The Celebrity Traitors Returns

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The next chapter of The Celebrity Traitors is on its way, and this time it is going bigger than ever. Set to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in 2026, the hit spin-off is bringing together its largest celebrity cast so far, with twenty-one well-known names stepping into the now-iconic castle for a tense game built on suspicion, strategy and outright deception.

Produced by Studio Lambert in Scotland, the series follows the same gripping format that turned its predecessor into a phenomenon. Each participant will compete not for personal gain, but for a potential prize of up to one hundred thousand pounds for a charity of their choice. The twist, as ever, lies in trust. Or rather, the lack of it. Some contestants will secretly take on the role of traitors, working in the shadows to eliminate others, while the rest attempt to expose them before it is too late.

At the centre of it all is Claudia Winkleman, returning as host with her signature calm intensity. She will guide a wide-ranging group that spans actors, musicians, comedians, broadcasters and digital creators. The line-up includes names such as Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama and Michael Sheen, alongside a mix of familiar and unexpected faces. It is the kind of casting that feels deliberately unpredictable, which is exactly what the format thrives on.

Filming once again takes place in the Scottish Highlands, where the remote setting adds its own quiet pressure. Away from the outside world, alliances form quickly and break even faster. Every conversation matters, every glance can be misread, and every vote carries weight. Contestants must decide who they can trust, who should be banished, and who might be quietly orchestrating events behind the scenes.

The show returns on the back of remarkable success. The first celebrity edition, which aired in October 2025, pulled in an average audience of 14.9 million, peaking at 15.4 million for its finale. Those numbers placed it firmly at the top of the entertainment landscape, marking it as the most-watched episode of its kind across the market in nearly a decade. It also became the leading series across all genres and platforms that year, a rare feat in an increasingly crowded field.

The momentum did not stop there. The main series continued its upward climb, with its fourth run in January 2026 drawing a 28-day average of 12.5 million viewers. Much of that came through BBC iPlayer, which accounted for over half of the total audience and showed significant growth compared to the previous series. Only the celebrity edition managed to outperform it, underlining just how strong the format has become.

With a larger cast, a proven formula and expectations now firmly set, the upcoming series carries a certain weight. Whether it can match or even exceed what came before remains to be seen. One thing feels certain though. Once those castle doors close, the game will not be about fame or reputation. It will be about survival, suspicion and how well each player can lie under pressure.