A single cast list featuring Bella Ramsey from "The Last of Us," veteran "Good Omens" actor Michael Sheen, math professor Hannah Fry, and "Love Island" host Maya Jama — this is exactly what makes "The Celebrity Traitors" Season 2 so intriguing: throwing together people who'd otherwise never cross paths into one high-stakes guessing game, and seeing who cracks first.
BBC has confirmed that "The Celebrity Traitors" Season 2 will premiere Thursday, October 1st at 8pm (UK time) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, followed by regular episodes airing Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm going forward. Filming took place this past spring, with the full cast lineup revealed by BBC late last year.
Beyond the names already mentioned, the cast also includes actor Richard E Grant, "Industry" star Myha'la, comedian Miranda Hart, former Little Mix member Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and singer-songwriter James Blunt. The comedy contingent includes James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Romesh Ranganathan, Joanne McNally, and Rob Beckett. Other contestants include model Jerry Hall, former "Coronation Street" actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, "EastEnders" actor Ross Kemp, broadcaster Amol Rajan, actress Sharon Rooney, content creator King Kenny, and actor Sebastian Croft — all competing for a cash prize that will go to a charity of the winner's choice.
In the newly released official trailer, host Claudia Winkleman announces to the group: "Players, I have chosen my Traitors." The camera cuts to Bella Ramsey: "My heart is racing so fast." Winkleman continues: "There is now a murderer among you..." The show's synopsis states that contestants must "decide who to trust, who to banish, and try to uncover who is plotting murder in the shadows."
This season also brings two companion shows: a brand-new spin-off, "Traitor Or Faithful? Claudia Decides," which reveals for the first time how Winkleman selects her Traitors; and the official podcast "The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked," returning to BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sounds, hosted by Ed Gamble.
Season 1's winner was comedian Alan Carr, and that season also helped the show sweep two awards at May's BAFTA TV Awards — "Memorable Moment" and "Best Reality." NME earlier ranked "The Celebrity Traitors" No. 8 on its list of the year's top 20 TV shows, calling it "the most gleefully wicked reality show around." Season 1's cast included Cat Burns, Jonathan Ross, Stephen Fry, Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church, Nick Mohammed, and Tom Daley.
Worth noting: former "Geordie Shore" star Charlotte Crosby revealed earlier this year that she actively campaigned to join Season 2, but producers reportedly said they wouldn't be casting anyone else from reality TV. Meanwhile, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher claimed he "was invited" to join Season 2 — though his name never appeared on the final cast list announced.
