The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 is expected to premiere on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, at 9:00 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
TV presenter Richard Osman accidentally leaked the “embargoed” launch date during a live recording of his podcast, The Rest Is Entertainment. The hit BBC reality show will air twice weekly on Wednesday and Thursday evenings in the same slot.
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At a Glance: Key Details
Expected Launch Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Broadcast Schedule: Wednesdays & Thursdays at 9:00 PM
Channel & Streaming: BBC One & BBC iPlayer
Host: Claudia Winkleman
Location: Ardross Castle, Scottish Highlands
Prize Pot: Up to £100,000 for charity
How the Launch Date Leaked
While the BBC has officially kept the broadcast schedule under wraps, the cat was let out of the bag during a live recording of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast at London’s Southbank Centre.
Co-host Richard Osman, alongside journalist Marina Hyde, was discussing the upcoming television season with special guest and inaugural season finalist Joe Marler.
When Marler asked, “What is it, September 23, the next series?”, Osman confirmed that the date was strictly embargoed before acknowledging that the secret was out.
A bumper week of TV
The premiering date lands Wednesday, 23 September, placing it directly on the heels of Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off launch the previous evening, and ahead of the news series of The Graham Norton Show and the first live Strictly of the year, setting up a blockbuster week for British autumn television.
Broadcast Schedule Overview
1. Tuesday: Channel 4 launches the brand-new series of The Great British Bake Off.
2. Wednesday (9:00 PM): BBC One and iPlayer premiere The Celebrity Traitors Episode 1.
3. Thursday (9:00 PM): BBC One and iPlayer broadcast The Celebrity Traitors Episode 2.
Full Celebrity Lineup for Series 2
A star-studded lineup of 21 famous faces will enter the Scottish Highlands to play the game of deception and trust for a £100,000 charity prize pot:
Actors & Screen Stars: Michael Sheen, Bella Ramsey, Richard E. Grant, Miranda Hart, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sharon Rooney, Myha’la, Sebastian Croft, and Ross Kemp.
Comedians: James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, and Joanne McNally.
Presenters & Broadcasters: Maya Jama, Amol Rajan, and mathematician Professor Hannah Fry.
Musicians & Cultural Figures: James Blunt, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, model Jerry Hall, and social media creator King Kenny.
Replicating the Inaugural Season’s Success
The second celebrity instalment faces massive expectations following the phenomenal success of its debut run.
The first celebrity edition became a cultural juggernaut, drawing an average audience of 14.9 million viewers—making it the single most-watched television programme of the year. The thrilling season finale hit a peak audience of 15.4 million viewers as comedian Alan Carr pulled off an iconic victory as a Traitor, outwitting fellow finalists Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, and Nick Mohammed.
The BBC are expected to confirm this year’s start date for The Celebrity Traitors on Tuesday.
