The Celebrity Traitors is returning to BBC One this autumn, with Claudia Winkleman back in the castle and 21 famous faces preparing to face a fresh battle of deception, loyalty and betrayal.
After the huge success of the first celebrity edition, the BBC has confirmed the Celebrity Traitors season 2 start date, giving fans a firm date to put in their diaries.
The new series will once again take viewers to the Scottish Highlands, where celebrities will be divided between the secretive Traitors and the Faithfuls attempting to expose them.
Here is everything we know about The Celebrity Traitors season 2, including the release date, cast, schedule and companion shows.
When Does Celebrity Traitors Season 2 Start?
The second series of The Celebrity Traitors will premiere on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The opening episode will be extra-long, giving viewers an extended introduction to the new celebrity contestants and the latest game.
Following the launch, new episodes will air twice a week on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8pm.
The second series will contain 10 episodes, one more than the nine-episode first celebrity series.
Claudia Winkleman Returns to The Traitors Castle
Claudia Winkleman will once again take charge of the celebrity version of the BBC’s hit reality format.
Her return means viewers can expect the familiar combination of dramatic round tables, secret missions, suspicious conversations and plenty of trademark Traitors tension.
The contestants have already filmed the series, but the BBC has kept the identities of the Traitors themselves under wraps.
That secrecy is central to the format, with the cast expected to avoid revealing crucial details before the episodes air.
Who Is in The Celebrity Traitors Season 2 Cast?
The new series features 21 celebrities from television, comedy, music, acting, broadcasting and online entertainment.
The confirmed line-up includes:
- Amol Rajan – journalist and broadcaster
- Bella Ramsey – actor
- James Acaster – comedian and podcaster
- James Blunt – singer and songwriter
- Jerry Hall – model and actress
- Joanne McNally – comedian
- Joe Lycett – comedian
- Julie Hesmondhalgh – actor
- King Kenny – content creator
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock – singer and former Little Mix member
- Maya Jama – television presenter
- Michael Sheen – actor and presenter
- Miranda Hart – actor and author
- Myha’la – actor
- Professor Hannah Fry – mathematician and broadcaster
- Richard E Grant – actor and author
- Rob Beckett – comedian
- Romesh Ranganathan – comedian
- Ross Kemp – actor and presenter
- Sebastian Croft – actor and musician
- Sharon Rooney – actor
The varied cast brings together some of Britain’s best-known comedians and actors alongside musicians, broadcasters, a model, a mathematician and a major online creator.
What Is The Celebrity Traitors About?
The Celebrity Traitors follows the same basic concept as the original BBC series.
The celebrities arrive at a Scottish castle and become either Faithfuls or Traitors.
The Faithfuls must work together to identify the hidden Traitors before they are eliminated from the game.
Meanwhile, the Traitors secretly work against the other contestants, attempting to remain undetected while removing players from the competition.
At the famous Round Table, contestants must decide who they believe is secretly working against them.
The pressure increases as friendships develop, alliances change and suspicion spreads through the group.
Celebrity Traitors Prize Money
The celebrities are competing for a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
That means the stakes are different from a conventional celebrity reality competition, with the eventual winner able to support a chosen charitable cause.
The combination of charity, strategy and secrecy gives the second series another reason for viewers to follow every betrayal and surprise.
What Happened in Celebrity Traitors Season 1?
The first celebrity series became one of the BBC’s biggest entertainment successes of 2025.
The cast included Alan Carr, Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Nick Mohammed and Paloma Faith, among other well-known names.
Alan Carr ultimately won the first celebrity edition after successfully playing as a Traitor.
According to figures reported by the BBC, the first series averaged 14.9 million viewers, while the finale reached a peak of 15.4 million in the UK.
That success helped turn the celebrity spin-off into a major part of the BBC’s autumn entertainment schedule.
What Is Traitors: Uncloaked?
Fans will also be able to follow the companion programme Traitors: Uncloaked.
The show will once again be presented by comedian Ed Gamble, who will be joined by eliminated contestants and former Traitors players.
The programme will provide reactions, interviews and discussion around the latest twists and betrayals.
It will follow the main episodes on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, while additional content will also be available through BBC Sounds.
Claudia Winkleman’s Special Celebrity Traitors Show
There is also another programme for fans to look out for.
Traitor or Faithful? Claudia Decides will explore how Claudia Winkleman selected the secret Traitors for the new series.
The special will be available on BBC iPlayer from October 1 at 9.15pm, giving viewers another look behind the scenes of the game.
It will focus on Claudia’s interactions with the contestants and the decisions involved in choosing who would join the Traitors’ side.
Where Is Celebrity Traitors Season 2 Filmed?
The celebrity contestants once again enter the atmospheric world of the Scottish Highlands.
The wider Traitors franchise is associated with Ardross Castle in Scotland, which provides the dramatic setting for the game’s secret meetings, missions and round-table confrontations.
The castle has become one of the most recognisable locations connected with the BBC franchise.
Why Fans Are Excited for Celebrity Traitors 2026
The second celebrity series has assembled a particularly varied cast.
Comedy stars including James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Joanne McNally, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan will bring different styles of humour and personality to the game.
Meanwhile, actors such as Michael Sheen, Richard E Grant, Bella Ramsey and Miranda Hart will enter a competition where reading people and controlling reactions can be just as important as completing missions.
With personalities from such different areas of entertainment, viewers can expect plenty of contrasting strategies once the game begins.
Celebrity Traitors Season 2 Start Date and Schedule
The wait is nearly over for fans of the BBC reality hit.
The Celebrity Traitors season 2 premieres Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The series will then continue on Thursday and Friday nights at 8pm, with 10 episodes planned.
Traitors: Uncloaked will follow the main episodes, while Traitor or Faithful? Claudia Decides will offer additional insight into the creation of the new series.
The Celebrity Traitors Is Back
With 21 celebrities, Claudia Winkleman, a £100,000 charity prize and another trip to the Traitors castle, the BBC’s celebrity reality favourite is ready to return.
The first series set a remarkably high viewing benchmark, but the second instalment will introduce an entirely new group of players who must navigate secret alliances and hidden identities.
Now that the official launch date has been confirmed, fans only have to wait until October 1 to discover which celebrities become Faithfuls, which are secretly chosen as Traitors and who can survive the game of deception.
BritGossip.com will continue to bring readers the latest Celebrity Traitors news, cast updates, TV developments and entertainment stories from across the UK.
The source of this news is The Standard.