Claudia Winkleman has revealed why she will never take part in The Celebrity Traitors, admitting she believes she would be “too awful” at the game. The TV presenter returns to screens tonight as a new group of celebrities enters the iconic Scottish castle for series two of the celebrity edition.
Actors Michael Sheen and Richard E Grant, supermodel Jerry Hall, presenter Maya Jama and comedians Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan and James Acaster are among the line-up, alongside Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, musician James Blunt and The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey.
“I’m too thick”
Claudia said she would never want to be part of the cast herself. She said: “I’m too thick. I mustn’t play it in public.” She added: “I’m just being honest. I could have come up with a schmoozier (answer) but no. It’s a privilege to play that game and to be at the round table, but I think I would just be too awful at it.”
The game follows the celebrity contestants – the majority of whom are known as Faithfuls – as they try to seek out the murderous Traitors among them, who “kill off players” in the middle of the night.
Hit first series
The first celebrity spin-off was won by Traitor Alan Carr, and was a hit with fans. From Celia Imrie finding an unexpectedly hilarious way to ease the tension during one of the show’s supposedly spooky challenges, to the glorious chaos brought by Alan Carr - a man completely unfamiliar with the concept of a “poker face” - Celebrity Traitors turned out to be one of last year’s TV highlights.
Executive producer Sarah Fay said she was “chuffed” it was such a hit and hopes the second outing lives up to the past success and even ups the ante. She said: “We never take for granted that the audience is always going to come to it. So (the first series) felt a little bit like Monopoly money, it just didn’t seem real, but obviously we’re so, so chuffed.”
She added: “But going into the series, we wanted to make sure it felt it wasn’t comparable and we could bring a new freshness to it. A new cast could bring something to it, whether that’s the dynamics of Rob and Romesh, with a celebrity duo with new twists, new turns. We’re always looking at ways to up the ante and make it feel like compelling viewing.”
Cast and how to watch
Set in the stunning grounds of a castle in the Scottish Highlands, 21 celebrities will play the ultimate game of lies, deceit and betrayal. The winning star will receive a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
The Celebrity Traitors airs Thursday, October 1 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The episode description reads: “Claudia Winkleman welcomes a brand-new group of celebrities as they arrive at a beautiful castle in the Highlands to play the ultimate reality game of detection, back-stabbing and trust in aid of their chosen charities.” The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked with Ed Gamble airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm.
The full line-up includes journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, actress Bella Ramsey, comedian James Acaster, singer James Blunt, model and actress Jerry Hall, comedian Joanne McNally, comedian Joe Lycett, actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Love Island presenter Maya Jama, YouTuber King Kenny, actor Michael Sheen, comedian Miranda Hart, actor Myha’la, mathematician Hannah Fry, actor Richard E Grant, comedian Rob Beckett, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, actor Ross Kemp, actor Sebastian Croft and actress Sharon Rooney.
