When does The Traitors series 2 start?

The Traitors is back for a second series (Picture: BBC)

We’re all counting down the days until our favourite murder mystery show, The Traitors, graces our screens.

The iconic game is returning in just days, with 22 strangers playing for up to £120,000.

Season one took BBC viewers by storm, with Faithfuls Aaron Evans, Meryl Williams and Hannah Byczkowski taking home the cash prize after defeating the ultimate final Traitor, Wilfred Webster.

And, with a major plot twist and some changes to the challenges, the ultimate gameshow is officially back.

But when does it start, and where is it filmed? Here’s everything you need to know?

When does The Traitors series 2 start?

The highly-anticipated second season drops on Wednesday, January 3 at 9pm on BBC One, with episodes two and three also available immediately afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

Episodes will then air Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

In a short teaser clip, we get a first look at the new hopefuls, a handful of whom will be chosen as the Traitors, while host Claudia Winkleman warns: ‘Welcome to the game. Play it nice, you could end up six feet under.

‘Play it dirty, and you might come out on top.’

Who hosts The Traitors?

Claudia Winkleman on The Traitors (Picture: BBC)

The fan favourite reality show is hosted by Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman.

Viewers were obsessed with the beloved presenter on the first season due to her quick wit and her oversized jumpers.

In a recent interview, she admitted she was ‘feeling nervous and weird’ about the prospect of returning, considering just how brilliant the first season had been.

‘I originally said, “Let’s just leave it as this magical thing that happened.” Then the head of BBC took my temperature,’ she told Heat magazine.

‘I just don’t want people’s expectations to be so high.’

Claudia stressed that the game is ‘compelling’ and it ‘taps into something I’ve been told all my life’, which is to ‘trust your gut’.

‘But it turns out you can’t. You know absolutely nothing,’ she added.

Where is The Traitors filmed?

Filming takes place in Ardross Castle (Picture: Shutterstock / Minukhin)

All filming, as well as where the contestants are staying, takes place in Ardross Castle in Scotland.

The recruits join Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia at Ardross Castle in Alness, north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands – around a 40 minute drive from Inverness airport.

The building was built in the 19th century in the Scottish baronial style and boasts formal gardens and 100 acres of parkland on the banks of the River Alness.

After hailing the prestige location as ‘beautiful’, Claudia said: ‘It felt sometimes like we were in a painting if that’s not too cheesy.

‘And on the first day the weather systems were bonkers. I mean, at one point I went on my weather app and it literally just said no idea mate good luck, take a bikini and a cagoule.

‘On day two, we saw a double rainbow and everyone was like oh my gosh, and the crew were crying, there were baby deer, there was beautiful heather, there were ancient trees, and an ancient loch.’

The Traitors will launch on Wednesday, January 3 at 9pm on BBC One, and episodes 2 and 3 will be available on iPlayer immediately after.

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Not long too wait.