The Traitors series 5 confirmed: How to apply for the BBC show and what casting directors are looking for
Would you be a Faithful or a Traitor?The Traitors fans can rejoice as series 5 has now been confirmed by the BBC – and here’s how to apply.
The beeb revealed the news of the fifth series as The Celebrity Traitors came to an end.
For those of you who have been hiding underneath a rock, Alan Carr was declared the winner of the first celebrity series in a seriously dramatic final.
If that has got you desperate to be a Traitor or a Faithful and win big bucks, you’re in luck. Here’s how to apply for series 5 of The Traitors.
The Traitors: Series 5 confirmed
Series 4 of The Traitors has not even aired yet, but the BBC has already started its hunt for a batch of new contestants for series 5. The BBC has confirmed that The Traitors series 4 will be starting in 2026 – so there is plenty of time!
By TVGuide’s calculations, based on series 2 and 3 of the show, we predict The Traitors series 4 will begin on Wednesday January 7. We have watched enough to know now that The Traitors always kicks off on a Wednesday. Even The Celebrity Traitors stared on Wednesday October 8.
And when it comes to the civilian series of The Traitors, it has been the first Wednesday in January since 2023. Hence us predicting the 7th!
So what about series 5? Our guess is on for January 2027. Applications for series 4 of The Traitors were open from late August 2024 until March 2025. Filming then stretched across a four-week period in June.
It appears a very similar pattern is happening with series 5.
How to apply for The Traitors
The BBC has actually been searching for series 5 Traitors and Faithfuls since September. But the number of applications his now expected to rocket in the wake of The Celebrity Traitors coming to an end.
At the end of spin-off show, The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, Ed Gamble announced the Beeb is looking for people to apply. He said: “If you’ve watched this and thought, ‘I’d be better at catching the Traitors’, let’s be honest it’s not difficult.. good news! Casting for series 5 is now open.”
If you fancy your chances in Ardross Castle and fancy rubbing shoulders with Claudia Winkleman, you need to fill in an application form. The form can be found in the BBC’s Take Part section of its website.
The BBC asks: “Throughout the series, there will be twists, turns, rigorous challenges, shocks and surprises for the players. A game of trust and treachery… do you have what it takes to play?”
How old do you have to be?
The rules on this one are strict. Applicants have to be aged 18 or older. There are other rules too. Anybody applying are told they have to be free for up to four weeks in summer 2026 to film The Traitors. Applicants must also have the legal right to live in the UK.
There is also a section for diversity, equality and inclusion.
As well as all the bog standard questions, such as date of birth and address, applicants are asked at the end to state whether they want to be a Faithful or a Traitor. They must then give the reason why.
The box for this section is pretty small, so it needs to be a very good and stand-out reason to catch the eye of casting directors!
How to get picked for The Traitors
The BBC has given a few hints about what they are looking for from series 5 Traitors applicants. Casting directors want “fun, smart and strategic” players for the show.
They have also warned of “trickery, betrayal and backstabbing”. But surely, anyone who has watched the show before knows this is par for the course!
When do you have to apply by?
Series 5 Traitors hopefuls still have a while to apply for the show. The closing date for applications is May 31, 2026. The BBC does say the closing date “may be extended or closed, for any reason, at our discretion without notice.”
You have been warned. And good luck!
Read more: Viewers spot 4 stars missing from Celebrity Traitors cast reunion: ‘Why was he not mentioned?’
