The Traitors season 2 confirmed as host Claudia Winkleman invites fans to apply
The BBC has confirmed that The Traitors will return for a second series, just two months after the first came to an explosive end.
The show has now had 34 million views on BBC iPlayer and is the biggest new entertainment launch for the BBC in 2 years.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, The Traitors is a biting psychological reality competition in which 22 strangers play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, hoping to win up to £120,000.
Speaking about the announcement, Claudia said: ‘I can’t wait to get back to the castle to watch people play the best game on TV. I’m knitting a turtleneck immediately.
In a video posted to Instagram, Claudia also encouraged potential contestants to apply. She said, I have a little question for you and yes, the cloak might be giving it away.
It’s back! The BBC has confirmed that The Traitors will return for a second series, just two months after the first came to an explosive end.
Then he asked, ‘Here’s the thing. Can you spot a liar? Could you betray those around you? How would he fare at the round table? What I’m asking is would you like to play? I see you in the castle’
You can apply via the BBC Take Part page here.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC Entertainment Director, said: “Last year’s ambitious and binge-watching hit The Traitors with Claudia returns with the brilliant team at Studio Lambert ready to bring viewers another superb series packed with drama and suspense”.
“We can certainly expect even more trickery and mind games for the Traitors and the Faithful.”
Stephen Lambert, CEO of Studio Lambert, said: “We are delighted that so many BBC One and BBC iPlayer viewers liked the first series.”
“They told us they enjoyed the drama and entertainment of watching our players judge each other, often jumping to false conclusions, but also forming alliances and true friendships. We are excited to do a second season with Claudia as together we build on the success of the first.”
Chloe encouraged fans to apply: ‘Here’s the thing. Can you spot a liar? Could you betray those around you? How would he fare at the round table? What I’m asking is would you like to play? I see you in the castle’
Plot: Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, The Traitors is a nail-biting psychological reality competition where 22 strangers play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, hoping to win up to £120,000.
The Traitors came to a thrilling finale in December 2022 with Faithfuls Hannah Byczkowski, Aaron Evans, and Meryl Williams emerging victorious after exposing Wilf as a Traitor at the last moment.
Proving that it was popular with fans, the series closed with a peak of 3.2 million viewers during its tense finale.
And after the show, which is set in the 19th-century Ardross Castle 25 miles north of Inverness in Scotland, it was even reported that BBC bosses were planning a celebrity version of the competition.
While Claudia has previously admitted that she’d like to see Alison Hammond and former EastEnders actor Adam Woodyatt take over the castle, the producers have mentioned names like Rylan, Russell T Davies and Kathy Burke.
In an interview with Metro, executive producers Sarah Fay and Toni Ireland shared who they say is part of their ideal celebrity lineup.
Sarah told the publication, “I think we would want people who are so invested in the game and want to play, and I think that’s what brings the drama so well.”
“I would love to see Rylan [Clark], that would be amazing, but also Kathy Burke is a fan. I mean Russell T Davies is a fan. I think I would really like a mix of different types of celebrities as well.
Dramatic: The Traitors came to a thrilling finale in December 2022 when Traitor Wilf (left) nearly managed to fool his fellow contestants, but fell at the final hurdle.
Winners! Faithful Hannah Byczkowski, Aaron Evans and Meryl Williams emerged victorious and went on to bag a joint prize of over £100K
Toni added: “Seeing Kathy Burke calling out someone at the roundtable could be pretty cool.”
It is believed that the celebrity edition is planned as a charity edition for Children in Need or Comic Relief.
Across the pond, a celebrity and regular version have already been created. The Traitors US has seen Under Deck star Kate Chastain, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Brandi Glanville, Big Brother’s Cody Calafiore, TV personality Rachel Reilly and Survivor competitor Stephanie LaGrossa and Cirie Fields.
And while no dates have been released for a celebrity series, fans of the show can still enjoy it on the BBC, after the broadcaster picked up the rights to the US version.