Celebrity Traitors Series 2 Opens With Jama and Grant as First Traitors

Maya Jama and Richard E. Grant are the first Traitors on The Celebrity Traitors Series 2. The BBC One series premiered on Thursday 1 October at 8pm, with host Claudia Winkleman naming the pair in the opening episode, as reported by Deadline.

Winkleman made the call herself. Jama, the television presenter, and Grant, the actor, now hold the secret at the centre of the game. They are playing for money with a purpose.

The 21 celebrities in the castle are competing to win a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice. That prize goes to the winners who survive the votes and the deception to the end.

Jama and Grant were given a task straight away. They had to choose potential recruits for a third Traitor spot. They put forward broadcaster Amol Rajan and comedian James Acaster.

Only one will join them. The decision will be revealed in the next episode on Friday 2 October. The trap is set.

The full cast brings together actors, comics, singers, presenters and sports names. It includes Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Miranda Hart, Myha'la, Romesh Ranganathan, Amol Rajan, Professor Hannah Fry, James Blunt, Jerry Hall and Julie Hesmondhalgh, alongside Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Richard E. Grant, Ross Kemp, Sharon Rooney, Joanne McNally, King Kenny, Rob Beckett and Sebastian Croft.

The launch was given an extra-long opening episode and an 8pm slot, according to the BBC. Episodes are available on BBC iPlayer as well as BBC One, as reported by Good Housekeeping.

The plan is two episodes each week across October 2026, airing on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8pm, according to Radio Times. The series was filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the BBC has reported.

For viewers, this means appointment television twice a week. For the cast, it means the lying starts early.