The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 comes to BBC1 on Thursday October 1st at 8pm.
Hidden amongst the group are The Traitors whose task is simple: under the cover of darkness, they must pick off their fellow players one by without getting caught. The others – the Faithful – must try to uncover the Traitors and banish them before becoming their next victim.
The lucky players who survive to the end have the chance of winning the money. If a Traitor remains, they take all the money and leave victorious.
Claudia Winkleman Q&A
The Celebrity Traitors is back! What did you think when you first heard who was taking part?
I couldn’t get over it. My bosses had to repeat the names at least three times. We’re so lucky they said yes.
Did any of the names surprise you?
Everyone taking part is fantastic. We are honoured they wanted to play the game.
How did you keep the celebrity cast a secret?
I say absolutely nothing about everything. I still won’t reveal who won series one. People say “it’s okay, it’s been on TV” but still, nothing from me.
Did you come across any of the players elsewhere in the lead up to filming and did any of them let slip they were taking part?
Nobody said a thing. It’s always better that way.
You seem to enjoy watching the drama unfold, is it ever difficult not to give away your reactions?
An overly long fringe helps. It’s a privilege to be able to watch people play the game. I try and disappear into the walls at the Round Table. I feel extremely lucky I’m part of this show.
Speaking of your facial expressions, with a number of comedians in the lineup this year, did any of them try and break you by making you laugh?
They all made me laugh. They are all utterly brilliant and the funniest people on earth. Rob Beckett said something that made me hide in a bush until I composed myself.
How much fun is it watching the celebrities take on the missions?
They excelled at the missions. Amazing teamwork and they just really wanted to build the prize pot.
Your outfits have become quite the talking point since the series began. In the past you’ve named various celebrity inspirations for your looks from Princess Anne to Ronnie Corbett, has anyone inspired the outfits this series?
It went a little Artful Dodger for this series. I borrow a lot of the clothes and the shops / designers were horrified when I asked if we could dip the clothes in tea.
Some of this year’s players are also known for their love of fashion, who would you say is really bringing their own chic castle looks this year?
They’re all tremendous.
You had a lovely reunion with the series one celebrities at the BAFTAs earlier this year, did any of them try to find out about this year’s game from you?
I love them so much. They didn’t ask, we were too busy cuddling each other.
Bella Ramsey Q&A
Why have you decided to take part in The Celebrity Traitors?
I’ve been playing a version of The Traitors since I was 10 years old when I joined The Television Workshop. I’ve had game evenings and hosted them at my house and been to other’s evenings so I’m familiar with the game. I love it so much, and that was really my reason why. I was working on a production at the time of the last Celebrity Traitors – It’s called Maya which was filmed in Scotland, actually. We were all watching and so excited about it, and then we ended up playing a crew game.
It sounds like you’re very well prepared, would you agree?
I was playing a game as recently as two days ago. I was at my friend’s birthday, and we played. And a few weeks before that, I’d been hosting a game evening, so I’ve been playing it pretty regularly!
You’ve got a little Rubik’s Cube on the go even as we speak now. You appear to be a big fan of games, are you competitive?
I do like games. I’m competitive to the level that I want to feel like I’ve done a good job. Not necessarily to win or triumph over others but to know I’ve played my best game. I feel the same about this. I want to stay in because I want to play the game. I just really enjoy it.
What do your friends and family make of you taking part in this?
They’re very excited, especially my family. There are some real fans of The Traitors in my family. Seeing the cast list come out, there are people that my sister is so excited about, people that we watched growing up together. I’m very excited to play with Miranda. Her show was so brilliant, and I just love her so that’s really exciting.
How would you describe your strategy in three words?
Instinctive, measured, and perceptive.
Do you see yourself as being a leader, a bit of a lone wolf, a team player?
I’m going to be a friend to all.
Do you think you’re better at telling lies or spotting them?
I’m definitely not good at telling them. I wouldn’t say I’m good at spotting them, but I am good at spotting changes in behaviour. No matter who I get selected to be, I’ll be playing the character I’m given essentially. I’m not a good liar, I’m a terrible liar, so I can’t do it that way. The best way for me would be treating this just like I’m playing a character, but myself within the character.
Do you think that your acting skills will really help?
I do think they can give you a bit of an edge. For me, anyway, because again, if I was telling a lie, people would spot me instantly. Playing a character, it’s like that’s what I do!
You’ve played some pretty fierce, forthright, and gutsy roles. Is that going to help you really stand your ground at the Round Tables and put across your opinions?
The characters that I’ve played are definitely not like me in that way! When it comes to this, I will be keeping my opinions to myself until I feel it’s absolutely the right time to share them. I’m going to be very selective about when I make a claim, an observation, and how vehemently I stick to it. I will be very selective. I think when I do, and if I ever do really know something or feel like I have a bold thing to say that I feel very confident in, then I will say so in a way that I think I will be able to stand my ground.
This all goes back to you saying you’re going to be measured. What do you think you’d find harder, if you were wrongfully accused or if you had to deceive others?
Wrongfully accused. There’s only so much you can do if you’re wrongfully accused. In the defending of yourself, you just sound suspicious no matter what.
What do you think will be your biggest strength and your biggest weakness?
My biggest strength will be watching and listening, my biggest weakness will be laughing. I can get the giggles and whether I’m otherwise suspicious or not, that makes me look suspicious.
Are you excited for the Missions?
Yes. I’m quite sporty, and I’ve done a lot of stunt work on most jobs that I’ve done. I find that side of things really exciting. I love doing physical things and I love a challenge, especially a physical challenge, so the Missions are one of the things I’m most excited about.
Are you hoping to be a Traitor or a Faithful?
I would love to be a Traitor, I really would, but I’m also okay with being a Faithful. I think being a Traitor can make things a bit more stressful, but in a way that’s exciting to me. I think that I will last longer in the game as a Traitor, you’ve only got one way to lose the game rather than two.
Would your approach in taking on the game differ whether a Traitor or a Faithful?
My approach is exactly the same. If I do get selected, because everyone has their eyes shut, I want to let myself react and grin to get it all out in a silent way before I have to be serious.
James Acaster Q&A
Why have you decided to take part in The Celebrity Traitors?
I just love it. I’m a huge fan and have been since series one. I instantly got addicted to it when I started watching. I think I started watching it halfway through the first series, so I was catching up on iPlayer. I did all of it in one night and then got really frustrated that I had to wait for all the other episodes. And then I really loved the first Celebrity series and instantly became jealous that I wasn’t doing it. I had to get in here!
Do you know anyone that did it last time?
I know some of the comics. I saw both Joe Wilkinson and Nick Mohammed after they’d done it and l said, “Yo, congrats! It was great!” They talked to me a bit about what it was like for them. I think they both had different experiences. Joe was very laid back, and Nick was very much trying to crack the case. I think I’m going to be a mix of the two.
Do you quite like games and puzzles and figuring things out?
I do, but I’m not very competitive. I just like how fun they are, the joy in trying to do the thing rather than determined to come out on top. It does mean I’m never too disappointed.
Are you looking forward to the Missions?
I am actually because I think that we’re doing a lot of knocking around a castle and it will be nice to just get outside. It’s a beautiful part of Scotland. Growing up, I was in the Scouts so it’s going to be nice to get back to that. I haven’t had that in my life for a long time.
Have you done anything to prepare apart from the years of Scouting?
Years of scouting and I do my morning crossword. That keeps me mentally agile.
How would you describe your strategy in three words?
Absolutely no touching. Not letting anyone touch me, because I’m not getting murdered in plain sight.
Apart from Claudia, she might need to touch your shoulder if you’re selected as a Traitor…
Yeah, I hope that doesn’t happen. I’d like to be a Faithful. This is the only time I’ll be able to play it, and I like being in a position of figuring something out rather than having the information the Traitors have.
You may need to be good at bluffing and deception. What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever got away with?
If I tell you, I haven’t got away with it anymore. I’m not good at lying and I don’t make a habit of it. Maybe the biggest lie I’ve ever got away with was telling Ed Gamble I’m not doing The Celebrity Traitors.
Have you got any hobbies that we might not know about that might be useful in this game?
I do all the New York Times puzzles in the morning. Could be useful. I don’t know if drumming is going to come in handy, but I do that too. I don’t think it will, but who knows.
Lots of comedians taking part this year…
Which is a concern. There will be suspicions that it’s going to be at least one of these guys, that we might form an alliance if we’re not broken apart. I think we’re going to be the first ones under the magnifying glass being looked at. Particularly at the beginning when you have absolutely nothing to go on. And then you consider that a comedian won last year with Alan Carr disarming everyone with jokes the whole time. He has tainted us all! Hannah Fry will probably tell you that probability-wise, there’s most likely to be at least one comic chosen as a Traitor because there’s enough of us. Even though it could obviously easily be three people who aren’t comedians…I don’t know how it works out, but if maths turns against us we’re in big trouble.
Do you think you can win this?
Do YOU think I can?
Yeah, why not.
I have genuinely no idea at all. Because every time I watch any of the series there seems to be no rhyme or reason. People can be really quiet, and they make it to the end. People are huge characters, and they make it to the end. You can be quiet and go under the radar; you can be a big character and end up putting yourself in the firing line. Anyone could get to the end. You can avoid murder or banishment by simply not being respected enough to be seen as a threat. And I think I could very easily be seen as not a threat. Yeah, I could be there to the end. It’s anyone’s game really.
Joe Lycett Q&A
Why did you decide to take part in The Celebrity Traitors?
Because – I’m going to say it – it’s the best show on TV. The first series was just such phenomenally good television, and I didn’t think that it could be bettered, and then the celeb series came along. The last episode was beautiful. That first year I sent a DM on Twitter, which was not responded to, to Studio Lambert to ask if they could send me all the rushes. I just was so hit by it and wanted more. I am just thrilled to be part of the universe of The Traitors and to have been asked. I have no idea how to play it. I don’t think you can particularly. I think you just have to let it play itself a little bit.
Have you spoken to anyone that did it last year?
I texted Joe Wilkinson and asked, ‘what are the toilet facilities like in the castle?’ and he said, ‘they’re fine unless you went in after Claudia.’ So there we go. I asked Alan Carr for advice of ‘how to spot a rotten little Traitor like you’ and he said, ‘just anyone that’s sweating and giggling.’
Do you want to be a Traitor or a Faithful?
Both. I want to start as a Faithful and then be converted. I think I’d find it very stressful being a Traitor, but I think you only get one chance to have a go at it, don’t you?
You do so many things that shine a light on social injustices and you have campaigned for so much good, might we see a treacherous side to you?
I think I’ll enjoy either role. Being a Faithful is probably a much nicer experience because you don’t have all the cognitive load of having to lie all the time, and you get to go to bed earlier.
But you don’t get a cloak. However, you’re known for your brightly coloured, flamboyant outfits so it would be a shame to cover those. Have you got some good looks for the castle?
I think so. There’s a lot of variety and silly stuff that I might not get to wear at all if I end up doing a Paloma. I’ll just wear them for the supermarket shop if that happens.
Do you see yourself as more of a leader, a team player, or a lone wolf?
It depends on the context. I sometimes lead teams when I do TV shows, things like that. You’re kind of the head of the ship, but I have been described by friends as a lone wolf because I really love my own company and I’m not very reactive, so I don’t respond in the moment to things. I will take information in, and then I’ll go away and think about it, and then respond with a year to 10 year long campaign to destroy the person who’s wronged me.
How do you feel about taking on the Missions?
That’s the bit I’m most excited about. I’ve been trying to get fitter and stronger over the last few months, just for my own well-being and to be a better father and all of that. I’m incredibly strong now. As strong as an ox. Fierce as well. As fierce as a tiger. As agile as a fish. A fish that is agile.
How do you think your public persona will affect how others perceive you and treat you in the game?
So, when I started doing stand-up, my on and off-stage persona were quite similar. I showed off at parties because I wanted attention and then, gradually, as I got that attention through doing stand-up, I could calm down in real life. When I’m not out on stage I’m very calm, thoughtful and peaceful. I think the comics know what I’m like on and off stage, but I think the others who, for the first time, will spend time with me not in ‘show mode’ might see that as suspicious. I definitely come across assumptions of ‘oh, he’s the gay comedian off the telly’ and I explain I’ve got a female partner and a son with said female partner. I’m really quite a tranquil individual when not in performance mode which may surprise some.
Miranda Hart Q&A
How does it feel to take part in The Celebrity Traitors?
I’m very excited. I also feel slightly like I’m having an out-of-body experience, like I’m on some sort of tour of The Traitors, not actually going to be in it. So now I’m nervous. I’m nervited – nervous, and excited. I love a compound word.
Why did you decide to take part?
My decision making in life generally, and certainly work, is follow the joy. I haven’t done much TV work for a long time, having only recently come out of long-term ill health issues and when I was offered this, my whole body sort of relaxed, I smiled, and I just wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy. It’s just fun. It’s outdoors, it’s games. All the stuff I love. It’s play basically. And I’m passionate about encouraging people to play more generally, and this game is that in spades. It’s a brilliant television show – the only flaw in taking part is that as a fan of the show it will be less fun to watch it with myself in it!
When it was announced you’d taken part, we saw you mentioned potential galloping…
When someone said on Instagram, “Oh, I hope you gallop in the castle,” I foolishly replied, “Right, I now take that as a dare.” So that was idiotic of me. I will have to at some point gallop down a corridor. I’ll gallop when no one’s watching…or who would be the best person to encourage to gallop? I don’t know. I mean, Kenny probably doesn’t even know who I am. So, if I could get him to gallop…I could get a new generation galloping.
It’s good to have you back on our screens, how are you feeling now?
I’m still living with elements of ME, and that brings fatigue and pain to manage, but I have come to a point where I feel well enough to step out, and that’s also partly why I’m doing this. The joy of mucking about on television again will hopefully outweigh some of the challenges. And I think it will be challenging on my body, so it’ll be interesting, and it’ll take some courage as this is a big next step. When you live with a chronic illness, it’s invisible, so people don’t know that you’re sitting there in pain. But then it reminds you that everybody’s got their thing. So, I’m also really looking forward to making friends and looking after each other and hopefully they can carry me up a hill or whatever we’re going to have to do!
Would you call yourself a team player, a leader or a bit of a lone wolf?
I’m a bit of all of those things. I think I’m a lone wolf in that I love my alone time. So being with people constantly all day will be very new for me (I’ll either not stop talking or will have to tell people to pipe down!). But then I love being a team player because I used to be an athlete back in the day, so was part of sports teams which I always miss. I’d probably prefer to not be the leader but part of the team. Being in the ensemble is often better than being the lead role.
Are you better at telling lies or spotting them?
Well, she says boldly at the beginning of the experience, I think I’m excellent at both. When I watch Would I Lie to You?, about 90% of the time I get it right. I very much see myself as a psychological sleuth with no training whatsoever and nothing to back that claim up. I like to think that I could guess when people are lying. I don’t like lying in real life, but when it comes to playing games in the family or whatever, I’m scarily good at lying. Also, I’ve been nominated for seven BAFTAs, never won one, and we’ve got Michael Sheen in the building. But you know…
Have you got any hobbies that we might not know about that might be useful in the game?
My favourite thing in life is being in or on water. Love swimming. Love being on a boat. Sitting by a river, in a river, on a river, slash sea, slash loch. I don’t mind a bit of cold water swimming. So, if there’s a mission that requires a large woman to bob about in water, I’m there.
Do you want to be a Traitor or a Faithful?
Why did you say Traitor first?! Do you think I’m going to be a Traitor?
I know nothing… you are wearing an outfit that is the same green as the Traitors’ cloaks already though…
Oh God! People are going to read into that. The game has begun before it’s begun. I initially thought, well, I’d like to be a Traitor, because you feel like you’re just having more of the experience, but now I’ve gone the other way and I want to be a Faithful. I think it would be more fun to try and guess. I like the idea of figuring it out, weeding them out and getting a Faithful win. And we can’t let another stupid comedian as a Traitor win. None of that, please!
Are you still in touch with all of the cast Miranda?
Oh yes, we’re really good friends. I got messages in the WhatsApp group about this. Everyone’s so excited.
Myha’la Q&A
Why did you decide to take part in The Celebrity Traitors?
This is like my dream. When the announcement came out with the lineup, friends were messaging, “You literally said you wanted to be on this show. That’s so good” because everyone knows I’m obsessed! I love this game.
We know you for your role as Harper Stern in Industry, an entirely more cutthroat world than The Traitors
I am nothing like Harper! I’m more of a kill them with kindness kind of girl rather than a blatantly bullish bulldog. I’ll be interested to see how this one goes because I feel like I will be battling Harper’s persona and the perception of her. All that said, I want to be a Traitor. Obviously!
Why would you like to be a Traitor?
For a lot of reasons, but one because I want to stay in the game as long as possible. And two because I think as a Faithful, this is going to be really hard for me.
I’ve studied it enough to know that people like me who come in as super fans are seen as huge threats and once you’re a threat, it doesn’t matter who you are, people are going to target you. As a Traitor at least I’ll stay in the game long enough to prove myself a bit. It will be an insane uphill battle convincing people that I’m not Harper too! I’ve very deliberately planned the looks that I’m wearing to really separate and be seen as me and not that character. I’ve got my jewelry; my hair is different. I’ve really, really, really planned this.
Tell us more about the looks you have planned…
I just decided to make everything lighter, gentle, feminine. Everything is soft and knitted and cosy and entirely unlike her. There are no shoulder pads, I’m not wearing any suiting of any kind. I’m trying to position myself as far away from Harper as possible. It’s also an exercise in me being quiet, which is really hard. It’s like so about my personality. I’ll have to try at the first Round Table to sit back, assess and to be really timid, like a deer in headlights.
Do you see yourself as more of a leader, a team player, or a lone wolf?
Truthfully, I see myself as a leader, but because I’m small, I’m dainty, and a woman I feel like the way that I tend to lead is usually through building community. I’m also an introvert by nature. I love to recharge alone. My alone time is really important to me so I think, in some ways, I might perceive myself as a lone wolf, but I think in practice, I’m more of a gentle leader.
Are you better at telling lies or spotting them?
Spotting them for sure. I feel like I could spot a lie, but also I’m incredibly gullible.
What would be harder for you, being wrongfully accused or having to deceive others?
I feel like being wrongfully accused is hard because there’s no way in this game to prove that you’re not. It’s just your word in a whole game of deception.
What do you think will be your biggest strength and your biggest weakness in the game?
I think my biggest strength will be my authenticity. I do really wear my heart on my sleeve, and I love making friends and being sweet to people. I just do. Biggest weakness, I think, is that I will be having way too much fun. I’m afraid that I’m going to be too trusting, making too many friends. I feel like I’m really going to have to lock in and not blow my own cover.
Have you got any hobbies that we might not know about that might be useful in this game?
I don’t know if you could call this a hobby, but I love a debate. I can talk my way in and out of almost anything. That is probably a strength as well. I’m pretty good at convincing people that I’m right. My mom was always like, I can’t believe you’re not a lawyer.
Have you heard from any of the Industry cast since the announcement you’re doing this?
Yeah, Marisa texted me and was like, “Are you joking? Amazing!”
Romesh Ranganathan Q&A
You were live on Radio 2 when it was announced you’d be taking part in The Celebrity Traitors, what has the reaction been like?
I think everyone’s surprised because a lot of my friends and family didn’t think I’d ever come on a show like this. The truth is I didn’t think I would do this show because I really enjoy it. It’s one of those shows that’s a family event in our house, so we all sit down to watch it, and those things are few and far between now. Contrary to popular belief, I do watch things and not ask to go on them! So, I was watching it, and we’re having a good time, and I’d never had any aspirations of being on the show, and then my youngest son was desperate for me to come on, so it’s kind of his fault.
What has your mum said?
I just want to have a fun game or whatever, that’s my intention, but you know my mum is classic. “You better win. You have to win!” She’s like, it’s the opposite of what you want to hear. It’s not a pep talk. It’s insistent. She said “You have to win. I’ll be thinking every day I hope he’s going to win. I hope he’s going to.” It doesn’t need to be about that. We’re just going to go and have a nice time, yeah? It’s because this show is so popular and a show that my mum actually watches, that’s why she’s excited. When I did Live at the Apollo for the first time, she didn’t watch that because she’s not really a stand-up comedy fan, so she was like, oh, okay, but this! She cares about this.
How does it feel to be doing it with Rob as well?
Well, it’s weird, isn’t it? Because Rob is one of my best friends, and we’ve worked together for a decade now, but I still won’t be able to trust it. I mean, he’s just as easily going to be on my side as he is going to twist the knife in my back given the opportunity. I mean, it’s completely unpredictable. So, it’s going to be a weird thing where normally when we’re doing Rob and Romesh Vs, we’ve got each other’s backs and are helping each other out. Whereas this time, he can’t be trusted. It can’t be the end of the relationship because it’s financially beneficial. But I think if it wasn’t financially beneficial, then it could be the end of the friendship.
And vice versa, would you stab him in the back?
In a heartbeat, yeah. Yeah, I think I would. It’s all fair in Traitors, isn’t it?
Exactly. It’s just a game.
It’s just a game that has real-world implications for working relationships.
Have you got a strategy?
Not really. One of my biggest issues is that I’m not particularly observant, which isn’t ideal for this game. So, I need to work on that. I need to become more of an active listener. I’ve got the gist. I’m a very gist guy, and in The Traitors, you can’t be a gist guy. You’ve got to look at nuance and stuff like that. I think people are going to find it uncomfortable talking to me because I’m going to be desperately trying to pay as much attention as I possibly can.
Have you done anything special to prepare?
I’ve tried to. I’ve read sports psychology books because one of the things that I realised about this is the pressure really gets to you so that can throw your judgement off. I want to remain completely cool and calm, so I’ve read some books about how to try and stay chilled in moments of pressure. I don’t really feel anything anyway, generally, but I think this is a specific thing.
This is your Olympics…
In a way, yeah.
Do you see yourself as more of a leader, a team player, or a lone wolf in this game?
Socially, I’ve always been a lone wolf, but that hasn’t been my choice. I don’t think I’m a leader, so I think I like I would describe myself as somebody who likes to play off the front man, you know? I’m in the group. I’m happy to offer my opinion, but I’m not going to take the lead unless I’m asked to. I don’t think I’m worth following. Before the game starts I really need to develop some sort of self-belief.
What do you think you’d find more difficult, being wrongly accused and having to defend yourself, or having to deceive others?
Well, I was on The Jonathan Ross Show, and Joe Marler asked me if I was going to be on The Celebrity Traitors, and I knew that I was, but I also knew that I couldn’t say. Even that felt really difficult. Up until that point, I thought I’d be alright at sort of lying, but now I don’t. That basically shook my confidence completely. I think that one of the things that you tend to do when you’re lying is really over explain. When you’re trying to defend yourself, you really over explain too. So, my strategy in that regard is going to be to try and under explain. I find lying tricky.
Have you got any hobbies that we might not know about that might be useful in the game?
If there is a music-related Mission then maybe that. I’m working on an album. That’s a hobby of mine, that I keep going to a studio and laying down some bars on a hip-hop album.
Although since I’ve started recording it, I’ve lost confidence in everything I’ve recorded so far. So, it might never see the light of day. It might be a posthumous release.
Do you think you can win?
If it was a game that completely and solely relied on skill, then no, I don’t think I could win it. But I think that it’s such a thin line between an amazing game and a terrible game. The truth is, it’s impossible to know. But I think that I can. I mean, it’s possible. Do I think I’m going to? No.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.