Tom Hiddleston had reportedly signed up for the latest series of Celebrity Traitors but was forced to pull out at the last minute. The A-list line-up was officially announced when the broadcaster dropped the first teaser trailer last week, with the likes of Maya Jama, Richard E Grant, Jerry Hall, Romesh Ranganathan, and Ross Kemp making their way to the Scottish castle.
However, Tom, 45, who has previously shared his love of the show, was left devastated after movie commitments clashed with him heading to the Highlands, according to The Sun.
Tom's Passion for the Show
Discussing the series on BBC Radio 2 earlier this year, he said: 'I mean the celebrity one would be amazing. I think the whole show, the format is just the most ingenious thing, isn't it? It's completely compulsive. Maybe the best television I've ever seen.' He added: 'I'd like to be a faithful because then you can play detective, right? And you know that your conscience is clean and your heart is pure, and you're just watching and trying to figure people out.'
Daily Mail has contacted Tom's representatives and BBC for comment.
Star-Studded Lineup and Budget Increase
With this lineup proving to be the starriest yet, it was previously reported that bosses were forced to double their £1 million budget to cater to the A-List contestants' demands. The increased budget was already obvious as pictures emerged of the stars touching down in the Highlands after travelling via planes and private jets, while last year many contestants were said to have travelled on the train.
Meanwhile, the likes of Alan Carr and Sir Stephen Fry were also said to have been ferried around during last year's series in a minibus, which has now been swapped for chauffeur-driven cars. Money has also been spent on beefing up security to keep the stars safe and the castle's goings-on under wraps ahead of transmission later this year.
A source said: 'Although most of the stars are British, so many of them are used to working in America that their teams are used to the treatment.' They told The Sun: 'The production team have little choice, however, than to cater for their demands because they accept the number of A-listers taking part in this year's show makes it exceptional.'
The Daily Mail have contacted BBC for comment.
Arrivals and Pay Cuts
Maya Jama was pictured arriving at Inverness airport on Sunday afternoon, reportedly taking a huge pay cut to appear on series two of the BBC show. Hours earlier, Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh and EastEnders star Ross Kemp also touched down, before jumping into their cars to head to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Singer James Blunt then followed a few hours later.
Maya was reportedly the first star to be approached by Celebrity Traitors bosses in a bid to pull in a younger audience thanks to her Love Island hosting duties. The 31-year-old was more than willing to take a huge £760,000 pay cut compared to her fee hosting the ITV dating show. She is said to have taken the £40,000 rate after falling in love with the series while watching it with her boyfriend Rúben Dias.
Full Celebrity Traitors Lineup 2026
- Jerry Hall – rose to fame in the 1970s and became one of the era's most recognisable fashion icons.
- Richard E. Grant – celebrated for his roles in everything from cult classic Withnail & I to modern flicks such as Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
- James Blunt – shot to global fame with his debut album and the hit single 'You're Beautiful'.
- Ross Kemp – recently returned to EastEnders to reprise his role as hardman Grant Mitchell, is said to be wanting to 'challenge himself'.
- Michael Sheen – celebrated for his incredible performances across stage and screen, particularly his work in Good Omens and The Queen.
- Rob Beckett – best friend of fellow Traitors star Romesh, known for his high-energy and booming laugh.
- Sharon Rooney – best known for her breakout role as Rae Earl in the acclaimed series My Mad Fat Diary.
- Joanne McNally – known for her brutally honest humour and hilarious takes on dating, chaos, and modern life.
- Amol Rajan – journalist and broadcaster who has carved out a successful career across major UK media, including radio and television.
- King Kenny – whose real name is Kenny Ojuederie, is a content creator known for prank videos and street-style social experiments.
- Sebastian Croft – best known for his breakout role as Ben Hope in the Netflix series Heartstopper.
- Maya Jama – quickly becoming one of the UK's most popular stars and famously fronts Love Island.
- Miranda Hart – broke through with her hit sitcom Miranda, which became a resounding success and cemented her as a comedy legend.
- Romesh Ranganathan – has been taking British TV by storm in recent years and is known for his deadpan delivery.
- James Acaster – good friends with Ed Gamble who hosts The Traitors: Uncloaked. The duo present the hit food podcast Off Menu with Ed Gamble.
- Bella Ramsey – rose to fame as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones and gained global acclaim for their leading role in The Last Of Us.
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock – known as a member of the girl group Little Mix, who found fame on The X Factor back in 2011.
- Joe Lycett – from headline-grabbing TV stunts to cleverly staged public pranks, has built a reputation as one of Britain's most inventive and unpredictable comics.
- Hannah Fry – mathematician and broadcaster known for turning complex data into content which is engaging and accessible to viewers.
- Julie Hesmondhalgh – best known for her long-running role as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street, which made history as the first transgender character in a British soap opera.
- Myha'la – known for her striking portrayal of brutal fintech expert Harper Stern in the HBO drama Industry.
