Just when we thought The Traitors couldn't get any better, last year, BBC shook up the formula and gifted the nation Celebrity Traitors. We got to see Alan Carr squeal and dangle from trees in challenges; Stephen Fry hang out with YouTuber Niko; and national treasure Celia Imrie fart on screen. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, it really was the best of British television, bringing together a stellar cast of our greatest celebs for some good old fashioned treachery.
The question is, of course, how could season two of Celebrity Traitors ever top its predecessor? Well, the BBC has a few tricks up its sleeve – and they mostly involve recruiting an even more impressive cast that last time. While appearing on The One Show earlier this week, Winkleman revealed that the cast for Celebrity Traitors 2026 has officially been locked. And by the sounds of it, we should all prepare to be gagged by this year's recruits.
“The people who make it are extraordinary and they had to repeat the people twice to me because I was like, ‘Huh, are you joking? Come again,’” she said. “We’re incredibly lucky.” The prestige of last year's cast was impressive enough, with contestants like Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry being nicknamed the “big dogs” by Joe Marler, a nod to their cultural stature. And guess what? We might see even more “big dogs” in series two. “We’re so grateful that people want to come and play the game,” she continued. “And the people who said yes for series one, I still can’t believe it. I was shaking when you see Stephen Fry walking around the castle and Alan Carr, Ruth Codd, all of these people I was obsessed by. I’m very excited.”
Last year, filming took place from late April onwards and the series was aired in autumn, so we'll likely have to wait a couple of month before BBC releases any official info about the cast. Until then, there's plenty of speculation about who we might get to see don that signature Traitors cloak. If even one of these rumours are true, we're in for a treat.
Hugh Grant
You read that right. The nation's ultimate romcom hero keeps popping up in conversations about casting rumours. Apparently, the BBC bosses reckon Hugh Grant would be a natural follow up to guests like Stephen Fry and Celia Imrie from series one, and the ‘90s heartthrob has been high up their hit list. As an inside source said in February, "They know landing Hugh would be a huge coup but think he would be a brilliant addition. [They’re] determined not to get the same tired reality stars who sign up to every series going.” Fingers crossed.
Alison Hammond
Britain's biggest hun on the nation's best TV show? Please, we are begging the TV gods to make this happen. “Alison is on the BBC’s hit list for Celebrity Traitors and she’s keen," a source revealed in January. “The Beeb think she could be comedy gold, just like Alan Carr. Alison is naturally very funny and they think she could end up being hugely successful." But there's just one problem: Hammond is already scheduled to film Bake Off around the same time, which could mean there's a potentially filming clash. “I think it’s the same time when I’m doing Bake Off, so that’s a definite no,” she explained on The Jonathon Ross Show. Here's hoping they found a workaround.
Liam Gallagher
The BBC really aren't leaving any stones unturned when it comes to their celeb hunt. On X earlier this year, Liam Gallagher replied to a fan's speculation that he might be on the next series. “I've been asked,” he said bluntly, giving no hint whatsoever over whether the offer was actually interest. No doubt, Gallagher would be a fiery presence in the castle, but given it took decades to convince him to go back on tour with Oasis, this one might be a bit of a pipe dream.
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant, on the other hand, seems like more of a safe bet. The Oscar-nominated actor has already professed his love for Celebrity Traitors, making him a prime candidate for series two of the celebrity edition. Speaking to The Observer last year, Grant confessed that he was “obsessed” with the show. “I was fascinated to see the mega-sized brain of Sir Stephen Fry so frustrated because he just could not work out who it was," he said. “You see how easy it is to follow the heard.” Then, when asked if he'd go on the show himself, Grant went even further and proclaimed that an offer would be “irresistible”. Guess we'll see him in the castle come October…
Danny Dyer
Rumours that Danny Dyer will appear on Celebrity Traitors have been swirling since last year, with reports claiming that he turned down an offer for the first series, but changed his mind once he actually saw the show air. Given all that, you might assume that Dyer would be a shoo-in for the next cohort of contestants. But in February, the man himself shut down the rumours and claimed he hadn't even been approach. “If they ask me I’ll do it, but no one’s asked me. I would f***ing declare it," he said on The Jonathon Ross Show. "I’m not on it, you’ll see when it comes on.” A double bluff? Only time will tell.
Cheryl
We've understandably seen significantly less of Cheryl since her ex and father to her son Liam Payne's death in 2024. Now, however, she's reportedly ready to start getting back to work. “‘Cheryl is taking baby steps about returning to the limelight. Bosses know she would be a huge draw,” said a source when rumours first emerged about a potential Traitors appearance. The one potential drawback for Cheryl could simply be her mother's instinct. "Of course, filming over several weeks would take her away from her son, which could be a reason she turns it down.
Daisy May Cooper
If our money's on anyone appearing in series two of Celebrity Traitors, it's Daisy May Cooper. The comedian was already booked to appear on the first series, but eventually dropped out to stay home with her recently born son – totally fair. This time around, though, she might be ready for a break in the Scottish Highlands. “Daisy is telly gold. She’s hilarious and would be perfect," a source told The Sun. “Show bosses are pulling out all the stops to make this happen.”
Tom Hiddleston
Another Hollywood juggernaut in the Celeb Traitors race is Tom Hiddleston. In fact, the MCU star has been pretty effusive about his love for the show and his willingness to take part. “I think the whole show, the format is just the most ingenious thing, isn't it? It's completely compulsive. Maybe the best television I've ever seen,” he said during an appearance of BBC Radio 2. Would he be a traitor or a faithful? “I'd like to be a Faithful because then you can play detective,” he said. “And you know that your conscience is clean and your heart is pure, and you're just watching and trying to figure people out.”
Jason Manford
Comedian Jason Manford has been pretty transparent about being in talks to appear on Celebrity Traitors. Speaking to The Sun in February, he revealed that although he doesn't consider himself to be a reality TV show kind of celeb, he'd make an exception for Winkelman's reign of treacherous terror. “I mean, there’s not many I would, but that one…" he said. “Me kids love it, me wife loves it, we all love it. And certainly, I feel like I’d enjoy it as well.” For Manford, it's just been a case of waiting for the BBC to lock in their “big dogs” first. "There’s been conversations and stuff about it behind the scenes. But I think I’m waiting for them to come down the ladder of show business because this is a success in the first one. They’re like, Tom Hiddleston, Helen Mirren…”
Michael Sheen
Another potential “big dog” in the castle, Michael Sheen is being tipped to make an appearance in the castle, with many pointing out how his CV full of challenging characters (think: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Tony Blair and Emperor Nero) could boost his chances of winning. “Michael has had a lot of practice playing lying, duplicitous and scheming men — the Traitors should be a breeze," said one source. Plus, like everyone else in the country, Sheen is already hooked on watching the show. “Michael is a massive fan so it makes total sense that he would want to be a part of it."
Bob Mortimer
A fan favourite to appear on the show, Bob Mortimer would no doubt be comedy gold on Celebrity Traitors. And while nothing's been confirmed yet, there are glimmers of hope that suggest we might see the comedian take his surreal sense of humour to the castle. In 2024, before the UK's first celeb edition of the show even aired, Mortimer declared that he'd love to go on the show. “It’s the only show of its kind on TV that I would agree to get involved with but, yes, definitely count me in, I’d love to do it,” he said. “I watch the American, UK and Australian versions of The Traitors. I think they're all great, it’s a brilliant format. And Claudia is the best of the presenters.” As for the Beeb, The Traitor's executive producer recently told Metro that “If Bob wanted to do it next year, we would absolutely love it.” Sounds like a no-brainer.
Stephen Graham
Hot off his multi-award-winning show Adolescence, we might soon get to see another side of Stephen Graham if the Celeb Traitors rumours are true. While the actor hasn't said anything about the show himself (yet!), it seems the BBC have been knocking on his door to get him on the lineup. “He is one of the most formidable actors of our generation, and the nation adores him,” said a source earlier this year. “But no one really knows what he's like as a person, so there is a definite hunger among viewers to see what he is like in a more reality-based setting.”
Louis Theroux
OK, so there are no official reports – or even hints – from the Beeb or Theroux that he's in talks to appear on Celebrity Traitors. But he is a bookies favourite and that's good enough to keep the rumour mill in rotation. According to Coral, the odds of him appearing in the next series are currently 3-1. Let's see how those shift over time…
Hugh Bonneville
Downtown Abbey star Hugh Bonneville is the last major name to be associated with series two of Celebrity Traitors. “Hugh is charming and funny,” a source told The Sun, which means he'd be "hugely entertaining at the roundtable and in the turret.” Bonneville himself hasn't said anything about the rumours yet, so we'll just have to wait and see.
