The BBC has confirmed that The Celebrity Traitors will return for a second series in 2026, promising a fresh round of star-studded schemers and the ultimate test of trust and deception.
Following a phenomenal debut, the series captured the nation’s attention, breaking audience records and becoming the biggest unscripted title on Broadcaster VOD ever, with episode one attracting 14.8 million views within 28 days. The finale drew an average audience of 11.1 million, peaking at 12 million, marking the largest overnight audience in the UK market since last year’s Gavin & Stacey Christmas Day special.
Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, praised the success of the show and confirmed the recommissioning: “Studio Lambert have done an outstanding job as The Celebrity Traitors has well and truly captivated the nation, becoming a bona fide highlight of the year. In 2026 the doors of the castle will be opened again to welcome celebrity players to see who can charm, who can scheme and ultimately who can survive in series two which promises to be just as unmissable as the first. Plus with Uncloaked returning and today’s news of the positive contribution The Traitors brand has made to Scotland’s economy, there is plenty to celebrate.”
Season one saw Alan Carr crowned champion after successfully navigating the game as a Traitor, winning £87,500 for Neuroblastoma UK. Reflecting on his win, Carr said: “What an honour and a complete shock! If someone had told me week one that I would even be around in week two I wouldn’t have believed them, so to be crowned the winner is absolutely mind blowing. What an adventure!” He added that anyone taking part should only do so if they truly love the game, the castle, and Claudia Winkleman, who returns to host the show.
The announcement comes alongside a new Economic Impact Report, which highlights that The Traitors franchise, including the UK, US, and Celebrity editions, has contributed an estimated £21.8 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) to Scotland’s economy since 2022. For every £1 of GVA directly generated by production, a total of £6.84 is estimated to have been added to Scotland’s economy overall. Hayley Valentine, Director of BBC Scotland, said: “The Traitors is an immense TV success story and it’s fantastic to have multiple versions of it filmed in Scotland. This report highlights the many ways that Scotland is seeing a direct economic benefit from The Traitors filming here and, working together with our partners, we will use this success to promote sustainable growth within Scotland’s creative industry.”
Season two will once again be produced by Studio Lambert Scotland for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Claudia Winkleman returning as host. A companion series, The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, will also return on BBC Sounds, BBC Two, and iPlayer, providing behind-the-scenes insight into the drama of the castle.
The show, filmed at the now-iconic Ardross Castle, follows a format originally created in the Netherlands by IDTV and developed further with the RTL Creative Unit. Studio Lambert, part of All3Media, handles the UK production and global sales, helping cement The Traitors as an international television phenomenon.
Fans can expect another thrilling series of alliances, betrayals, and unexpected twists, as a new cohort of celebrities compete for the title of ultimate Traitor and the accompanying prize for charity. Series one remains available to stream now on BBC iPlayer, with Uncloaked also available for those looking to relive the first season’s most cunning moves.
