Celebrity Traitors 2026: Who the Traitors are this year and when it is on next as Claudia Winkleman returns
So much drama for the first episode of the seriesThe Celebrity Traitors 2026 is here and Claudia Winkleman has picked her Traitors – so who are they?
The hit BBC show returned with a huge bang tonight (quite literally) as 21 new famous faces entered Ardross Castle in Scotland.
First, each of the stars were seen arriving at the Traitors’ Chapel.
Claudia then made an absolutely iconic entrance to greet them all… in a big black coffin.
A quick ask around the group and the gang came up with the name of who they believed to be the most trustworthy.
Coronation Street’s Julie Hesmondhalgh was called to the front, which sparked panic from Joe Lycett. The comedian feared it meant she had just been murdered.
Thankfully, Claudia actually gave her an immunity shield to protect her from the first murder. And she gave her a second one, too.
Julie chose to give it to Joe given his concern that they may have all just bumped her off.
Then away they all went, climbing into a stream of black Land Rovers Defenders to make their Traitor or Faithful please to Claudia.
So what did she decide?
Who are the Traitors in Celebrity Traitors 2026?
Plenty of celebrities threw their hat into the ring to become Claudia’s next crop of Traitors. But she only picked two.
With the celebs blindfolded, she walked around the Round Table and tapped on the shoulders of Maya Jama and Richard E Grant. Both remained composed as the blindfolds were removed.
But inside, the pair were buzzing. Love Island host Maya and actor Richard had begged Claudia to make them a Traitor.
Then came the big twist; there would be a third Traitor, selected by them.
Maya and Richard were delivered the news after being handed their velvet cloaks under the cover of darkness. Claudia told them in the turret that they would need to choose two names.
The names they picked would both have to make their own pleas to become a Traitor in the Chapel the next night. And they would need to make them face-to-face with Maya and Richard.
Whoever Maya and Richard didn’t pick to be their third accomplice, would be murdered. Eek!
Who is the third Traitor?
Maya and Richard summons Amol Rajan and James Acaster to the Chapel – and both thought they had been instantly murdered.
But Claudia told them: “You must be wondering why you’ve been brought here in the dead of night. Well, I can now reveal that you have been invited here by the Traitors.
“One of you will be recruited as a Traitor tonight. The other, well… you’ll be murdered. The Traitors will decide who lives and who dies.
“But you have the opportunity to influence their decision. A lifeline, if you will.”
Claudia explained they would have to make individual pleas to join them as a recruit – and they both had excellent arguments.
James warned Richard that he’d already made it clear to everyone he thought he was a Traitor. This, of course, was Richard’s fault. He came out of the Round Table and told everyone, in an attempt to double bluff.
“If I go tonight, the first person they’re looking at, is you,” James warned.
Journalist Amol, meanwhile, said: “I do think I am uniquely placed to take the heat off you. I sniff out lies for a living.”
But in true Traitors style, the nation was left on one almighty cliffhanger.
James and Amol climbed into a coffin each, before Claudia slammed one door shut. Whoever is in the coffin has been murdered.
The trouble is, we just didn’t get to see who it is!
When is The Celebrity Traitors on next?
Thankfully, fans don’t have an epic wait to find out who Traitors Richard and Maya murdered. James and Amol’s fate will be revealed tomorrow night (Friday October 2, 2026).
The Celebrity Traitors 2026 will continue with episode 2 at 8pm on BBC One. The hour-long show will then be followed straight after by Ed Gamble’s spin-off, The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked.
Both James and Amol put up a good fight. But which one is dead and buried and which one is the newest Traitor?
We cannot wait to find out.
Read more: Celebrity Traitors 2026 star Rob Beckett horrified by BBC promo picture: ‘What have they done?!’
