The release date for the upcoming season of The Celebrity Traitors has been inadvertently revealed by former rugby player Joe Marler during a live podcast event. Marler, appearing alongside Richard Osman and Marina Hyde for a live edition of their podcast "The Rest Is Entertainment" at London's Southbank Centre, disclosed the show's return date.
"What is it, September 23, the next series?" Marler asked during the event. Osman confirmed the information, noting that the date was under strict embargo. "By the way, to point out it's absolutely embargoed that it starts on September 23… the cat's out of the bag isn't it?"
The BBC had previously released a trailer for the new season, featuring host Claudia Winkleman. This year's celebrity contestants include Maya Jama, James Blunt, Richard E. Grant, Jerry Hall, Romesh Ranganathan, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Ross Kemp, Bella Ramsey, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, among others.
Marler, who was a contestant on the previous season, commented on the difference in intensity between his experience and that of the new cast. He described his season as "laugh-led" and focused on catching up, while he believes the new contestants are more serious about playing the game from the outset, potentially due to the success of the first series.
This upcoming season is reported to have a significantly increased budget, with sources suggesting it was doubled to £1 million to accommodate the demands of the high-profile contestants. There are also indications that a larger number of contestants may be designated as Traitors this season, potentially up to a third of the 21 participants, a departure from the first series where the Traitors remained consistent throughout.
The new trailer for the series depicts the celebrities gathered in an eerie church setting, with Winkleman setting a dramatic tone. The visual cues, including funeral-style flowers spelling out "RIP VIP," suggest a season filled with heightened tension and betrayal.