Claudia Winkleman to host The Traitors series 2 as dramatic return confirmed

10 February 2023 , 22:07

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Claudia Winkleman to host The Traitors series 2 as dramatic return confirmed

Claudia Winkleman is set for another big payday after signing up to present The Traitors again.

BBC1 bosses were bowled over by the success of the first run of the show, in which the 22 players are split into loyal faithfuls or dastardly traitors.

Once again set at the 19th century Ardross Castle, 25 miles north of Inverness, the second run is due to start filming in late summer.

A show source said: "These days almost every new series is a reboot of something that's gone before.

"So it's really nice to try something fresh - and for it to do well. The Traitors got everyone talking, so bringing it back was a no-brainer. Claudia was perfect."

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Claudia Winkleman hosted the first series of The Traitors (BBC)

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The series kicked off with 3.9million viewers in November and its enticing mix of drama and suspense meant the audience grew over the series.

By the last episode, just before Christmas, it pulled in 4.6million, including 35% of the sought-after 16-34 audience.

Claudia fronted the show which was won by faithfuls Aaron (left), Meryl (centre left) and Hannah (centre right) (PA)

The show proved popular among BBC viewers (BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Llara Plaza)

Last year the 10-part UK series was filmed back-to-back with the US version.

Producers Studio Lambert plan to do the same thing this summer. Claudia, 51, said she was left "sobbing on the floor" by the first series' finale, when three faithfuls shared the £101,000 prize fund.

Faithfuls Aaron Evans, Meryl Williams and Hannah Byczkowski shared the prize fund after winning the show.

A US version, hosted by Alan Cumming (centre), launched shortly after the debut UK series (BBC)

At its launch, Claudia laughed: "I was in deep. I cry at the end. I haven't cried in, like, 20 series of Strictly - with this I was on the floor sobbing. Inconsolable.

"It's a game of smarts, not a game of luck. It's a game of wit. It's an awful lot of money. I was myself and at the end I'm sobbing on the floor. There are so many twists."

Nicola Methven