The Celebrity Traitors

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The Celebrity Traitors
CelebrityTraitors1.jpg
Genre
  • Reality
  • Game show
Based on
De Verraders
by
Presented by Claudia Winkleman
Theme music composerSam Watts [1]
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes9
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time60 minutes
Production company Studio Lambert
Original release
Network BBC One
Release8 October 2025 (2025-10-08) 
present
Related
The Traitors

The Celebrity Traitors is a spin-off of the British version of the reality television series The Traitors . It premiered on BBC One on 8 October 2025. [2] Claudia Winkleman presented the series. [3] [4]

Contents

Following the premise of the parent series, the show features a group of contestants participating in a social deduction game similar to Mafia or Werewolf, set in and around Ardross Castle in Scotland. A small group of contestants is chosen as the titular "Traitors," and must work together to eliminate the other contestants to win a grand prize. The remaining contestants are the "Faithful" and are tasked to discover and banish the Traitors by voting them out to win the grand prize. Unlike the main series, the celebrity players are playing on behalf of a charity of their choice.

Production

In August 2024, the BBC confirmed that The Celebrity Traitors had been commissioned, along with two more series of The Traitors, the first of which aired in January 2025. [5] Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC's head of entertainment, said: "The Traitors has well and truly established itself as an unmissable highlight of the year and the news of a fourth outing, alongside a brand new celebrity version coming to the BBC, will take the series to a whole new level. [6] In April 2025, it was confirmed that the show would air in the autumn of that year, [7] with October 2025 later specified. [2]

Filming for the series began on 22 April 2025 at Ardross Castle and concluded the following month, consisting of 9 episodes due to air over four weeks from 8 October to 6 November 2025. [8] [9] [10] Following the cast announcement, host Claudia Winkleman said "We're incredibly lucky these brilliant people have said yes. I’d love to say we'll take it easy on them, and they'll just wander round the castle and eat toast for a couple of weeks - but that would be a lie." [11] [12]

Format

Following the format of the original version of the show, a group of celebrity contestants arrives at a castle in the Scottish Highlands where the members will remain for the duration of the game in order to win up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice. On the arrival day, host Claudia Winkleman picks a small number of contestants to be "Traitors". The rest are automatically called "Faithful". The television audience knows which players have been chosen as Traitors, but the Faithful do not know their identity.

At the end of each day, all contestants meet at a Round Table to discuss who they think are Traitors. They then cast votes that are revealed one by one. The person with the most votes is immediately banished, and reveals their identity before leaving. [a] On most nights, the Traitors meet in private and agree to "murder" one Faithful who will leave the game immediately. The remaining Faithful players only discover who has been murdered at breakfast the next morning.

Each day, the group participates in missions to win money for the prize fund which can reach £100,000 by the end of the game. During the missions, contestants may also win a shield that awards that player immunity from being murdered, but not from being banished. In some cases, contestants have the right not to disclose whether they won the shield, or to inform only certain chosen players.

If during the game the number of Traitors drops to two or one, the Traitors may be given the option, instead of murdering a Faithful, to try to "seduce" or recruit a Faithful to join them. The approached Faithful will not know from which other player or players the invitation comes, and may decline the invitation, and may also have the opportunity to tell the other Faithfuls of the attempted seduction. [13]

End Game

After the final Round Table, the remaining players (usually four) gather at the Fire of Truth and participate in the End Game. The group is given an opportunity to end the game by unanimous vote. Any vote to continue will lead to another immediate banishment vote. When a unanimous decision is reached to end the game — or when there are only two players left — the remaining players reveal whether they are Faithful or Traitors. If they are all Faithful, they will share the prize fund for their charities; however, if any of these final players are Traitors they will share the prize fund amongst themselves for their charities.

Notes
  1. In the event of a tie, the tied players make a final plea before the remaining players vote between them again – if a second tie occurs, one player is chosen for banishment randomly among the tied players.

Contestants

The 19 celebrities competing in the series were revealed on 13 May 2025. [14] [15]

List of The Celebrity Traitors contestants
ContestantAgeNotabilityAffiliationFinish
Paloma Faith 44Singer-songwriter & actressFaithfulMurdered
(Episode 2)
Niko Omilana 27YouTuberFaithfulBanished
(Episode 3)
Tom Daley 31Former Olympic diverFaithfulMurdered
(Episode 3)
Tameka Empson 48Actress & comedianFaithfulBanished
(Episode 3)
Ruth Codd 29ActressFaithfulMurdered
(Episode 4)
Clare Balding 54Television presenter & journalistFaithfulBanished
(Episode 4)
Alan Carr 49Comedian & television presenterTraitorParticipating
Cat Burns 25Singer-songwriterTraitor
Celia Imrie 73ActressFaithful
Charlotte Church 39Singer & television presenterFaithful
David Olusoga 55Historian & film-makerFaithful
Joe Marler 35Former England rugby playerFaithful
Joe Wilkinson 50Comedian & actorFaithful
Jonathan Ross 64Television presenterTraitor
Kate Garraway 58Television presenter & journalistFaithful
Lucy Beaumont 42ComedianFaithful
Mark Bonnar 56ActorFaithful
Nick Mohammed 44Actor & comedianFaithful
Stephen Fry 68Actor, writer & presenterFaithful

    Elimination history

    Key

      The contestant was a Faithful.
      The contestant was a Traitor.
      The contestant was murdered by the traitors.
      The contestant was banished at the round table.
    Episode123456789
    Traitor's
    Decision
    NonePaloma [a] TomRuth
    Murder
    ImmuneCelia,
    Charlotte, [b]
    Joe M.,
    Joe W.,
    Jonathan,
    Kate
    NoneClare,
    Mark
    Cat,
    Stephen
    BanishmentNoneNiko [c] TamekaClare
    Vote10–3–2–
    2–1
    4–2–2–2–1–
    1–1–1–1–1
    7–2–2–
    1–1–1
    AlanNo
    vote
    NikoCeliaDavid
    CatKateStephenStephen
    CeliaCharlotteCatDavid
    CharlotteNikoTamekaClare
    DavidNikoStephenClare
    Joe M.NikoKateJonathan
    Joe W.TomJonathanClare
    JonathanNikoRuthClare
    KateTamekaTamekaClare
    LucyNikoDavidClare
    MarkTamekaTamekaCharlotte
    NickNikoTamekaCelia
    StephenNikoCharlotteClare
    ClareNikoAlanCharlotteBanished
    (Episode 4)
    RuthKateJonathanMurdered
    (Episode 4)
    TamekaKateCeliaBanished
    (Episode 3)
    TomNikoMurdered
    (Episode 3)
    NikoTomBanished
    (Episode 3)
    PalomaMurdered
    (Episode 2)
    Notes
    1. The Traitors were tasked to murder someone in plain sight, by touching the victim's face with their fingers after having touched a "poisoned" lily to gather its pollen. The Traitors were told that the victim would be present at breakfast the following morning. Alan chose to poison Paloma. The following morning, the players were told that the victim's identity would be revealed as part of that day's mission.
    2. Charlotte sacrificed her shield in the Trojan horse mission in Episode 1 to open a gate.
    3. The banishment was revealed in Episode 3 after ending on a cliffhanger in Episode 2.

    Missions

    EpisodeTask descriptionTime limitMoney earnedMoney availableRunning totalShield winner(s)
    1The celebrities were each assigned a grave bearing their name, with a shield buried inside. The first six players to dig out their shield received protection from being murdered.No time limitCelia
    Charlotte
    Joe M.
    Joe W.
    Jonathan
    Kate
    A 2.5-ton wooden Trojan horse had to be moved to a fire pit in order to be set alight. Four locked gates were encountered along the way. Each could be opened by solving a puzzle or answering a question, or could be bypassed if a player chose to sacrifice a shield.30 minutes£15,000£15,000£15,000
    (of £15,000)
    No Shield on offer
    2The murdered player (Paloma) and two decoys selected by the Traitors (Niko & Lucy) had to be identified as the 3 potential victims of the Traitors by solving clues. Each correct answer contributed £3,000 to the prize fund, whereas each additional clue deducted £500. An extra £4,000 was offered if the safe players could correctly guess the murdered player.No time limit£4,500£13,000£19,500
    (of £28,000)
    3The players were locked and chained to a ring located at the centre of a cabin. Keys were required to release each individual, with £500 awarded for every successful release. Each key was accompanied by a clue intended to guide players to the next. Two shields were also obtainable during the mission.25 minutes£8,000£8,000£27,500
    (of £36,000)
    Clare
    Mark
    4Players were divided into two teams. The forest team gathered banshee wails and vocalised them into a water well. The garden team listened on the other side by submerging their heads underwater. Each melody had to be correctly matched to one in a named locket to identify the banshee. £1,000 was awarded for each correct match. Two shields were on offer.30 minutes£4,000£5,000£31,500
    (of £41,000)
    Cat
    Stephen

    Episodes

    No.
    overall
    No. in
    series
    TitleOriginal release date [16] [17] UK viewers
    (millions) [18]
    11"Episode 1"8 October 2025 (2025-10-08)TBD
    Nineteen celebrities arrive at the castle. Immediately, they have to dig their own graves (literally) with the first six of them to find shields being safe from the first murder. Jonathan Ross, Joe Marler, Joe Wilkinson, Kate Garraway, Charlotte Church and Celia Imrie got shields. At the round table, Jonathan Ross, Cat Burns and Alan Carr were chosen as traitors. For the next mission, the players had to drag a Trojan Horse a great distance. At each checkpoint gate they had to solve a puzzle or answer a question to unlock it. Failing that, they could give up a shield to open the door. After Clare Balding accidentally locked in a wrong answer, Charlotte Church gave up her shield. They passed the other gates without sacrificing any more shields and banked £15,000. The Traitors were told they had to murder in plain sight.
    22"Episode 2"9 October 2025 (2025-10-09)TBD
    It was revealed that Alan Carr had chosen to murder Paloma Faith in plain sight. The mission was to identify which player had been murdered with hints of three potential victims. The Traitors selected two other people to be potential victims and chose Lucy Beaumont and Niko Omilana. The players could get more hints by sacrificing money. Due to several incorrect guesses, they only banked £4,500 out of a possible £13,000. At the round table, Niko Omilana, Tameka Empson and Kate Garraway came under the most scrutiny. The episode ended on a cliffhanger of who would be elminated.
    33"Episode 3"15 October 2025 (2025-10-15)TBD
    Niko Omilana was the first person to be banished from the round table. Clare Balding reminded everyone that Jonathan Ross talked about an alliance between him, Niko, Clare & Ruth Codd in the car. The Traitors murdered Tom Daley. Ruth challenged Jonathan about breaking the car alliance and turning on Niko. In the mission, the players were chained up in Claudia’s Cabin and would earn £500 for every player who was freed. Four keys were inside the cabin, the rest were outside. Nick Mohammed, Mark Bonnar, Stephen Fry, and Cat Burns were the first to be freed. Their actions outside the cabin changed the conditions inside. Water sprayed from the ceiling, the electric box sparked and smelly feathers were blasted. All the players escaped and the full £8,000 was banked. Clare Balding and Mark Bonnar got shields. Joe Marler and Joe Wilkinson worked out that a “Big Dog” - likely Jonathan Ross - was in the Traitors team. At the Round Table, Alan Carr, Kate Garraway, Cat Burns, Charlotte Church, David Olusoga and Ruth Codd all received one vote. Jonathan Ross, Stephen Fry and Celia Imrie received two votes. Tameka Empson was banished with four votes. The Traitors met up to debate who to murder next.
    44"Episode 4"16 October 2025 (2025-10-16)TBD

    The Traitors decided to murder Ruth Codd. They hoped the Faithfuls would think that Jonathan was being set up. In the mission, the players were split into two teams. One team would run through the forest to find screaming banshees and then mimic their screams down a well. The other team would dunk their heads in a well in the garden to hear the mimicking. They would then try and match the sound to a locket with a name on it.

    The Forest Team; Alan Carr, Lucy Beaumont, Celia Imrie, Joe Wilkinson, Joe Marler, Nick Mohammed and Cat Burns.

    The Garden Team; Stephen Fry, Charlotte Church, Clare Balding, David Olusoga, Jonathan Ross and Kate Garraway.

    They banked £4,000 out of a total £5,000. There were two shields available and Cat Burns and Stephen Fry got the shields. However, the Forest Team decided not to tell the Garden Team who got the shield in their group. At the round table, suspicion was directed onto Clare Balding by the traitors. Charlotte Church and David Olusoga received two votes; Jonathan Ross, Celia Imrie and Stephen Fry received one vote; Clare Balding was banished with seven votes. The Traitors met up again to debate who to murder.
    55"Episode 5"22 October 2025 (2025-10-22)TBD
    66"Episode 6"23 October 2025 (2025-10-23)TBD
    77"Episode 7"29 October 2025 (2025-10-29)TBD
    88"Episode 8"30 October 2025 (2025-10-30)TBD
    99"Episode 9"6 November 2025 (2025-11-06)TBD

      The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked

      To accompany the series, a follow-up television programme and BBC Sounds podcast was included, called The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked produced by Listen. The first episode aired on 8 October 2025. It was hosted by Ed Gamble and broadcast on BBC Two. [19]

      References

      1. "Sam Watts | Composer – Film and television composer" . Retrieved 23 December 2022.
      2. 1 2 "The Celebrity Traitors - Everything you need to know". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
      3. "The Celebrity Traitors - Everything you need to know" (press release). BBC . Retrieved 13 May 2025.
      4. Heritage, Stuart (13 May 2025). "Stephen Fry is toast! The Celebrity Traitors lineup – ranked". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      5. "The Traitors: First UK celebrity series announced". BBC News . 22 August 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
      6. Creamer, Jon (22 August 2024). "Traitors confirmed for S4 plus celeb version". Televisual. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
      7. "BBC's Celebrity Traitors gets exciting update ahead of its 2025 release". Digital Spy . 1 April 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      8. "The Celebrity Traitors launch date confirmed and fans will be treated to an extra-long opening episode" (press release). BBC. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
      9. Ross, Charley (25 April 2025). "When does Celebrity Traitors start? Here's what we know". Glamour UK. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      10. "Celebrity Traitors latest: Release date, cast and filming revealed". Heart . Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      11. "The BBC's 'Celebrity Traitors' Cast Pits an Olympian Against a 'Ted Lasso' Star". Cosmopolitan. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      12. "The Celebrity Traitors' "brilliant" cast has officially been confirmed – along with a release date window". Digital Spy . 13 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      13. "BBC One – The Traitors – The Traitors: How the Show Works". BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
      14. "Celebrity Traitors line-up confirmed: Stephen Fry, Paloma Faith, Alan Carr and more". BBC News . 13 May 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      15. "Celebrity Traitors line-up officially confirmed – including Taskmaster and Thursday Murder Club stars | Radio Times". Radio Times . Retrieved 14 May 2025.
      16. Warner, Sam (8 October 2025). "Celebrity Traitors release schedule: When is the next episode on the BBC?". Digital Spy . Retrieved 8 October 2025.
      17. "The Celebrity Traitors has over 11.7 million faithful viewers so far plus highly anticipated finale date confirmed for BBC One and iPlayer". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
      18. "As Viewed Top 50". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board . Retrieved 9 October 2025.
      19. "The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2025.