Celebrity Traitors Premiere: Huge 8.9M Record Revealed

The Celebrity Traitors premiere on BBC One drew an average of 8.9 million viewers Thursday, making it the most-watched debut of any U.K. Traitors series, according to figures reported by the Press Association.

Celebrity Traitors premiere numbers

The episode peaked at 9.1 million viewers and held a 54.9 percent share of everyone watching television at the time. Variety also reported a record opening for the show, at nearly 9 million viewers.

The first celebrity series finale last autumn peaked at 15.4 million viewers, the Press Association reported. The civilian version’s January finale peaked at 9.6 million.

Who is playing this season

Claudia Winkleman returns as host, with 21 celebrities competing at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. The cast includes Richard E. Grant, Maya Jama, James Acaster, Bella Ramsey, Michael Sheen, Jerry Hall, James Blunt and Hannah Fry. Grant and Jama began the game as Traitors.

The series that opened with the Celebrity Traitors premiere runs for 10 episodes, airing Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. on BBC One and iPlayer. The second episode airs Friday, Oct. 2. The prize pool is up to £100,000 for charity.

What’s next for the franchise

In the U.S., the format continues with a Peacock celebrity edition hosted by Alan Cumming. Read our earlier coverage of the U.S. civilian series and of Cumming at the 2026 BAFTAs. Bella Ramsey also featured in our report on The Last of Us.