The return date for The Celebrity Traitors has been revealed as September 23, after former rugby star Joe Marler leaked the information during a live recording of the podcast "The Rest Is Entertainment" at London's Southbank Centre. Marler, joined by co-host Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, inadvertently disclosed the date while offering advice to potential contestants.
"What is it, September 23, the next series?" Marler asked, prompting Osman to confirm the date and acknowledge that it was under 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, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. This year's cast includes Maya Jama, James Blunt, Richard E. Grant, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Ross Kemp, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, among others.
Marler contrasted this year's contestants with his own experience on the show, noting that the new group seemed more focused on winning from the outset. "Ours was very laugh-led, and everyone was sort of enjoying catching up, you know, pratting about to the point where they went, 'Guys, we're trying to play a game,'" Marler explained. He added that the current contestants likely feel pressure to succeed after the first series' positive reception.
Other notable participants include Jerry Hall, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, Joe Lycett, Joanne McNally, Hannah Fry, Amol Rajan, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Myha'la, Sebastian Croft, and Sharon Rooney. The upcoming season will see Winkleman return to the BBC after her chat show, "The Claudia Winkleman Show," concluded after one season.
The trailer depicts the celebrities in a church setting, with Winkleman's narration creating a somber atmosphere. Funeral-style floral arrangements spelling out "RIP VIP" are visible in the teaser. Details regarding the three individuals chosen as traitors remain undisclosed.
Reports suggest that producers increased the show's budget to accommodate the demands of the high-profile cast. Insiders have also indicated that a significant twist will see a larger number of contestants than initially expected becoming traitors, leading to heightened levels of strategic gameplay and betrayal, a departure from the first series where the traitors largely remained consistent.