Television presenter Richard Osman accidentally revealed that series two of the BBC reality gameshow The Celebrity Traitors will launch on September 23. Speaking at a live edition of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast in London, Osman confirmed the heavily embargoed premiere date alongside former finalist Joe Marler.
The Bottom Line
- The Leak: Richard Osman revealed the September 23 launch date during a live recording of The Rest Is Entertainment podcast at London’s Southbank Centre.
- The Stakes: The upcoming season features 21 new stars—including Michael Sheen, Maja Jama, and Bella Ramsey—competing for a £100,000 charity prize.
- The Tone: According to insights shared on stage, the new batch of celebrity contestants brings a much more intense competitive edge compared to the first run.
The Slip-Up at London’s Southbank Centre
Live podcast recordings are notoriously tricky territory for tight-knit television embargoes. During a Saturday live edition of The Rest Is Entertainment—which Osman co-hosts with journalist Marina Hyde—at London’s Southbank Centre, the 55-year-old presenter let the premiere date slip. The pair were joined by special guest Joe Marler, a former finalist from the hit BBC reality format.
When Marler casually referenced the schedule on stage by asking, “What is it September 23 the next series?”, Osman immediately recognized the breach. “By the way to point out, it’s absolutely embargoed that it starts on September 23… let’s talk about what we call the events of September 23 this year, the cat’s out of the bag isn’t it? Not to repeat it,” Osman remarked, locking in the timeline for the highly anticipated television event.
High Pressure and a New Competitive Edge
Marler noted that the upcoming cast approaches the psychological mind games differently than the inaugural group, which featured comedic winner Alan Carr and finalists like Celia Imrie and Nick Mohammed.
“I believe it was a slightly different emotion than our experience, ours was very laugh-led, and everyone was sort of enjoying catching up, you know, pratting about to the point where they went, ‘guys we’re trying to play a game,'” Marler shared on stage. “Whereas this lot really want it from the start, and then I guess they see how well the first series has gone and there’s a little bit of pressure on them to be like, ‘oh I’d quite like a bit of that’.” Osman added that feedback from those involved indicates the new season “sounds like it was quite intense.”
Cast Lineup and Record-Breaking Precedents
| Metric / Detail | Series One (Last Autumn) | Series Two (Upcoming) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Timing | Aired last autumn on the BBC | Set to premiere on September 23 |
| Contestant Count | Star-studded cast including Alan Carr, Stephen Fry, Paloma Faith | 21 celebrities |
| Prize Pool | Up to £100,000 for charity | Up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice |
| Notable Cast Members | Celia Imrie, Nick Mohammed, Jonathan Ross | Michael Sheen, Maja Jama, Bella Ramsey, James Blunt, Leigh-Anne Pinnock |
| Viewership Context | Peak finale of 15.4 million viewers; average of 14.9 million (biggest TV audience of 2025) | Carries high audience expectations following record 2025 run |
The upcoming run will bring 21 new well-known figures to the Highlands to battle for a cash prize of up to £100,000 destined for charity. The confirmed roster includes Welsh actor Michael Sheen, Love Island presenter Maja Jama, The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey, singer James Blunt, and former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
The stakes are exceptionally high following the runaway success of the first outing. Last year’s celebrity iteration dominated British television ratings, pulling in an average audience of 14.9 million people throughout its run and securing the title of the biggest TV audience of 2025. The nail-biting finale alone hit a peak of 15.4 million viewers on the BBC.
Marler also shared a bit of behind-the-scenes history regarding his own casting, revealing that Osman played a pivotal role in getting him through the door. After telling the show’s booker that he had no idea who the rugby player was, the booker reportedly noted that “a good friend of mine, Richard Osman, has put me in touch and said you should have a look at this guy.” Now, with the launch date out in the open, the countdown to the September 23 premiere is officially underway.
Drop a comment below: Are you ready for a more intense, cutthroat group of Faithfuls and Traitors, or do you miss the chaotic laughs of the first run?
