The BBC has confirmed that The Celebrity Traitors will replace Dragons' Den in schedules, as the current series of the entrepreneurial programme comes to an end.
Season 23 of Dragons' Den began airing earlier this year and returned to screens in August after a months-long break. It concludes on Friday, 25 September, instead of its usual Thursday slot.
Gary Neville joins Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman, Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden in the Den for the final episode. Throughout the series, he appeared as a Guest Dragon alongside Susie Ma, Jenna Meek and Tinie Tempah, following Sara Davies' exit.
Touker Suleyman's final appearance
The series finale also marks Touker Suleyman's last appearance on the show, as he confirmed he was stepping down earlier this year after ten years. He said: "To the BBC, to my fellow Dragons past and present, to the production team, and above all to the entrepreneurs who dared to walk through those doors - thank you. It has been one of the greatest joys of my career. The fire in the Den burns on. I simply pass the torch."
The BBC has now confirmed The Celebrity Traitors will air from 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday, October 1, followed by a second episode on Friday, October 2.
Celebrity Traitors line-up revealed
Claudia Winkleman's murder mystery series returns with 21 celebrities hoping to follow in the footsteps of Alan Carr, who made history with his emotional win last year.
The 2026 line-up includes Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Maya Jama. Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha'la, Professor Hannah Fry, Richard E. Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft, and Sharon Rooney complete the cast.
The BBC previously teased: "A new group of celebrities play the ultimate game of detection, trust and betrayal in the hope of winning a cash prize up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice in The Celebrity Traitors series two."
"Hidden amongst the group are The Traitors whose job is to secretly murder their fellow players, without getting caught. It's up to the others, the Faithful, to try to detect the Traitors and banish them from the game before they become their next victim."
"The lucky players who survive to the end have the chance of winning the money. If a Traitor remains undetected, however, they'll take it all."
Fan reaction to first-look trailer
After a first-look trailer aired weeks ago, with Claudia warning the celebrities as they sat on pews in front of her in a church: "Thoughts and prayers," viewers were left begging for more.
One wrote: "Claudia saying “thoughts and prayers” like she isn’t personally about to ruin 20 celebrities’ lives for our entertainment." Another said: "This cast has all the ingredients to create absolute chaos and I am ready for it." Someone else wrote: "This is going to be epic, I can tell already."
Yet another added: "Can;t wait for thissss," as another said: "I will be seated for this." "Excellent selection" another agreed. One fan begged: "Oh they need to drop this RIGHT NOW! I can’t wait lol!" Yet another said: "I cannot wait for the return of this utterly brilliant series to begin. Let the scheming and backstabbing commence."
Someone else echoed: "This GOATED casting omgggg," as another added: "the way i gasped when this came up on my timeline i literally cannot handle another season of trusting the wrong people."
Dragons' Den is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
