Miranda Hart is making her return to television after being announced as part of the Celebrity Traitors series two cast on Saturday. The comedian, 53, best known for her BBC sitcom Miranda, has been largely out of the spotlight for the past five years due to a prolonged health battle.
Health Struggles
In her 2024 autobiography I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You, Hart recounted a three-decade health struggle that left her bedbound and without joy. It took medics 33 years to discover she had been battling Lyme disease, a bacterial infection, after initially misdiagnosing her with agoraphobia. She was also diagnosed with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Hart shared that she felt increasingly alone as doctors failed to find the cause of her symptoms. She wrote: 'As I continued to study the scientists on this matter, another phrase stood out. They would say, 'There's nothing wrong here right now.' What?! Oh, it seemed not only implausible, but downright mean. Frankly, I would have punched someone in the face had they coolly said this to me when I was collapsed with exhaustion.'
Return to Television
Fans were delighted to see Hart's name among the cast list for The Traitors on Saturday. She later shared a snap of herself poking fun at her misspelled name in the BBC show's trailer, sitting in the back of a car en route to Scotland. In a sign that she will bring her signature humour to the castle, Hart reposted a fan's request for her to 'please gallop around the castle' and replied: 'I now see that as a dare.'
Celebrity Traitors Cast
The series two cast was officially announced when the BBC dropped the first teaser trailer on Saturday. Alongside Hart, the lineup includes Maya Jama, Jerry Hall, Romesh Ranganathan, Richard E. Grant, Bella Ramsey, Amol Rajan, Michael Sheen, Ross Kemp, James Blunt, Rob Beckett, Joe Lycett, Joanne McNally, James Acaster, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Hannah Fry, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Myha'la, Sebastian Croft, and Sharon Rooney.
The trailer, set in airport arrivals, shows a line of actors holding chalkboards with their names, many deliberately misspelled for comedic effect, such as 'Miranda Heart' and 'Richardy Grant'.
Notable Contestants
- Jerry Hall: The 69-year-old model and actress rose to fame in the 1970s and is known for her relationships with Mick Jagger and Rupert Murdoch.
- Maya Jama: The 31-year-old TV presenter fronts Love Island and has a growing presenting career.
- Richard E. Grant: The 68-year-old actor is a British national treasure, known for Withnail & I and Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
- James Blunt: The 52-year-old singer-songwriter gained fame with 'You're Beautiful' and is known for his dry humour.
- Ross Kemp: The 61-year-old actor, recently returned to EastEnders, is said to want to 'challenge himself'.
The series will be filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, following the success of last year's winner Alan Carr.
