When does Celebrity Traitors 2026 start? Launch date prediction for the new BBC series

THE BBC left viewers buzzing with excitement when it released its first-look teaser for the new series of The Celebrity Traitors. Maya Jama, James Blunt and Miranda Hart are among the famous faces lining up for season two of the popular show’s spin-off – here’s everything you need to know. Beloved Claudia Winkleman returns as the show host Credit: BBC A first look teaser showed the new stars at a funeral Credit: BBC When does Celebrity Traitors 2026 start? While the BBC has not yet confirmed an exact launch date, the 10-episode second season is scheduled to air in autumn 2026. The show’s debut celebrity series kicked off on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, running twice weekly across October and November. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! If the BBC sticks to that formula, fans could expect this new series to land in early October 2026, likely occupying its prime-time Wednesday and Thursday night slots. However, Richard Osman may have accidentally revealed the launch date before the broadcaster released the news officially – and it could be earlier than expected. During a live episode of his podcast The Rest is Entertainment, Osman asked guest Joe Marler (the breakout star of the first series of Celebrity Traitors) if he had any advice for the new cast. Marler said: “What is it, September 23, the next series?” Osman replied : “By the way, to point out, it’s absolutely embargoed that it starts on September 23. “Let’s talk about what we call the events of September 23 this year … the cat’s out of the bag, isn’t it? Not to repeat it.” Most read in TV The Sun reached out to BBC, who declined to comment. An official launch date announcement from the broadcaster is expected soon. What is the cast for Celebrity Traitors 2026? A group of 21 celebrities are swapping their day jobs for the damp Scottish Highlands to play the ultimate game of trust and deceit. The full cast lineup for the second series is as follows: Amol Rajan – Today programme presenter and University Challenge host Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us and Game of Thrones star Dr Hannah Fry – Mathematician, professor, and BBC science presenter James Acaster – Stand-up comedian and Off Menu podcast co-host James Blunt – Chart-topping singer-songwriter Jerry Hall – Supermodel and actress Joanne McNally – Comedian and My Therapist Ghosted Me co-host Joe Lycett – Stand-up comedian and TV presenter Julie Hesmondhalgh – Former Coronation Street legend and Mr Bates vs The Post Office star King Kenny – YouTube star, content creator, and Beta Squad member Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Solo artist and former Little Mix singer Maya Jama – Love Island host and TV presenter Michael Sheen – Award-winning stage and screen actor Miranda Hart – Sitcom creator and comedy star Myha’la – Industry and Black Mirror actress Richard E. Grant – Oscar-nominated film star Rob Beckett – Stand-up comedian and podcast host Romesh Ranganathan – TV presenter and comedian Ross Kemp – EastEnders soap icon and documentary maker Sebastian Croft – Heartstopper and Game of Thrones actor Sharon Rooney – My Mad Fat Diary and Barbie star How does Celebrity Traitors work? The Celebrity Traitors launched on BBC One last year, following the success of the previous three series of The Traitors, and was a huge hit. Set in the picturesque landscape of the Scottish Highlands, the show features a group of celebrity contestants taking part in a social deduction game. Shortly after their arrival at Ardross Castle, the players gather around the Round Table where they are split into Traitors and Faithfuls. Claudia Winkleman, who returns as the show host, makes the selection in secret, so only the Traitors know the identity of all players and can use their power to “murder”. Meanwhile, Faithfuls are tasked to discover and banish the Traitors by voting them out to win the grand prize. In contrast to the original series, the grand prize is awarded to a charity of the winner’s choice in the celebrity version. Comment now