The BBC has announced the launch of 'The Celebrity Traitors', a star-studded version of the award-winning reality series, set to premiere on Wednesday, 8th October at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. The show will air two episodes weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with celebrities competing for up to £100,000 for their chosen charities.
Host Claudia Winkleman revealed her initial apprehension about the celebrity edition, stating she was 'scared' as she wanted to keep the show small. Despite her concerns, she expressed honour at having celebrity fans participate, noting she 'could barely breathe' seeing them in the Scottish Highlands. Winkleman described the cast as 'tremendous' and admitted to almost crying when speaking to Stephen Fry.
Winkleman found hosting the celebrity version 'scarier' than the regular series, as she struggled to maintain her aloof and grumpy persona while wanting to be friendly. She confessed to being desperate to help during missions and occasionally trying to drop clues, but being told off by her producer. The host described her wardrobe as 'unhinged in taffeta'.
Actress Celia Imrie, one of the celebrity contestants, explained her decision to take part, citing her fascination with the show's psychological aspects and group dynamics. She expressed interest in understanding how trust is built and manipulated, and looked forward to experiencing the castle and meeting the peacocks. Imrie acknowledged she can be 'much too trusting' and plans to watch for casual attempts to gain shields as potential tells.
