Claudia Winkleman is back with another group for The Traitors series 2 (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The Traitors is returning to BBC One tomorrow and it’s almost time to meet the cast heading into the castle.
On Wednesday night, the tense game of manipulation and bluff is back for series 2 with Claudia Winkleman at the helm, as the Faithfuls use every tool in their disposal to try and discover the Traitors hiding among them.
This year’s 22-strong list of competitors includes people from all walks of life, from a self-described clairvoyant to a disability model.
The first series saw competitors split, with secret Traitors tasked with ‘murdering’ the Faithfuls in the Scottish highlands, and it sounds like the new crop is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
After trying to earn the prize of up to £120,000 by completing a series of tasks each day, they finished the evenings with a round table where they had to find the traitors and ‘banish’ them from the game.
It’s time to meet this year’s contestants…
Andrew
Insurance broker Andrew wants to inspire people across the country (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The 45-year-old insurance broker from Talbot Green in Wales, who describes himself as having a ‘larger-than-life personality’ and risk averse, says he wants to inspire people who have ‘had a traumatic experience or suffered with their mental health’ never to give up.
More than 20 years ago, he nearly died on a roadside and was left with brain damage, in a coma and his parents were told he would never walk again.
He also hopes that his background in close protection security, keeping an eye on London VIPs, will help him be prepared to be ‘on his toes, be alert, and be able to adapt at the drop of a hat’.
Anthony
Anthony has claimed ‘everybody’s expendable’ (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Chess coach Anthony, 45, from Birmingham admitted he’s wary as that he is someone who is naturally charismatic ‘which could put fear into some people’ and even if he is a Faithful will have to use a “human shield” during the round table.
He’s willing to do anything to win too, saying: ‘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.’
Ash
Ash would love to be a Traitor (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The 45-year-old events co-ordinator from London says she thinks ‘the best way for me to win is to be a Traitor’ where she can bring ‘strong alliances’.
‘It’s a game, and if I need to wipe the floor with you to win, then that’s exactly what I’ll do,’ Ash insisted. ‘That sounds so horrible! I don’t mean to be horrible, but you know, it’s a game and I’m playing to win.’
Ash said if she wins she will spend the money on getting on the property ladder as she does not want to be ‘renting when I’m 60 years old, renting with housemates’.
Aubrey
Could Aubrey’s moustache help him to victory? (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Retired shop owner Aubrey, 67, believes his moustache will come in handy to maintain his poker face.
‘I don’t give things away easily,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a moustache and, unless I’m smiling, I think it makes me a look a bit more serious.’
The contestant, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, said if he wins he will give the money to the Mykonos Animal Welfare charity in Greece, where he often goes on holiday.
Brian
Brian is hoping he doesn’t crack (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The 33-year-old photographer from Glasgow, who has played the Werewolf game which has a similar format, believes he will be ‘quite entertaining’ but fears he ‘might crumble under the pressure’.
Brian thinks there is more of a chance of winning if he becomes a faithful and will ‘observe others and take notes when I’m alone at night like a mad man’.
Charlie
Charlie hopes her hearing aids won’t hinder her (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The mental health area manager, 34, would not want to do a challenge based around sound as she wears hearing aids.
‘Anything like the bell ringing challenge I wouldn’t be too excited for because I wear hearing aids,’ she admitted. ‘But I’m good with other people and I like to think I’m observant, not just with people but also with my surroundings’.
Charlie, from Bristol, added she is concerned that ‘people misjudge me a lot of the time because I’m a bit nuts and constantly jumping around and being a lunatic’, and she hopes to use the money to get married following a nine-year engagement to her partner.
Charlotte
Charlotte is happy to play a role to get ahead (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Charlotte from Warwickshire, who used to compete in poker tournaments, reckons people will not suspect her as she can play the ‘the ditzy one’.
The recruitment manager said: ‘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.’
Charlotte, 32, wants to use the money to take her dogs Lady and Lolly on a private jet, which means they will not sit in the hold, so she and her wife can visit America with a motorhome.
Diane
Diane is used to being in high pressure situations (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The 63-year-old retired teacher, from Lancashire, says she has taught “some very difficult kids” and knows how to remain calm.
If she is a Traitor, Diane said: ‘You have to be very careful about who you get friendly with. I might find it hard, but I’d still like to say I’d be able to go the whole way.’
Evie
Evie wanted to do something special before her 30th birthday (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The veterinary nurse, 29, from Inverness admitted she entered as she is ‘having a bit of an existential crisis’ ahead of approaching 30.
She explained: ‘When I turned 29, I said to myself, “I’m going to do 30 things before I’m 30 that I’ve always wanted to do.” I ran the Edinburgh Marathon this year, I’ve visited Scottish islands and I do a lot of hiking.’
‘Working my way through my list I still had two more things to complete,’ she added, with two blank choices, and The Traitors making up the final one.
Evie said she make a good Traitor because people would not suspect someone who is blonde, with dimples, and works with animals.
Harry
Harry is keen to be a Traitor (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The British Army engineer from Slough wants to be a traitor as he is a bit of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, referring to the literary monster-doctor pairing created by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Harry, 22, is a corporal, and wants to use that experience if he is a Faithful.
He would try to be ‘that person who takes everyone on my back so we can make it to the finish line’.
Jasmine
Jasmine (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Jasmine, 26, thinks she would happy to be a Traitor so she can ‘steal the big pot of money’.
But on the flipside, the sales executive insisted being ‘naturally very empathetic’ means she would make a good Faithful.
If she wins, she said she would help her parents, who have been ‘through some tough financial times’.
Jaz
Jaz is inspired by Wilfred’s game plan last year (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The national account manager, 30, from Manchester has insisted nothing apart from his wife and his wedding day has meant more than competing on The Traitors.
Jaz thinks being a Faithful relies on being able to form a clique of the ‘the strongest and most influential people’, while he’s keen to follow Wilfred’s example if he’s on the other side.
‘That little rascal was really good. When I was watching it, I was thinking “If only I could be in his position… but get to the end,”‘ he said.
Jonny
Jonny hopes to be a ‘problem solver’ (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Jonny, 31, from Bedfordshire is ex-military, and described himself as someone with disabilities who enjoys ‘psychological things’ and is ‘a problem solver’.
He said: ‘I can be a bit scatty sometimes and I’m worried that because I’ve done so much in my life, people are going to start hearing more and more as I spend more time with them and think I’m just talking rubbish.’
Kyra
Kyra wants to help her sister have the perfect wedding (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The apprentice economist, 21, from Kent, is close to her sisters, having tuned into the US version together, and family is Kyra’s inspiration for signing up.
She said: ‘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.’
Meg
Meg has some unusual plans for the money if she wins (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Meg, 22, from Herefordshire has insisted she ‘wouldn’t throw somebody under the bus so that I could win more’ of the prize, so she’s unsure about being a Traitor.
The illustrator wants to spend the money on ‘the most expensive pair of dungarees ever’ and a Scottish motorhome trip.
Miles
Miles wants to get out of his comfort zone (Picture:Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The veterinary nurse from Birmingham, who now lives in Worcestershire, said he has done the ‘cookie cutter’ life by having a husband, going to college and having a family and thinks this will be a change.
Miles, 36, said when he told his mother he was doing TV, she said it was OK ‘as long as it’s not something like Love Island’.
He joked: ‘I said to her “Mum, I do not have the body for Love Island.” I am also married with children, so that’s definitely not the show for me!’
Mollie
Mollie thinks she’s got an advantage whether she’s a Traitor or Faithful (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Mollie, 21, from Bristol hopes looking ‘innocent’ and young will help in the game if she becomes a Traitor.
The disability model, who also works as a healthcare assistant, believes she is also able to be ‘quite good at building that relationship but also separating myself in a way which I feel like will be really good in the game’.
And if she’s a Faithful, she thinks her childhood with a ‘quite naughty’ brother will help her pick out anyone lying in the castle.
‘Growing up he misbehaved a little bit in school and wouldn’t tell my parents, but I always knew,’ she added. ‘So, I feel like I can always recognise the signs.’
Paul
Paul is looking forward to meeting host Claudia (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The business manager from Manchester thinks as someone who has done stand-up, he can use his comedy skills to ‘diffuse situations when they get so tense’.
Paul, 36, also joked if he becomes a Traitor he is ‘never washing’ his top when Claudia touches his shoulder, as the host taps the contestants during the round table to secretly let them know what side they are on.
He added: ‘Well, if Claudia touches my shoulder, I’m never washing that top again. I hope that happens because the more I think about what the show is, it is about the real Traitors, right? To participate in the show fully is to be a Traitor I think.’
Ross
Ross is hoping he’ll be a Faithful (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
Ross, 28, from Lancashire joked that appearing on The Traitors is a ‘good excuse to tell my business partner that I just can’t work for three weeks’.
The video director also said that being a Traitor would put him on ‘edge’ and feel a ‘bit gutted’ because he’ll have to actually ‘play a game’ instead of being himself.
Sonja
Sonja will do whatever it takes to win (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The 66-year-old volunteer business mentor admitted her ‘game plan is to knit my way to the finals’.
Sonja, from Lancashire, also said she learned to read body language cues from her son Dan, who died two years ago, and was ‘severely disabled with autism and other disabilities, and was nonverbal’.
‘I think I’m going to find a way to get the best information out of people without upsetting them, and just be totally devious and use that information to murder and manipulate,’ she added.
‘I think I’m a bit of a crowd pleaser as well, not intentionally, but I seem to amuse people, often by mistake, but who cares? I think that accidental crowd pleasing might serve me well in my undercover activities.’
Tracey
Tracey has revealed her potential ‘downfall’ (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The sonographer and clairvoyant, 58, from Inverness admitted she is ‘quite eccentric’ and ‘good at lying’, which could prove useful in the castle.
However Tracey, who used to be in the air force, explained: ‘The only thing that would be my downfall is that I do really like to be liked.’
Zack
Zack hasn’t hold his girlfriend how he wants to spend the money (Picture: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA Wire)
The parliamentary affairs adviser, 27, from London thinks he would be ‘cutthroat’ as a Traitor and not ‘factor in sentimentality’.
He added: ‘I think I’d be even more brutal than Wilfred…’
Zack also admitted his girlfriend does not know he wants to spend the money, if he wins.
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He joked: ‘It’s going to sound like a really nerdy answer, but the Mazda MX-5 has perfect balance, so I want to take it round tracks around Europe – that’s my dream.
‘But the flat is my answer, and as far as my girlfriend is concerned that’s what I’m saying. I have to say the flat, my girlfriend will break up with me if I didn’t say it!’
The Traitors returns on BBC One on Wednesday at 9pm.
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Meet this year’s group…