Celebrity Traitors UK Cast 2026: Season 2 Lineup
If you’ve been waiting to see which familiar faces will betray their way to the top in The Celebrity Traitors UK Season 2, the wait is over. On 2 May 2026, the BBC confirmed the full lineup of 21 celebrities, including Bella Ramsey, James Blunt, and Maya Jama, who will compete for charity at Ardross Castle later this year.
Current Series: Season 2 (2026) · Network: BBC One · Host: Claudia Winkleman · Format: Celebrity spin‑off of The Traitors · Episodes: 12 per season
Quick Snapshot
- Exact premiere date for Series 2
- Full elimination order for the upcoming series
- Which contestants will be Traitors vs Faithful
- May 2025 – Series 1 airs on BBC One (Cosmopolitan UK)
- 2 May 2026 – BBC announces Series 2 lineup (Cosmopolitan UK)
- Autumn 2026 – Series 2 expected to premiere (Cosmopolitan UK)
Seven key details at a glance:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Show Name | The Celebrity Traitors UK |
| Network | BBC One |
| Host | Claudia Winkleman |
| Current Season | 2 (Airing 2026) |
| Format | Celebrity Spin‑off |
| Episodes per Season | 12 |
| Filming Location | Ardross Castle, Scotland |
Who Is in the Celebrity Traitors UK Season 2 Cast?
Full lineup of confirmed celebrities for Series 2
On 2 May 2026, BBC News (official broadcaster) announced the 21‑person celebrity lineup. The cast includes:
- Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, Hannah Fry, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Leigh‑Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Richard E. Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft, and Sharon Rooney.
Profiles of new contestants: Bella Ramsey, James Blunt, and more
The cast mixes A‑list actors (Bella Ramsey of The Last of Us), chart‑topping musicians (James Blunt, Leigh‑Anne Pinnock), and household comedians (James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan). Cosmopolitan UK notes that the mix of personalities is likely to create intense Round‑Table dynamics.
BBC has stacked Series 2 with celebrities from dramatically different fields – actors, journalists, comedians, musicians, and TV presenters. That diversity often leads to the most unpredictable betrayals.
The implication: With such a varied lineup, no single strategy will dominate, making early alliances especially fragile.
What Is the Celebrity Traitors UK Season 2 Release Date?
Expected premiere window
BBC News confirmed the series will air in autumn 2026 on BBC One. Episodes will also be available on BBC iPlayer after broadcast. An exact date has not been announced, but the previous series premiered in May 2025.
Filming schedule and location
Production is already underway at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the same location used for the regular Traitors franchise. The castle’s isolated setting and dramatic landscapes are a signature of the show’s visual identity.
How to watch on BBC iPlayer
Viewers in the UK can stream all episodes on BBC iPlayer shortly after they air. International distribution has not yet been specified, but the first season was available on various streaming platforms.
The catch: While the premiere is set, the competitive dynamics remain a mystery until the first episode drops.
Do The Traitors Contestants Get Paid?
Appearance fees for celebrities
Unlike regular contestants, celebrities on The Celebrity Traitors do not receive a standard “prize fund” – instead, they compete for a charitable cause. However, media reports suggest celebrities receive a daily stipend to cover expenses during the multi‑week shoot. Exact figures are not publicly disclosed, but for top‑tier names like Michael Sheen or Maya Jama, the amount is likely substantial.
Prize fund structure
The prize fund follows the same format as the regular Traitors: money accumulates through missions and is ultimately won by whichever group (Faithful or Traitors) survives. In the celebrity edition, the winner’s charity receives the pot. BBC News reported that Season 1’s winner, Alan Carr, secured a significant sum for his chosen charity.
Comparing pay to other reality shows
While I’m a Celebrity… and Strictly Come Dancing pay fixed appearance fees, The Celebrity Traitors appears to rely on the cachet of the show’s cultural moment. The trade‑off for celebrities is high visibility in exchange for a lower direct fee – a gamble that paid off for Season 1’s cast, which attracted 15.4 million viewers.
For celebrities, the compensation is partly exposure: a series that averaged millions of viewers per episode can reboot careers. The risk is spending weeks in a remote castle with no phone, no social media, and the constant threat of being thrown out by a vote.
What this means: The celebrity cast is betting that the game’s visibility outweighs the financial incentives of other reality shows.
Who Is Ruth Codd? The Irish Actress on Celebrity Traitors
Ruth Codd’s acting career
Ruth Codd is an Irish actress best known for her breakout role in the Netflix horror series The Midnight Club. She appeared in Series 1 of The Celebrity Traitors UK as a contestant.
How Ruth Codd lost her leg
Codd has a leg amputation resulting from a childhood medical condition. In interviews following the show, she spoke about recovering from a second leg surgery and becoming an advocate for disability representation in entertainment.
Her experience on The Celebrity Traitors
As a contestant on Series 1, Codd was eliminated partway through the season. Her openness about her amputation and her strategic play made her a fan favourite.
Who Was Eliminated from Celebrity Traitors UK?
Series 1 elimination order
The full elimination timeline for Series 1 is documented on Wikipedia. Contestants were removed in two ways: Murdered (secretly eliminated by the Traitors at night) and Banished (voted out at the Round‑Table by the entire group).
Murdered vs. Banished explained
Understanding the difference is key to following the series. Traitors get to “murder” one Faithful each night without a vote. Banishing happens during the daytime Round‑Table, where the whole group votes to expel someone they suspect is a Traitor. Often, Faithful accidentally banish other Faithful, which is the show’s central tension.
Early predictions for Series 2
Because the cast is stacked with witty, competitive personalities, early predictions on social media suggest the Round‑Table sessions will be more heated than ever.
Timeline: From Series 1 to Series 2
- – The Celebrity Traitors UK Series 1 premieres on BBC One
- – BBC announces Series 2 lineup of 21 celebrities
- – Series 2 films at Ardross Castle
- – Series 2 scheduled to air
The pattern: BBC moved from a single season to a greenlit second series within a year, capitalising on the 15.4 million‑viewer audience for Season 1.
Confirmed Facts and What’s Unclear
Confirmed facts
- 21‑person cast announced 2 May 2026
- Claudia Winkleman returns as host
- Filming at Ardross Castle
- Autumn 2026 premiere
What’s unclear
- Exact premiere date
- Full elimination order for Series 2
- Traitor/Faithful assignments
The challenge: Until the premiere, fans can only speculate on which celebrities will betray their way to the top.
“Bella Ramsey – Actor, James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster, James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter…”
BBC Press Office (official statement, 2 May 2026)
“Season 1 attracted 15.4 million viewers, with Alan Carr claiming victory in the finale.”
BBC News (broadcaster report, 2025)
For the 21 celebrities entering Ardross Castle, the stakes are personal: play a flawless game or face banishment, and the charity they represent pays the price. For fans, the choice is simpler – tune in autumn 2026 to watch Bella Ramsey and James Blunt scheme their way through the castle.
youtube.com, hollywoodreporter.com, facebook.com, facebook.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes are in a season of The Celebrity Traitors UK?
Each season consists of 12 episodes, airing weekly on BBC One.
How can I watch The Celebrity Traitors UK?
Watch on BBC One or stream on BBC iPlayer. International availability varies.
What is the difference between The Traitors and The Celebrity Traitors?
The regular series features non‑celebrity contestants. The celebrity edition uses well‑known personalities who compete for charity.
What is the prize fund for The Celebrity Traitors?
The prize fund accumulates through missions and is awarded to the winner’s charity.
How many celebrities play in The Celebrity Traitors?
22 contestants – 21 celebrities plus one returning player from the regular series? The lineup for Series 2 is exactly 21 celebrities.
Is The Celebrity Traitors coming back for a third season?
BBC has not yet confirmed a third season. Given the ratings for Season 1, a renewal is likely.
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