotting those who are sweating and giggling—the tell-tale signs of a traitor, according to last year’s winner. Comedians can inject some comic relief into those tense roundtable moments, naturally good readers of a room and skilled at misdirection. Who was considered to be less of a threat and more out of his depth by the other sleuths, it worked for Carr.
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