After an enormously successful first run, The Traitors is finally back for a second season – and there’s a whole new cast hoping to suss out the traitors and bag themselves the impressive prize pot. So far, they have already caused chaos, with fans rushing to social media to have their say on the castle’s new inhabitants.
‘Diane showing herself as a true Northern Irish mother keeping her foot on everyone’s throats. Just a relentless hunter. I love her,' wrote one fan on X (Twitter). Another has predicted that the cast will heighten the drama like never before, as one TV-dedicated account penned, ‘Unlike last year, I can see this series getting a whole lot messier.’
The new group of contestants are camped out in the Scottish Highlands to try to catch the Traitors hiding among them. And with the stakes high and a cash prize of £120,000 up for grabs, the Traitors will do everything they can to make it all the way.
The show returned to our screens on Wednesday 3 January, with Claudia Winkleman at the helm bringing us more drama (and plenty of fashion inspo). And as the series continues to unravel – with four Faithful and a Traitor booted out so far – expect accusations, round table drama and more oversized hoods.
This year’s 22 contestants come from every walk of life, including a clairvoyant, a chess player, and a man who was once pronounced dead. Here’s the full line up for The Traitors season two.
The Traitors season two: Meet the cast
Andrew
Age: 45
Job: Insurance broker
From: Talbot Green, Wales
Describing himself as having a ‘larger-than-life personality,’ Andrew says he wants to inspire people who have had a ‘traumatic experience or suffered with their mental health’ to never give up. More than 20 years ago, Andrew survived a near death-experience following a road accident. Left with brain damage and in a coma, his family were told he would never walk again.
He says, ‘Over the last couple of years, I’ve been going through a personal growth journey where I’ve been trying to learn a lot about myself. I’ve been a Steady Eddy all my life, I suppose.'
Anthony
Age: 45
Job: Chess coach
From: Birmingham
Contestant Anthony has high hopes that his role as a chess coach could serve him well when it comes to The Traitors. He says, ‘When I saw the show, I thought to myself – this has me written all over it! It’s like a real life, live game of chess.’
Ash
Age: 45
Job: Events coordinator
From: London
Admitting that the best way for her to win is to be chosen as a Traitor, Ash isn't afraid to play the game to win the prize. She says, ‘If I need to wipe the floor with you to win, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.’
If she takes home the money, she hopes to spend it on buying her own place and getting on the property ladder.
Aubrey
Age: 67
Job: Retired shop owner
From: Loughborough, Leicestershire
Opening up about the show, Aubrey says, ‘When I watched it last year, I thought to myself: I could do that. Claudia had announced that applications were open and before I knew it, I was on the link.’
The retired shop owner also insists his mean poker face could help him get far in the gameshow. ‘I don’t give things away easily,’ he says. ‘I’ve got a moustache and, unless I’m smiling, I think it makes me look a bit more serious.’
If his wins, he plans to donate the money to the Mykonos Animal Welfare charity in Greece, where he often holidays.
Brian
Age: 33
Job: Photographer
From: Glasgow
Think those family game nights are simply light-hearted fun? For contestant Brian, they’re his ticket to winning.
On tackling the show, he says, ‘I’m familiar with the format because every Christmas I play a game called Werewolves with my family, which is quite similar.’
Fearing that he might ‘crumble under pressure,’ Brian think he has more chance to surviving if he becomes a Faithful - where we can ‘observe others and take notes alone at night.'
Charlie
Age: 34
Job: Mental health area manager
From: Bristol
Describing the show as 'literally my personality,' Charlie says, 'I like to analyse everything. Everywhere I go, I’m constantly thinking, looking at people’s body language, trying to work people out.'
The contestant, who wears hearing aids, also says she's least looking forward to taking part in a sound-based challenge. ‘Anything like the bell ringing challenge I wouldn’t be too excited for because I wear hearing aids,’ she shares, ‘But I’m good with other people and I like to think I’m observant.’
Charlotte
Age: 32
Job: Recruitment manager
From: Warwickshire
Having previously competed in poker tournaments, Charlotte hopes that playing the role of the ‘ditzy one’ might help her win. ‘I used to play poker tournaments and they used to just think, “Who’s the bimbo at the end of the table?” but I’d still make it to the end,' she says.
‘Personally, I’d prefer to be a Traitor. If not, I definitely want to try and catch one.’
If she wins, Charlotte has hopes to use the money to take her dogs Lady and Lolly on a private jet, so she and her wife can travel across America in a motorhome.
Diane
Age: 63
Job: Retired teacher
From: Lancashire
Admitting she applied to the show after her children said she'd never be able to do it, Diane says, ‘I just loved the idea of the challenge.'
On potentially becoming a traitor, Diane shares, ‘You have to be very careful about who you get friendly with. I might find it hard, but I’d still like to say I’d be able to go the whole way.’ She also says that she’s taught ‘some very difficult kids,’ and insists she'll know how to remain calm in testing situations.
She also has become an internet icon instantly - and has a famous son...
Evie
Age: 29
Job: Veterinary nurse
From: Inverness
Veterinary nurse Evie decided it was time to do something big before she hit 30 – which naturally meant applying for The Traitors, ofc.
She explains, ‘When I turned 29, I said to myself, “I’m going to do 30 things before I’m 30 that I’ve always wanted to do.” I ran the Edinburgh Marathon this year, I’ve visited Scottish islands, and I do a lot of hiking.’
‘The Traitors series two came around and I said, “Okay, that’s going to be my last thing. That’s going to be my final 30 before 30."'
Harry
Age: 22
Job: British Army engineer
From: Slough
Army engineer Harry describes himself as a bit of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde,’ saying he hopes he’ll be chosen as a Traitor.
But as a Corporal in the British Army, he also thinks he has some skills that could serve him well as a Faithful – admitting he'd be the one to 'take everyone on my back so we can make it to the finish line'.
Jasmine
Age: 26
Job: Sales executive
From: London
When it comes to winning, Jasmine isn’t afraid to step on toes. She says, ‘I think I’ll be great at [the game]. I work in sales, so I’m a professional truth embezzler which is kind of my tagline, and why I wanted to do on The Traitors.’
‘I have the personality to do well. I’m very personable, and people tend to want to befriend me a lot, which is how you get people on side. It’s a game of making allies, isn’t it? You don’t want people to vote you out.’
Sharing that she hopes to be a Traitor so she can ‘steal the big pot of money’, Jasmine would share prize money to help out her parents.
Jaz
Age: 30
Job: National account manager
From: Manchester
When it comes to game play, 30-year-old Jaz is looking to last year’s cast for some inspo. Admitting he hopes to follow Wilfred’s example if he ends up on the traitors' side, Jaz says, ‘That little rascal was really good. When I was watching it, I was thinking, If only I could be in his position… but get to the end.'
Jonny
Age: 31
Job: Ex-military
From: Bedfordshire
Describing The Traitors as his ‘cup of tea,’ Jonny says, ‘I did a lot of research on the show and also looked at the Dutch version too to try and figure it out a little bit.’
Describing himself as someone with disabilities who enjoys ‘psychological things’ and ‘problem solving,’ he adds, ‘I can be a bit scatty sometimes, and I’m worried that because I’ve done so much in my life, people are going to start hearing more and more as I spend time with them and think I’m just talking rubbish.’
Kyra
Age: 21
Job: Apprentice economist
From: Kent
Family-oriented Kyra's two sisters were her main motivation behind applying to the show. She says, 'My sister is getting married soon, we come from a lower-class background, and I’d love to win something for her to help towards her wedding – and hopefully honeymoon.’
And she's ready to take on whatever comes her way – adding ‘I’m very physically active, so this can push me both mentally and physically. Why not try to play and have fun with it at the same time?’
Meg
Age: 22
Job: Illustrator
From: Herefordshire
Meg applied for the show after her mum encouraged her too, describing taking part as ‘an actual fever dream.’ But while she's excited to take part, Meg shares that she isn’t too keen on the idea of becoming a Traitor - insisting 'I wouldn’t throw someone under the bus to win more [money].'
If she wins, she hopes to spend the money on the most ‘expensive pair of dungarees ever,’ and a Scottish motorhome trip.’
Miles
Age: 36
Job: Veterinary nurse
From: Birmingham (now lives in Worcestershire)
Miles hopes that appearing on the show will help shake things up, saying, ‘I’ve done everything that I feel is the cookie cutter thing to do. I went to school, went to college, got my qualification, found my husband, had a family. I just thought I’ve done everything so correct! When I saw the show, I thought it was quite clever, quite different.'
Admitting that he isn’t afraid to ‘have beef’ with his fellow contestants, Miles adds, ‘I’m playing a role. As long as my nearest and dearest know that then that’ll make me feel a bit better – it’s not real life.’
Mollie
Age: 21
Job: Disability model
From: Bristol
Disability model and healthcare assistant Mollie hopes that looking young and innocent will help her inside the castle walls – but if she’s picked as a Faithful, she thinks her childhood with a ‘quite naughty’ brother will come in handy for sniffing out the Traitors.
She says, ‘Growing up, he misbehaved a little bit in school and wouldn’t tell my parents, but I always knew. I feel like I can always recognise the signs.’
Paul
Age: 36
Job: Business manager
From: Manchester
As someone with stand-up comedy experience, Paul hopes he can use his funny-man tendencies to ‘diffuse situations when they get so tense'.
And if Paul is chosen as a Traitor and receives the iconic shoulder tap from host Claudia, don’t expect him to be doing any laundry soon. He jokes, ‘If Claudia touches my shoulder, I’m never washing that top again. I hope that happens because the more I think about what the show is, it is about the Traitors, right? To participate in the show fully is to be a Traitor, I think.’
Ross
Age: 28
Job: Video director
From: Lancashire
For video director Ross, taking part in The Traitors is a total switch. He says, ‘I’m so used to being behind a camera that it’s actually very nerve-wracking for me to be in front of one. This is something new. I’m quite good at the old Among Us game and I thought this looked like a lot of fun.’
However, he admits that the thought of being a becoming a Traitor leaves him feeling slightly on 'edge.'
Mostly, Ross is taking his trip to the Scottish highlands as some much-needed down time. ‘I’m really looking forward to having a break from social media, my phone, work and the rest of it,’ he says, adding ‘It’s a good excuse to tell my business partner that I just can’t work for three weeks.'
Sonja
Age: 66
Job: Volunteer business mentor
From: Lancashire
Sonja insists she’s ready to ‘knit [her] way to the finals,' sharing, ‘I wouldn’t do anything except The Traitors. It’s so interesting, complicated, thoughtful and devious. It’s right up my street! It’s the first thing I’ve ever applied for, and here I am.'
Sonja also learnt to read body language cues from her nonverbal and son Dan, who was ‘severely disabled with autism and other disabilities.' He passed away two years ago.
Opening up about taking part in the show, she says, ‘I think I’m going to find a way to get the best information out of people without upsetting them, and just be totally devious and use that information to murder and manipulate.’
Tracey
Age: 58
Job: Clairvoyant
From: Inverness
Sonographer and clairvoyant Tracey admits she’s both ‘quite eccentric’ and ‘good at lying,’ which she hopes will prove useful as she plays The Traitors.
On her reasons behind applying, she shares, ‘It was mainly the psychology of it, and meeting people that you don’t normally meet in your normal life.’
However, Tracey – who used to be in the air force – also adds, ‘The only thing that would be my downfall is that I do really like to be liked.’
Zack
Age: 27
Job: Parliamentary affairs advisor
From: London
Used to handling tricky situations in his work life, Zack thinks he'll succeed when it comes to decoding his fellow contestants. ‘I think I am very good at reading people, mostly because of my career,' he says.
'I think it also helps that I come from a small, very tightly-knit Jewish community where socially everyone just knows each other’s business.’
But in order to win the money to put towards a flat for he and his girlfriend, Zack has his fingers crossed that he’s one of the good guys. ‘I think that I could win if I’m a Faithful,’ he says, ‘But I’ve already said that I do not want to be a Traitor at all, because I’m never going to win. Essentially, I’m just trying to see if I’m as delirious or as sane as I think I am.’
The Traitors returns on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday 3 January and is available on iPlayer.