A Star-Studded Line-Up for Celebrity Traitors
For decades, Jerry Hall has been a name synonymous with high fashion and glamour. From her days as a catwalk queen to her time as the wife of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, she has always been in the spotlight. Now, at 70 years old, Hall is set to take on a new challenge: becoming a contestant on the BBC’s second series of Celebrity Traitors.
The former supermodel was seen arriving at Inverness airport recently, joining a lineup of 21 A-list celebrities who will spend the next few weeks in Ardross Castle, plotting and scheming in a bid to win £100,000 for their chosen charities.
Friends say that Hall is not one to back down from a challenge, and she is “there to win.” This comes just four years after her split from media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who famously ended their six-year relationship via email in 2022.
So, will Hall be a Faithful or a Traitor? Her past includes a high-profile relationship with Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry, whom she left for Jagger, and later, she kicked Jagger out before marrying Murdoch. With such a history of dramatic decisions, it’s hard to predict which side she’ll fall on in this game of deception.
A Diverse Cast of Celebrities
Hall is not alone in her quest for glory. The cast of Celebrity Traitors is a mix of actors, comedians, musicians, and TV personalities. Cambridge-educated University Challenge host Amol Rajan has already arrived, as has The Last Of Us actress Bella Ramsey.
Other notable names include A-list actors Michael Sheen and Richard E Grant, former EastEnders star Ross Kemp, and singer James Blunt, who has taken on a new persona as an online jester. There’s also no shortage of humor, with six comedians joining the lineup: Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Joe Lycett, Joanne McNally, and James Acaster.
Love Island host Maya Jama and Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock are also part of the cast. Additional participants include mathematician Hannah Fry, ex-Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, YouTube prankster and boxer King Kenny, and Industry star Myha’la, known for her role as the sharp-witted Harper Stern. Heartstopper’s Sebastian Croft and My Mad Fat Diary’s Sharon Rooney round out the group.
Excitement Builds for the Second Series
BBC bosses are thrilled with the line-up. “It’s wild, it is absolutely brilliant,” said a source. “It’s television like this that will hopefully make sure people don’t feel short-changed for buying their television licences.”
The first series of Celebrity Traitors was a massive success, with comedian Alan Carr winning in a thrilling finale that attracted 12 million viewers. This year’s contestants have some impressive credentials, with several already having established connections. For example, Hall and Richard E Grant live close to each other in London, while Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett have been friends for years, having met on the comedy circuit.
They recently appeared together on the Sky One show Rob & Romesh Vs, and Ranganathan often appears on Parenting Hell, the podcast hosted by Beckett and Josh Widdicombe. Ranganathan and Beckett are also friends with Lycett, and sources believe the producers may have something special in store for the trio.
A History of Drama and Laughter
The show has already had its share of drama. In 2022, there was a humorous spat between Lycett and Acaster when Lycett used a photo of his rival on a poster promoting a show. Lycett later went to apologize, but the incident sparked some friendly banter among the cast.
The BBC announced the lineup with a tongue-in-cheek clip set in an airport, featuring actors holding round-table chalk boards with the names of the contestants. However, many names were misspelled, including “Rob Bucket,” “Miranda Heart,” and “Richardy Grant.” This is a nod to the show’s running gag, where contestants sometimes mispronounce or miswrite the names of those they want to banish.
A Must-See for Fans
Taking part in Celebrity Traitors has become a must for any celebrity looking to boost their profile and earnings. Even those who didn’t win last year, like retired rugby player Joe Marler, gained widespread recognition after their time in Ardross Castle.
This year, the BBC has worked to prevent leaks of the cast list, ensuring that only a few names were revealed. This means there are still plenty of surprises for fans when the series airs later this year.
Host Claudia Winkleman is also expected to shine in the castle environment, where she is highly regarded. While her six-episode chat show struggled to match the ratings of the previous year, her return to Ardross Castle is sure to be a hit. “Claudia is used to everything she does turning to gold,” said a friend. “Her shows always do so well, but the chat show just didn’t fly in the way it was hoped. Now she’s back in the castle where she is absolutely adored and revered.”
