In news that will surprise no-one following the smash-hit first series, the BBC has confirmed that The Traitors will be returning for a second run.

The Traitors has now had 34M views on BBC iPlayer, and is the biggest brand new entertainment launch for the BBC in 2 years.

The Traitors was the biggest new series for young audiences across all BBC titles last year, and the highest rating new entertainment series on the BBC since at least 2017 for young audiences.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, The Traitors is a nail-biting psychological reality competition where 22 strangers play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, in the hope of winning up to £120,000.

Claudia Winkleman, says: “I can’t wait to go back to the castle to watch people play the greatest game on television. I’m knitting a high funnel sweater immediately.”

Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, says: “Last year’s ambitious and bingeable hit The Traitors with Claudia Winkleman is coming back with the brilliant team at Studio Lambert set to bring viewers another magnificent series full of drama and suspense. We can certainly expect even more deceit and psychological games for the Traitors and Faithfuls.”

Stephen Lambert, CEO of Studio Lambert, says: “We were delighted so many viewers of BBC One and BBC iPlayer loved the first season. They told us they enjoyed the drama and entertainment of watching our players judge each other, often leaping to false conclusions, but also forming alliances and real friendships. We’re excited to be making a second season with Claudia as together we build on the success of the first.”

The Traitors was not just loved by audiences but found critical acclaim:

The Daily Mail, Christopher Stevens – “Addictively fiendish, this treachery was the best thing on TV for 20 years.”

The Guardian, Rebecca Nicholson – “The Traitors is the most exquisite reality TV of the year.”

Metro, Adam Miller – “Genuinely the single most thrilling episode of television ever.”

The Financial Times, Fiona Sturges – “The Traitors is reality TV at its most immersive, dramatic and addictive.”

Rolling Stone UK, Mark Beaumont – “It’s far and away the most compelling and engrossing reality show of 2022, if not of all time.”

The Traitors (12 x 60) is produced by Studio Lambert Scotland for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The second series of The Traitors has been commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC. The executive producers for Studio Lambert Scotland are Mike Cotton, Sarah Fay and Toni Ireland, and the production executive is Abi Lambrinos. The commissioning editors for the BBC are Neil McCallum and Syeda Irtizaali.

The Traitors format is devised and developed by IDTV in cooperation with the RTL Creative Unit. Studio Lambert is part of the All3Media group. All3Media International is distributing the format worldwide and will sell the tape for both UK and US versions.

The first series of The Traitors and The Traitors US are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

If you would like to take part in the second series please apply via BBC Take Part.