Comedian Joanne McNally says the star-studded cast of the upcoming BBC series The Celebrity Traitors will be “more than willing to throw each other under the bus” during filming. McNally, 43, is one of 21 public figures competing in the second season of the reality competition, which premieres on October 1st at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, according to the Press Association.
Cast Lineup and Comedian Dynamics
The second season features six comedians in total. Alongside McNally, the contestant pool includes James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett, and Romesh Ranganathan. Despite several contestants sharing a history of working together, McNally stated that no pre-filming strategies or alliances were formed between them.
“We haven’t been in cahoots at all. “So, it’s not like we’re making fake allegiances. They are professional entertainers, and they will absolutely kill each other off for the craic.”
Rob Beckett echoed similar sentiments regarding their shared history, noting that he, Lycett, and Acaster performed together in Soho pubs nearly two decades ago in front of small crowds. “It’s quite a reflective moment to consider this journey we’ve all gone on to now be on the biggest show on TV,” Beckett said. However, Beckett confirmed he would have no hesitation in betraying his longtime peers if the game demanded it, adding, “I’ve got no qualms about killing people off.”
Motivations and Game Strategy
McNally shared that her primary motivation for joining the Claudia Winkleman-hosted series was the social aspect and the resulting celebrity group chat. Describing the cast as eclectic, she remarked, “Like you couldn’t predict it. It’s like lining up all my ex-boyfriends. There’s no consistency to it at all.”
Aiming to secure a role as a Traitor, McNally described herself as quietly competitive, noting her ability to read body language and spot lies. Her podcast co-host on My Therapist Ghosted Me, Vogue Williams, encouraged her to embrace a two-faced strategy to advance in the game.
Broad Cast and Viewing Figures
The wider cast stepping into the castle includes actor Bella Ramsey, singer James Blunt, Little Mix member Leigh-Anne Pinnock, presenter Maya Jama, and actors Richard E Grant and Michael Sheen.
The BBC reported that the first season of The Celebrity Traitors, which aired last autumn, reached a peak audience of 15.4 million viewers during its finale. The spin-off series brought in an average audience of 14.9 million people during its run, the biggest TV audience of 2025.