Claudia Winkleman Expresses Astonishment Over Celebrity Traitors Series Two Cast
Claudia Winkleman has officially confirmed that the line-up for the second series of Celebrity Traitors has been finalised, and she admitted to being utterly gobsmacked upon hearing the participants' names. The BBC's star-studded spinoff initially premiered in late 2025, with comedian Alan Carr emerging victorious as a Traitor in the inaugural season.
Winkleman's Revelation on The One Show
During an appearance on The One Show on Wednesday, March 25, to promote her newly launched BBC chat show, Winkleman was questioned about whether more high-profile celebrities would join Celebrity Traitors, following the notable names from series one. She responded emphatically, stating, 'There certainly are.' Winkleman elaborated, '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 expressed immense gratitude, adding, 'So, we’re incredibly lucky.'
Reflecting on the success of the first series, which featured luminaries such as Sir Stephen Fry, Kate Garraway, Jonathan Ross, Alan Carr, and Celia Imrie, Winkleman addressed whether famous faces were eager to enter the castle. She said, 'Yeah, I hope so. We’re so grateful that people want to come and play the game.' Recalling her awe, she shared, '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.' However, she remained tight-lipped about further details, joking, 'I’m very excited. But I can’t say anything else, don’t make eye contact with me.'
Rumoured Participants and Denials
Ahead of the official cast announcement, several names have been linked to the upcoming series. According to The Mail on Sunday, award-winning actor Stephen Graham is under consideration by BBC bosses as a potential contender. An insider revealed, 'They are absolutely desperate to nail down Stephen for the show. He would be their star signing. He is one of the most formidable actors of our generation, and the nation adores him, 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.' Graham, 52, achieved global acclaim last year for co-creating and starring in the drama Adolescence, which sparked widespread debate on online misogyny, incel culture, and the 'manosphere', winning eight Emmy awards and four Golden Globes.
Additionally, actor Danny Dyer is reportedly set to appear in series two. The former EastEnders star, 48, initially had 'zero interest' but changed his mind after watching Alan Carr captivate the nation. A source explained, 'Danny was always top of The Celebrity Traitors wish list but had zero interest until seeing the fun and games last autumn. As soon as his tune changed, it was all systems go. Danny is a reality TV booker's dream signing and will be incredible value, as he's naturally funny but in a totally different way to Alan Carr.' Other rumoured participants include Richard E. Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Angela Scanlon, Joanne McNally, David Mitchell, Steve Pemberton, and Liam Gallagher.
However, two previously speculated names have denied involvement. Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones, who played Nessa Jenkins and co-wrote the sitcom, dismissed rumours on the Jonathan Ross Show, stating, 'There was a big rumour about me doing it as well. The thing is I had sort of been asked about doing it and I love the show and I think it's amazing, but then I thought I'll have to put on a wet suit and I'll have to go in one of them lochs, I'll get bitten by the midges. I'd rather sit in my pyjamas and watch everyone else.' Similarly, This Morning's Alison Hammond, who rose to fame on Big Brother, confirmed she will not participate, citing scheduling conflicts with Bake Off. She said, 'I can’t do it because I’m doing Bake Off. I think it’s the same time when I’m doing Bake Off, so that’s a definite no.'
