Who are the contestants on The Traitors this year?
Series 2 of The Traitors launches Wednesday 3 January 2024, at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
In this nail-biting psychological reality competition, Claudia Winkleman greets 22 strangers as they arrive at a beautiful castle in the Scottish Highlands to play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, in the hope of winning up to £120,000.
But hidden amongst them are the Traitors whose job is to secretly murder a player every night, without getting caught.
It’s up to the others, the Faithfuls, to try to detect who the traitors are, and banish them from the game, before they become their next victim.
For the lucky ones who survive to the end, they have the chance of winning that life-changing cash. But if a Traitor remains undetected, they’ll steal all the money.
The Traitors Series 2 contestants are…
Andrew, Insurance Broker, aged 46. “You only have one life, and I know that more than anyone because I suffered a serious accident many years ago. Your life is short, and it can get taken away at any moment. I live my life as best I can and take as many opportunities as possible that come my way. I never thought I’d get on the show in a million years. I’d like to inspire thousands of people out there who’ve maybe had a traumatic experience or suffered with their mental health. I want to inspire people and give them hope. To tell them that if you keep fighting and believing you will get to your dreams”.
Anthony, Chess Coach, 45. “When I started to watch series one, I thought that this is a game where basically everybody’s expendable. Like a game of chess, every piece on the board is expendable, the only thing that matters is the king, that’s it. And ultimately, the idea is to checkmate and win the game. For me, it was like in a chess tournament where you’ve got to control your emotions and psychologically manage yourself. I was completely intrigued by it”.
Ash, Events Manager, 45.
“It’s not about wanting to be deceitful and wanting to lie to people. To me, it’s that I want to play this game and I want to win. The best chance I have to win this game is to be a Traitor. I think it’s important for me to build really strong alliances with my fellow Traitors, because there’s strength in numbers. If we can have a good game plan with each other, that will be the way forward”.
Aubrey, Retired Shopkeeper, 67.
“When I watched it last year, I thought to myself: I could do that. That was it. Then I think Claudia had announced that applications were open and before I knew it, I was on the link. I’d never ever dreamt in a million years that I’d be where I am now. So that was it really, no other reason. Oh and, to speak the truth, the location is beautiful, that castle is fantastic, and why not at 66?”
Brian, Photographer, 33.
“I watched the first series and, obviously, really enjoyed it. I like that it’s different and it’s a sort of mystery, whodunnit, type thing. I am also familiar with the format because every Christmas I play a game called Werewolves with my family which is quite similar. I also want to test myself. Whenever I’m watching TV, I always think “I could do that” even for shows like SAS: Who Dares Wins, although in retrospect I’d probably last two minutes and then start crying. I felt the same way when watching The Traitors and now I get the opportunity to see if I will be any good!”
Charlie, 34, Mental Health Manager.
“I loved series one, I love the game and it’s just a little bit of me, it literally is my personality. I like to analyse everything. Everywhere I go I’m constantly thinking, looking at people’s body language, trying to work people out. To the point that sometimes I have to switch off my brain! Obviously, the prize is great! I love the adrenaline too even though I’ll get nervous as you know anyone would. I loved the missions too, they were so cool. I loved the hay bale one… I hope they use the hay bales again!”
Charlotte, 32, Recruitment Manager.
“You don’t see many shows like this, so when I saw it on TV I thought it was really refreshing to watch something different. So, I applied for the challenge, I wasn’t even thinking about the money. Personally, I’d prefer to be a Traitor but if not, I definitely want to try and catch one. I applied on Christmas Day last year while I was with my family and they were encouraging me, I started it and then left it. I went back to it in the first week of January and now here I am! I wasn’t quite expecting this.”
Diane, Retired Teacher, 63.
“To be honest, I applied after only watching one and a half episodes! I didn’t want to keep watching in case it put me off. My son put me in for a Tough Mudder once, we were raising money for Alzheimer’s because we had lost my dad suddenly. I just kept googling it and ended up getting myself so worked up that I didn’t sleep the night before! Even so, when I did it, I ended up loving it and I was buzzing for a good week. I have ended up watching series one now because I was just completely hooked. I loved it and luckily, I want to try it even more now.”
Evie, Vet, 29.
“I think I would make a good Traitor because I look like such a Faithful. I don’t think people think I’m very mischievous, but I think that shows that I’d be really be good at it. So, I think my gameplan is to let people believe those preconceptions of me, I’m blonde and I’ve got the dimples, and I work with animals and I’m sweet. But there is a bit of an edge to me, and it’s an edge that has actually been carved out by my career, by veterinary nursing, because it is so tough. It’s really difficult, there are a lot of emotional tolls and there’s a lot of adapting to environments, stress, long hours, everything. The Traitors is a psychological pressure cooker, but I honestly do think you could apply that to working at the vets, you really could.”
Harry, 22, British Army Engineer.
“I don’t normally watch much TV, but I got properly into the first series, I think I finished it within two days. I thought it was mental. It was good all around, so crazy to see how it can switch within a day. One minute you’re in the firing line then the next minute it switches over to someone else.”
Jasmine, 26, Sales Executive
“I do have a game plan per se, but it kind of chops and changes. I think my game plan is to just be myself. I think the people that have done well on the show before are people that have their own personality laced within what they’re trying to do. So, I’m not going to try and make up this fake persona and try to be someone else. I think the biggest game plan would be to try and befriend and betray. However, I’m not going to do it to the extent that I upset people and make them want to eliminate me. It’s got to be subtle.”
Jaz, 30, Account Manager.
“The thing is everyone wants the money, for all sorts of different reasons, so that’s just going to cloud my vision if I start to get emotionally involved in everyone’s story and then I’m going to be torn between all the other players. But for me, I want to go all the way. The last man standing”.
Jonny, 30, Ex-Millitary
“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. I’m definitely lacking in those sorts of adventures and that sort of mindset from being in the Army, there’s an excitement to it. It’s about getting myself out there, I’ve got two young kids, and it would be nice to make them proud as well.”
Kyra, 21, Trainee Economist
“I applied to go on The Traitors because I watched the first season with my family, we watched it all together. Me and my sisters are really close. We then watched the American version and I went through a stage where I was like “I really want to be on a game show” but then I got scared and didn’t want to do it. Then I just plucked up the courage and decided to do it. The main motivation behind it is that my sister is getting married soon, we come from a lower-class background, and I’d love to win something to help towards her wedding – and hopefully honeymoon. I am also very physically active as well, so this can push me both mentally and physically. Why not try to play and have fun with it at the same time?”
Meg, 22, Illustrator
“I loved watching series one with my mum, we were hooked. We were gutted that they were only showing three episodes a week because we just wanted to binge it. My mum suggested that I’d be good on it, I didn’t think I would be but agreed that I’d think about it. When I saw Claudia Winkleman’s post saying that applications were open, I said “Screw it. Why not? I’ll give it a go. I probably won’t get very far.” I thought I’d just apply and see what happened and now obviously I’ve got to this point and it’s like an actual fever dream”.
Miles, 36, Vet
“I’ve done everything that I feel like is the cookie cutter thing to do, you know? 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. It was nicely done. I like that the show has normal, everyday people. There are going to be times when you’re going to have beef with people, because we’ll get so involved in the roles that we’re playing. It’s just that, 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, 21, Disability Model.
“I watched the first series and I just loved how different it was. It’s exciting and there’s missions too. Although there’s teamwork involved, there’s also the sneakiness behind it all. I don’t feel like I’ve ever watched something as unique as this show. It had you gripped the whole time, so I just loved it. I thought it was such a great idea”.
Paul, 36, Business Manager.
“I keep thinking that I should have a game plan but then I also think, maybe I should just freestyle it. The problem is, if you have a game plan and you try and stick to it but it doesn’t work you might get yourself in a bit of trouble. I think as soon as you tell someone that you’ve got a game plan then you could be picked out. I’m going to have a rough guideline of what I’m going to be like inside there, but then also I’m such a winger, I have no idea what I’m going to do or what I’m going to say, and if I did have a game plan the chances are I wouldn’t stick to it!”
Ross, 28, Video Director.
“This is something new and I’m well up for the challenge. I’m quite good at the old Among Us game and I thought this looked like a lot of fun. I’m also really looking forward to having a break from social media, my phone, work and the rest of it. It’s a good excuse to tell my business partner that I just can’t work for three weeks, it’s a nice excuse to do that”.
Sonja, 66, Volunteer Business Mentor.
“I wanted to do something this year that would challenge me and test all of my abilities. Whether that be physical or mental, and I could use some of the experiences I’ve had in the past. I just want to be challenged, excited and I want some adrenaline. I’ve had a difficult few years so have thought right, let’s go for it and do something a bit crazy and exciting. 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”.
Tracey, 58, Sonographer and Clairvoyant.
“I was absolutely addicted to season one. I loved it, I was so invested in it. I kind of didn’t hear about it until after the whole thing had gone out, so I literally binge watched the whole thing in three days. Nobody could talk to me. Nobody could ring me. I just loved it. My Mum is a psychologist, so the whole time I was growing up I kind of got the way that she views people and looks at people and I think that’s what this show is all about”.
Zack, 27, Parliamentary Affairs Advisor.
“I think I am very good at reading people, mostly because of my career and I want to see if that is the case. 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. I suppose I applied for The Traitors to see if I’m as smart as I think I am! The money would be a huge bonus for my girlfriend and I who are trying to find a flat, and obviously in the cost of living crisis, it’s not great. Fundamentally it’s a bit of a selfish sort of reason, I think that I could win it if I’m a Faithful, I’ve already said that I do not want to be a Traitor at all because I’m never going to win. But I reckon I could win as a Faithful, essentially I’m just trying to see if I’m as delirious or as sane as I think I am!”
Stream The Traitors on BBC iPlayer.
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