The Celebrity Traitors is back, and this time it has arrived with a level of chaos that even the show’s own producers did not see coming. 21 famous faces entered a Scottish Highlands castle on Thursday, October 1, 2026, for a game of detection, trust, and betrayal. Within minutes, one celebrity traitor had already blown his own cover in what has been called the most chaotic launch in the franchise’s history.
The new season brings an expanded 10-episode run, with episodes airing two nights a week on Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series began with a 75-minute extended premiere and will conclude with a finale on Friday, October 30, 2026. US viewers will need to wait until the full season lands on Peacock, though there are ways to watch live from outside the UK.
Full Episode Release Schedule with Exact Times for Every Region
The Celebrity Traitors Season 2 follows a twice-weekly format, with each episode running for approximately one hour. The full schedule is confirmed as follows:
Episode 1 premiered on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Episode 2 aired on Friday, October 2, 2026. Episode 3 will air on Thursday, October 8, 2026, followed by Episode 4 on Friday, October 9, 2026. Episode 5 is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026, with Episode 6 on Friday, October 16, 2026. After a brief gap, Episode 7 returns on Thursday, October 22, 2026, and Episode 8 on Friday, October 23, 2026. The final two episodes are Episode 9 on Thursday, October 29, 2026, and the grand finale, Episode 10, on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The 75-minute launch episode started at 20:00 BST in the UK. For viewers around the world, here are the exact local start times for every episode:
- United Kingdom (BST): 8:00 p.m. on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
- USA (Eastern Time): 3:00 p.m. on BBC iPlayer via VPN; Peacock release date to be confirmed
- USA (Pacific Time): 12:00 p.m.
- Canada (Eastern Time): 3:00 p.m.
- India (IST): 12:30 a.m. the following day
- Australia (AEST): 5:00 a.m. the following day
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland (CET): 9:00 p.m.
- Japan and South Korea (JST/KST): 4:00 a.m. the following day
Episodes stream on BBC iPlayer immediately after the broadcast, while viewers in the UK can also catch episodes on BBC Two and BBC Three on the following days.
Where to Watch in the US and Other Countries
Streaming access varies significantly by region. BBC iPlayer is free for anyone with a valid TV license in the UK, but it is geo-restricted outside the country. Viewers in the US, Canada, Australia, and other international markets face a longer wait.
Peacock holds the streaming rights for The Traitors franchise in the United States. The platform is expected to release the entire Celebrity Traitors Season 2 after the UK run finishes on October 30, following the same pattern it used for Season 1. No official Peacock release date has been announced yet.
For viewers who want to watch the episodes live as they air in the UK, using a VPN is the most direct option. By connecting to a UK server and accessing BBC iPlayer, international viewers can stream each episode at the same time as the British audience. This method works in the US, Canada, Australia, and across Europe, though a valid TV license declaration is required during the sign-up process.
Crave in Canada and 10Play in Australia are the expected streaming homes for the season once the UK broadcast concludes, based on where previous Traitors seasons have landed in those regions.
Claudia Winkleman’s Dramatic Return and the Record-Breaking Premiere
The season opener delivered a launch that producers describe as unlike anything the franchise has seen before. Host Claudia Winkleman arrived at a church carried aloft by druids inside a closed coffin, emerging with the line, “That was quite the nap.” Model Jerry Hall immediately dubbed her “Claudiapatra”, comparing her grand entrance to the Egyptian queen.
The premiere episode was watched live by almost nine million people, making it the most-watched launch episode of any UK version of The Traitors. The 75-minute opener featured a pirate ship mission, a church setting instead of the usual castle arrival, and 21 celebrities competing for a prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
The Traitors Have Been Chosen and One Already Revealed Himself
The biggest moment of the premiere came when Richard E. Grant and Maya Jama were selected as two of Winkleman’s three Traitors. Immediately after receiving the news, Grant appeared to forget the core rule of the game by announcing to his fellow contestants that he was a traitor.
“That may be the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. I was so thrilled to have been chosen as a traitor that in my unguarded excitement, I said, ‘Of course I’m a traitor’.”
Fellow contestant Joe Lycett told Grant, “I think you’ve just done something that’s never happened in the game.” James Blunt laughed and said, “It’s an interesting angle — you need to be very clear that you’re not.”
Executive producer Sarah Fay described the moment as “a mixture of a little bit of sick coming up in my mouth, and an air punch at the same time,” adding that “we’ve never had anything like that happen before.”
Jerry Hall, who has known Grant for 30 years and lives next door to him, defended him: “I just don’t believe Richard’s a traitor. He says and does eccentric things, he’s an amazing guy, but I think he’s acting out because he’s not been chosen.”
The third traitor was selected by Grant and Jama during the first episode, with the outcome revealed in the premiere’s cliffhanger ending. The chosen third traitor was tasked with murdering a fellow celebrity, adding another layer of tension to an already explosive start.
The 21 Celebrity Contestants Competing for Charity
The lineup for Season 2 features a wide mix of actors, comedians, musicians, and broadcasters. The full cast includes Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Professor Hannah Fry, Richard E. Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft, and Sharon Rooney.
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The Uncloaked Companion Show and Claudia Decides Special
Viewers who want more than the main episodes can watch The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, hosted by Ed Gamble. This companion show airs immediately after each main episode on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sounds. It features interviews with banished and murdered players, unseen footage, and the moment when the Faithful learn the Traitors’ identities for the first time.
A one-off special titled Traitor or Faithful? Claudia Decides also accompanies the season. It reveals how Claudia Winkleman selected her Traitors and gives viewers a closer look at the personal conversations that shaped her decisions. This special is available on BBC iPlayer.
Viewership Records from Season 1
Season 1 of The Celebrity Traitors debuted in October 2025 and became a runaway success. The series averaged 14.9 million viewers across its run, with a peak of 15.4 million for the finale — the highest-rated episode of any entertainment program in the UK since 2016. The Uncloaked companion show drove record numbers across BBC digital platforms, hitting 13 million combined plays on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer during its run.
Also Read: Alan Carr Wins Celebrity Traitors After Stunning Finale Betrayal
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