Who might appear on The Celebrity Traitors next year?

The castle doors will be opening again for filming before long, and we’re already wondering which famous faces might be heading into the Scottish Highlands for the next series of The Celebrity Traitors.

With its mix of secret plotting, shocking betrayals and celebrity paranoia, the BBC’s hit reality show has become essential viewing for anyone who loves a good game of cat and mouse. Whether it’s an unexpected Faithful uncovering a Traitor or a master manipulator surviving another round table, the format has proved that you don’t need to be a reality TV regular to make compelling viewing.

But who could be next to don the cloak, enter the castle and attempt to outwit their fellow contestants?

The BBC has yet to confirm the next celebrity line-up, so these are our predictions and dream casting choices rather than confirmed names. From comedy legends and radio presenters to pop stars and television favourites, here’s who we’d love to see taking part.

The Celebrity Traitors 2027 lineup rumours

1. Joel Dommett

Joel Dommett would be a brilliant addition to the castle. The comedian and television presenter has the charm, quick wit and natural enthusiasm to become a popular contestant, but would he have the poker face required to survive as a Traitor?

His experience hosting The Masked Singer means he’s accustomed to a world of disguises, guessing games and outrageous theories. That could make him an asset when it comes to spotting suspicious behaviour, although his naturally sociable personality might also make him an easy target for manipulation.

We could see Joel being the sort of contestant everyone wants to keep around — right up until he starts asking a few too many questions.

2. Reece Shearsmith

If the producers wanted someone capable of keeping the entire castle guessing, Reece Shearsmith would be an inspired choice.

Best known for his work on The League of Gentlemen and Inside No. 9, Shearsmith has built a career around dark comedy, unsettling twists and characters who are rarely quite what they seem.

That makes him an especially intriguing potential Traitor. Could he bluff his way through the round table with a perfectly straight face, or would his fellow contestants become suspicious of someone who seems to understand the art of deception a little too well?

Either way, his sharp mind and understated comic timing could make him one of the most entertaining players in the castle.

3. Roman Kemp

Radio and television presenter Roman Kemp could bring a youthful energy to the competition, along with the social skills needed to build alliances quickly.

Having spent years interviewing celebrities and navigating live broadcasting, Roman is used to thinking on his feet. That could prove invaluable when the accusations start flying and contestants have to explain their behaviour under pressure.

He might be a natural Faithful, building friendships and trying to piece together the evidence. But there’s also something appealing about the idea of Roman being secretly recruited as a Traitor, forced to betray the very people he’s been bonding with.

Would he be able to keep his emotions in check, or would the pressure give him away?

4. Noel Fielding

Noel Fielding in the castle? Now that would be something.

The Great British Bake Off presenter and The Mighty Boosh star has an unmistakable personality, an unpredictable sense of humour and a wonderfully eccentric way of looking at the world.

His presence could bring a surreal edge to the competition, with the other contestants never quite knowing whether he’s joking, bluffing or quietly working something out.

Noel could also be a surprisingly effective Traitor. His playful demeanour might encourage everyone to underestimate him, allowing him to fly under the radar while more obvious suspects are banished.

Of course, he could equally spend the entire series making everyone laugh and accidentally reveal a crucial secret at breakfast. Either outcome would make excellent television.

5. Lee Mack

Few people would be better equipped to handle the verbal sparring of The Celebrity Traitors than Lee Mack.

The Would I Lie to You? team captain and Not Going Out star has made a career out of quick-fire comebacks, sharp observations and thinking several steps ahead in a conversation.

Those talents could make him a formidable opponent at the round table. He’d have the ability to challenge suspicious stories, deflect accusations with humour and make his fellow contestants question whether they were taking things too seriously.

The big question is whether Lee’s comedy would help him or hinder him. In a game where every reaction can be interpreted as evidence, joking at the wrong moment could make him look suspicious.

Still, watching him attempt to talk his way out of a murder accusation would be worth the price of admission alone.

6. Cat Deeley

Cat Deeley would bring plenty of television experience and a confident presence to the castle.

As a presenter who has worked across major entertainment formats in the UK and the US, she understands how to manage a conversation, read a room and keep her composure in front of the cameras.

Those qualities could be useful in a game built around persuasion and observation. Cat might prove adept at identifying contestants who are trying too hard to convince everyone of their innocence.

She could also be a particularly interesting Traitor choice. Someone who appears warm, polished and approachable might be able to earn the trust of the Faithful before making a devastating move.

We’d certainly be interested to see whether she would play a cautious game or embrace the chaos.

7. Jason Manford

Comedian Jason Manford could be another excellent addition to the line-up, bringing humour, warmth and a knack for connecting with people.

The challenge for Jason would be deciding when to use his natural comic instincts and when to keep quiet. The castle is not necessarily the best place to make everyone laugh, especially if a misplaced joke happens to coincide with a suspicious disappearance.

His friendly persona could make him a popular Faithful, helping him gather information from different groups. Alternatively, it could make him a dangerous Traitor if everyone assumes he’s too nice to be playing a double game.

We suspect Jason would be a contestant who could make the experience enjoyable even when the tension reaches breaking point.

8. Angela Scanlon

Television presenter Angela Scanlon would be a fascinating choice for the next series.

With experience across entertainment and lifestyle television, Angela has the communication skills and confidence to hold her own in a room full of strong personalities.

She could be the sort of Faithful who quietly watches the dynamics between contestants, waits for contradictions to emerge and then delivers a well-timed accusation when everyone least expects it.

Alternatively, imagine her as a Traitor who uses her friendly, relaxed manner to establish trust before turning on her closest allies.

The most effective players are often those who know when to speak and when to listen, and Angela could bring an interesting balance of both to the game.

9. Chris Evans (Virgin Radio)

Radio presenter Chris Evans would bring decades of broadcasting experience and a big personality to the castle.

Used to interviewing guests, steering conversations and responding quickly when things don’t go to plan, Chris could be comfortable in the high-pressure environment. He’d also have plenty of opportunities to put his fellow contestants on the spot with a few well-chosen questions.

His experience might make him a strong Faithful, especially if he proved good at spotting inconsistencies in people’s stories. But a confident broadcaster could also be a clever Traitor, using charm and conversation to influence the room.

The question is whether his fellow contestants would trust his instincts or decide that someone so comfortable behind a microphone might be a little too good at controlling the narrative.

10. Amanda Holden

Amanda Holden would be a high-profile addition who could bring glamour, confidence and plenty of outspoken opinions to the castle.

As a judge on Britain’s Got Talent and a familiar face across British entertainment, Amanda is accustomed to making decisions in front of the cameras. The round table would offer a very different challenge, though: instead of judging a performance, she’d have to decide whether the person sitting opposite her was lying.

We can imagine her being wonderfully direct when questioning suspicious contestants. She could also become a target herself if her confidence made others think she was trying to take control of the game.

And if she were secretly chosen as a Traitor? The prospect of Amanda attempting to maintain a perfectly innocent expression after a night-time murder is certainly an entertaining one.

11. Sara Pascoe

Comedian and presenter Sara Pascoe could be one of the more intellectually interesting contestants on our wish list.

Known for her observational humour and thoughtful approach to human behaviour, Sara might be particularly well suited to a game that revolves around trust, group dynamics and the reasons people give for their decisions.

She could become a Faithful who carefully analyses everyone’s motives, questioning not just what people say but why they choose to say it. That kind of approach could help uncover a Traitor — although overthinking every interaction could just as easily lead her down the wrong path.

As a Traitor, Sara would have an even more intriguing challenge: using her understanding of people to influence their decisions without making it obvious that she’s doing so.

We’d love to see how her analytical side would fare when confronted with the sheer unpredictability of the castle.

12. Jorja Smith

Rounding out our original line-up is singer-songwriter Jorja Smith, who would offer a different dynamic from the presenters and comedians on our list.

The acclaimed singer is known for her soulful music and distinctive style, but The Celebrity Traitors would give viewers the opportunity to see another side of her personality away from the recording studio and stage.

As a contestant, Jorja could benefit from observing the game before making her move. A quieter player can sometimes avoid the spotlight while the more outspoken contestants become embroiled in arguments.

But would she be able to keep her composure if she were recruited as a Traitor? The emotional pressure of deceiving people face-to-face could be one of the biggest tests of the experience.

Her casting would also bring a music-industry perspective to a group otherwise dominated by television personalities and comedians.

13. Joanna Lumley

Joanna Lumley would be a dream addition to The Celebrity Traitors, bringing elegance, wit and decades of television experience to the castle.

Best known for Absolutely Fabulous and the travel series Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure, she has the sort of distinctive personality that could make her a memorable contestant from the very first episode.

Imagine Joanna sitting calmly at the round table while everyone else argues over the latest murder. Her composed manner could make her appear entirely trustworthy, but it could also leave the other contestants wondering whether she’s hiding something behind that trademark smile.

She could be a formidable Faithful, observing the chaos and delivering a perfectly timed accusation, or an unexpectedly brilliant Traitor who uses her charm to make everyone feel at ease.

And with her long association with comedy, she could bring some much-needed humour to the tension. We’d love to see her deliver a devastating revelation with the same effortless sophistication she brings to everything else.

14. Lucy Punch

Another name we’d love to see in the castle is Lucy Punch, the actress known for her sharp comic performances and, more recently, her role in Amandaland.

Lucy has a knack for playing characters whose confidence and questionable decisions can make them both hilarious and unpredictable. That makes her a particularly interesting prospect for a reality game built around suspicion, alliances and the occasional spectacular misjudgement.

Would she be a Faithful who becomes convinced that everyone is lying, or a Traitor who manages to convince the entire castle that she’s simply too chaotic to be masterminding anything?

Her comic timing could make the round-table discussions particularly entertaining, especially if she found herself defending an increasingly implausible explanation.

Pairing Lucy with Joanna Lumley would also be an exciting prospect for fans of Amandaland. Seeing two familiar faces from the world of British comedy navigate the psychological games of the castle could provide plenty of memorable moments, even if they ended up on opposite sides of the Faithful-Traitor divide.

Who would make the best Traitors?

Our dream line-up has plenty of potential for unexpected alliances, dramatic accusations and spectacular betrayals. But some of these names seem particularly suited to the secretive side of the game.

• Reece Shearsmith: His experience with psychological twists and dark comedy makes him an intriguing candidate for a calculating Traitor.
• Lee Mack: His quick wit could help him deflect accusations, although his humour might also make him a target.
• Noel Fielding: His eccentric personality could make it difficult for the others to work out what he’s really thinking.
• Amanda Holden: Her confidence and directness could help her control a conversation — or make her an obvious suspect.
• Joanna Lumley: Her composure and charm could make her a fascinating candidate for a quietly manipulative Traitor.
• Lucy Punch: Her comic unpredictability could make it difficult for the other contestants to work out when she’s bluffing.

Of course, some of the most entertaining Traitors are the ones nobody expects. The real magic of the format is watching familiar celebrities behave in unfamiliar circumstances, where friendships become strategic alliances and even the most innocent-looking contestant can turn out to be playing a dangerous game.

Our verdict: who should enter the castle next?

From Joel Dommett’s quick-thinking comedy to Sara Pascoe’s analytical approach, and from Noel Fielding’s unpredictability to Jorja Smith’s potential as a quieter player, this proposed line-up would offer a fascinating mix of personalities.

Adding Joanna Lumley and Lucy Punch would bring another dimension to the cast, with their experience in British comedy potentially providing both memorable laughs and unexpected strategic moves.

The ideal series needs a combination of big characters, sharp thinkers, natural entertainers and contestants who are prepared to take risks. Our picks would provide plenty of scope for all four, with the added bonus of seeing celebrities from different worlds forced to work together — and, eventually, turn against one another.

For now, this is purely our wish list. None of these names should be taken as confirmed contestants for the next series of The Celebrity Traitors.

But if the BBC were looking for a line-up capable of delivering suspicion, laughter, shocking betrayals and a few unforgettable round-table moments, we’d happily hand over the keys to this particular castle.

Who would you like to see on the next series of The Celebrity Traitors? Would you recruit a comedian, a pop star or a familiar television face? And, most importantly, who would you trust to be a Faithful — and who would you suspect of being a Traitor from day one?

More on this year’s Celebrity Traitors final, here.

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