Photographers, insurance brokers and clairvoyants: Meet the cast of The Traitors series 2
The Traitors is back for its second series, with 22 brand-new contestants preparing to take on the ultimate game of deception.
Following its word-of-mouth success in Christmas 2022, the BBC reality series returns on 3 January for a new series with just as many twists and turns as before.
Claudia Winkleman is back as host, guiding the cast as they’re split into “Traitors” and “Faithfuls” and forced to lie and sabotage their way to the end of the competition.
Up for grabs is their share of the up to £120,000 cash prize.
Below, you can meet all 22 contestants taking part in the competition. Whether they’re Faithfuls or Traitors? You’ll have to wait to find out.
Andrew
An insurance broker from Talbot Green in Wales, Andrew has a particularly inspiring story, having been pronounced dead on the side of the road 23 years ago and in a coma for nearly five weeks. He was considered a “miracle patient”, as his parents were told that if he did wake up, he’d never walk, talk or use his arms again. The 45-year-old is basing his game plan on his experience working in close protection security, where he had to “be on my toes, be alert, and be able to adapt at the drop of a hat”. Andrew reckons he’s a good liar, and says he’ll do “whatever it takes, within reason” to win.
Anthony
Birmingham-based Anthony is preparing to transpose the psychological challenges of chess, the game he coaches, into The Traitors. The 45-year-old wants to be a Traitor, but says he has a good poker face. He’s prepared to go “all the way” to win, as like in chess, “everything is expendable”.
Ash
Taking part in search of an adventure is Ash, an events co-ordinator from London. She, too, thinks she’s got a better chance of winning if she’s a Traitor. If she’s a Faithful, however, she says that she’s good at spotting a liar. “It could be about someone’s energy,” Ash, 45, says. “Human beings do things without realising they’re doing them. Micro expressions and little physical behaviours. It’s easier to see other people’s faces than it is to see your own, right?”
Aubrey
Retired shop owner Aubrey has one simple plan on The Traitors: “Get on with everyone and to try and befriend everyone.” The 67-year-old from Loughborough is happy to be Faithful or Traitor, saying: “To be a Faithful you’ve got to be observant. So, if I’m a Faithful, I’ll have to watch people. You’ve got to be observant and alert, watching for signs. I would say I’m cunning, as cunning as a fox. I am a bit like that but not in a nasty way!”
Brian
Brian is taking part in the show for the “experience”, meaning he’s not going in with a game plan. The 33-year-old photographer comes from Glasgow and describes himself as forgetful and bossy. He thinks the clue to a good game – whether Faithful or Traitor – is “being very aware of how I’m acting to other people, observing others and taking notes when I’m alone at night like a mad man”.
Charlie
Unlike most of the other contestants, mental health area manager Charlie admits that she’d be a bit worried if she’s made a Traitor. “I’ve tried to prepare for it just in case it does happen. But I think I’d be a little bit worried,” she says. “As much as I like the idea of having a good poker face, I don’t know whether I actually would have with everyone watching me.” If she wins, the 34-year-old from Bristol says she’ll put the money towards her wedding to her boyfriend, as they’ve been engaged for nine years.
Charlotte
Recruitment manager Charlotte applied for the show in search of a challenge, and she’s already preparing to portray herself as “the ditzy one” in order to go undetected. “I used to play poker tournaments and they used to just think ‘Who’s the bimbo at the end of the table?’ but I’d still make it to the end,” says the Warwickshire local, 32. Still, she admits that she can be a bit gullible, but is determined to win – if only to achieve her dream of flying her dogs by private jet to the US to join her and her wife on a roadtrip.
