The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 premieres tonight, Thursday 1 October 2026, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Presented by Claudia Winkleman, the hit reality show returns with a 75-minute opening episode and a lineup of famous faces heading to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
This series features 21 celebrities — two more than last series — all competing to win up to £100,000 for their chosen charities. The cast includes actors and performers Michael Sheen, Richard E. Grant, Bella Ramsey, Miranda Hart, Ross Kemp, Sharon Rooney, and Sebastian Croft.
Comedians Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, James Acaster, and Joanne McNally will also appear, alongside musicians and presenters Leigh-Anne Pinnock, James Blunt, Maya Jama, Amol Rajan, and Jerry Hall. Experts and creators Professor Hannah Fry, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Myha'la, and King Kenny round out the cast.
Series 1: Wilf, Aaron, Maddy, Alex and Tom
Wilfred "Wilf" Webster became one of the standout stars of Series 1, handpicked by Claudia Winkleman as one of the first Traitors in the show's UK history, alongside Amanda Lovett and Alyssa Chan. Wilf gained notoriety for his readiness to sacrifice fellow Traitors when under pressure, turning the group against Alyssa and later masterminding the banishment of Amanda Lovett towards the series finale.
The psychological toll of operating as a Traitor frequently overwhelmed him, leading to emotional meltdowns, including a memorable scene where Claudia Winkleman broke character to console him. In the final episode, Wilf was unmasked at the last possible moment after Kieran Tompsett delivered a subtle hint during his vote — calling it a "parting gift" — which alerted the remaining Faithfuls to banish Wilf.
Following the show, Wilf left his position as a social worker to pursue content creation full-time. He has amassed a substantial social media following through street-interview content, featured on Celebrity Mastermind, and made various TV guest appearances including a comedy sketch for Comic Relief.
Aaron Evans became known for facing intense suspicion from fellow contestants throughout the series' opening episodes. The mounting pressure proved so intense that he visibly experienced a panic attack and needed to briefly leave the table. Despite repeatedly falling under suspicion, Aaron demonstrated he was completely genuine throughout the entire game. Following his share of the prize money, he switched careers from property to working aboard luxury yachts, amassed an enormous social media following, and secured a reality television spot on Love Island USA.
Maddy Smedley's tireless sleuthing throughout the series earned her status as a viewer favourite, most memorably when she correctly identified Wilf as a Traitor from early on. Having previously worked as an extra or minor actor, Maddy leveraged her time on the programme to launch a full-time acting career, securing parts in Hollyoaks, Casualty, Big Boys, and a guest appearance in the Call the Midwife Christmas special. Maddy and her partner Tom welcomed their first child, a daughter named Shelby Rae, now three, on September 23, 2023.
Alex Gray and Tom Elderfield arrived at Ardross Castle as a secret couple, having agreed to act as strangers so they could collect intelligence independently. Chaos ensued when contestant Matt developed feelings for Alex. In a bid to protect Alex from Traitor accusations, Tom spontaneously announced to everyone over breakfast, "Alex is not a Traitor, she's my girlfriend," leaving the room gobsmacked — including Alex. The bombshell destroyed trust among several Faithfuls, resulting in swift eliminations for both Tom and Alex soon afterwards. The couple confirmed they remain very much an item, purchased their first property together following the show, and have been busy doing it up. Alex currently works as a TV presenter, actor, and online creator, while Tom pursues his career as a professional magician and illusion designer.
Series 2: Mollie, Harry, Paul and Diane
Mollie Pearce was a key player in Series 2, most notably remembered for her involvement in the season's explosive finale. She developed an incredibly close, loyal partnership with eventual winner Harry Clark during the competition. In the closing moments of the series, contestant Jaz Singh campaigned to eliminate one final player, suspecting Harry. Mollie initially wrote down Harry's name on her slate, but at the eleventh hour, she erased it and switched her vote to Jaz.
Mollie famously swore when she discovered the truth about Harry and stormed out of the room in complete shock and devastation. Since appearing on the programme, she has carried on her work as a disability model and campaigner, helping to normalise life with a stoma bag. She subsequently competed on Dancing on Ice and has worked with brands including Tommy Hilfiger and Kurt Geiger. Once the initial surprise subsided, Mollie revealed that she and Harry sorted things out, had a laugh about how things turned out, and stayed mates.
Harry was the strategic genius and sole victor of Series 2. Selected as a Traitor by Claudia Winkleman from the start, Harry executed an extraordinarily shrewd game, maintaining a completely innocent, "heroic Faithful" persona throughout the series while quietly orchestrating eliminations from the shadows. He delivered a masterstroke by securing a protective shield during a mission and concealing it from the group, exploiting it to deceive the Faithfuls into believing the Traitors had tried to "murder" him during the night. Harry betrayed his fellow Traitors at critical junctures, engineering the banishments of both Paul Gorton and Ross Carson to strengthen his own position.
Following the show, Harry departed his position as an engineer in the British Army to chase entertainment opportunities full-time. He appeared on Channel 4's Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and BBC's Pilgrimage, while also shooting documentary projects such as travelling to meet the Pope for the BBC. Harry also teamed up with his former castle adversary Paul Gorton to present The Harry and Paul Show podcast. The star has also published an autobiography chronicling his childhood, military service, faith, and experience on the programme.
Paul, who was chosen as the original traitor in the second series, became known as the "pantomime villain". Audiences watched him fully embrace this persona as he masterminded the eliminations of numerous Faithfuls while skilfully maintaining a charming, trustworthy facade within the castle. His reign came to a dramatic conclusion when fellow Traitor Harry Clark betrayed him at the roundtable, expertly revealing Paul's tactics and securing his banishment.
Following the show, Paul has transitioned into TV presenting, securing a co-hosting position alongside Vernon Kay on the BBC Two quiz programme Do You Know Your Place? He has also featured on programmes such as Celebrity Mastermind. Paul teamed up with his castle adversary Harry Clark to co-host the true-crime and entertainment podcast The Harry and Paul Show, and has ventured into media writing, contributing guest columns for The Guardian and Rolling Stone, examining The Traitors and reality television strategy.
Diane was at the centre of one of the series' most unforgettable television moments. After being secretly "murdered" by Miles Asteri with a poisoned chalice of rosé, her demise unfolded in a theatrical, slow-burning funeral procession mission. Diane arrived at the castle alongside her real-life son, Ross Carson, keeping their mother-son connection completely hidden from fellow contestants throughout her entire stint in the competition.
Following the show, Diane has embraced her newfound fame across television, podcasting, and theatre. Celebrating her passion for cuisine, she took part in BBC's Celebrity MasterChef. She's also launched her own weekly podcast, Spill The Fizz, co-hosted with drag queen Beary Poppins, where they discuss pop culture and television over fizzy beverages. Diane has also stepped into stage performance, featuring in a touring comedy theatre production (Mothers of the Brides) as well as pantomime. Her television credits extend to panel shows and comedy programmes, including an appearance on BBC's Would I Lie to You?
Series 3 and 4: Linda, Minah, Rachel and Stephen
Linda was hands down the breakout icon of Series 3. A 70-year-old retired opera singer, Linda was chosen as a Traitor and became an instant social media sensation for her theatrical flair, hilarious facial expressions, and unapologetic chaos. Her face was even paraded on flags at summer music festivals like Glastonbury. Since her breakout turn, Linda Rands has fully leaned into her new role as a reality TV personality. She has appeared as a guest across major UK talk shows and morning programmes, including The One Show, Morning Live, and Loose Women. Linda has capitalised on her meme-worthy status by starring in commercial advertisements and brand partnerships. She has also made live stage appearances alongside Claudia Winkleman at official events, and frequently shares fan interactions on social media—including clips of festival-goers.
Minah Shannon was a fierce and calculating Traitor who managed to survive deep into the game by keeping her head low during roundtables while pulling strings behind the scenes. Since her time on The Traitors UK Series 3, Minah Shannon successfully turned her goal of breaking into broadcasting into reality. She stepped into national broadcasting, joining the BBC Radio 1 team to co-host the Early Breakfast show alongside Nat O'Leary. Miah has also become a regular speaker on industry panels and live events—discussing media strategy, the art of persuasion, and the psychology of gameplay alongside body language experts and fellow creators. Based in Liverpool with her husband Liam and their daughter Luna, she continues to share glimpses into her family life and media work across social media.
One of the most ruthless and cutthroat Traitors the show has ever seen, Rachel's aggressive roundtable tactics and ability to frame Innocent Faithfuls made her a central figure and major driver of drama in Series 4. She made history as part of the first-ever Traitor duo to win the UK series, sharing the grand prize pot with her fellow Traitor partner, Stephen Libby. Rather than turning on each other at the end, the two stayed loyal to seal their victory. Alongside her communications day job, Rachel has worked on publishing a fantasy novel she's spent years writing since the show finished. Rachel spoke during the series about wanting to win for her family and to make lasting memories with her mother, who suffered from Parkinson's disease and dementia. Following the show, she has used her public platform to help raise awareness for these conditions.
Selected as an original Traitor alongside Rachel, Stephen helped make history as part of the first-ever Traitor duo to win the UK series. Beyond his strategic gameplay, Stephen became an instant fan favourite for his iconic wardrobe choices—ranging from cosy woolly jumpers to memorable tight jumpsuits. Following his £47,875 prize win, Stephen made extensive guest appearances across morning TV and radio shows, including This Morning and The Traitors: Uncloaked. He has also built a large social media presence based on fashion, travel, and lifestyle content, with talent representation signing him for entertainment work.
