Does the celebrity element make this easier or harder?published at 21:18 BST 8 October

21:18 BST 8 October

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter

Unlike in the regular series, many of the celebrities already know each other.

That could make it more challenging, because it could be harder for contestants to portray themselves in a totally different way, or to hide their motivations.

Let’s think back to the last regular series of the Traitors. One of the contestants, Charlotte from London, used a fake Welsh accent to try and make herself appear more trustworthy to the other players.

None of the celebrities could try a ruse like that. It simply wouldn’t work if Kate Garraway lied and pretended she was Welsh.

There may also be past history or dramas between the celebrities who knew each other personally before entering the Traitors Castle. If that comes back up, that could heighten the tensions further.

Hafsa Khalil
Live reporter, and wannabe Traitor

Not quite time to check in yet: there is the small matter of gravedigging first.

A pass to survive the first murder is up for grabs. Dignified it is not.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter, and wannabe Faithful

"It's definitely had a jetwash," is Alan Carr's suitably dry take as the first group arrive at the castle.

"Something is afoot," says Jonathan Ross, the penny seemingly dropping about why he's here in the first place.

Hafsa Khalil
Live reporter, and wannabe Traitor

The celebrities are meeting each other ahead of the game.

An unlikely trio emerges as Celia Imrie and Joe Marler pick up Stephen Fry on the roadside along the way.

A lot of brains and brawn in that car.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter, and wannabe Faithful

The familiar dramatic soundtrack means only one thing: the Traitors is back.

Let's see how our 19 celebrities fare as they step into Ardross Castle. Twists and turns surely await.

Hannah Karpel
Live reporter, and wannabe Traitor

Expect melodrama, deceit and murder as the celebrities are about to arrive.

Stick with us as we see how the first episode unfolds and watch yourself by clicking play at the top of this page.

Image source, PA Media

The majority of the contestants will be Faithful, meaning it is their job to root out and banish the Traitors before the end of the game.

They do not know who is a Traitor and who is a fellow Faithful (the audience at home is aware). Every night there is a round table, where people can air their suspicions, and then a vote is taken to banish someone from the game.

The Traitors are chosen by the host, Claudia Winkleman, and they work together to divide and get rid of the faithful.

Every night, after the banishment, they are given the opportunity to assemble in their hooded cloaks (see the image below) and kill a Faithful (in a purely symbolic way via a handwritten letter, of course). That Faithful then also leaves the game.

Meanwhile, everyone takes part in daily tasks where they can build up a prize pool and contestants learn more about each other. Is someone trying to fail the challenge on purpose - or are they just a bit rubbish?

Beware: there will be plenty of twists and turns as the game progresses to reach the final, when all of the Traitors must be eliminated for the remaining Faithful to win the cash.

If a Traitor or Traitors remain at the end of the banishments, then they are the victors.

Simple, right?

Jasmine Sandhar
Newsbeat reporter

Image source, PA Media

Players from last season's Traitors have been sharing their advice to the celebrities with BBC Newsbeat.

Series three winner Jake Brown was 100% faithful during his time in the castle, bagging £47,300.

“My first tip is trust no one,” he says. “Be likeable and give people a reason to keep you in the game.”

Jake quickly earned a reputation for spotting Traitors, even calling one out in his very first episode.

He thinks it’s down to body language: “It is literally going off little movements – I was looking for blinking a lot, sweating, or kind of being a bit fidgety.”

Thinking about appearances was also part of Minah’s strategy as a ‘day one Traitor’ in the same season as Jake.

“You kind of look at other people’s cues and how you should react,” she remembers.

“You’re constantly trying to act shocked, remain relaxed, or be panicked in situations that you’re not.”

Minah formed a sisterhood of Traitors with other female players but was banished after one of them turned on her.

“Don’t get too invested in a friendship or an alliance,” she warns. “At any point, you’re going to have to betray them or they’re going to have to betray you.”

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter

Image source, BBC / Studio Lambert / Cody Burridge

Ahead of the series launch, presenter Claudia Winkleman told journalists she treated the celebrity contestants no differently from the civilians.

“[The celebrities] said yes because they like the game, so we wanted to give them the full experience,” she explained at a launch event last week

“So me turning around going 'I don't know if you remember but we once met,' probably wasn't going to be helpful, and so they had it as everybody else would have it.”

But, she noted: “I know some of them, they're all equally lovely, I have to say they were incredibly humble, kind, amazing to work with.”

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter

Image source, BBC/PA

In an era where very few new hits are made on terrestrial TV, the first three series of The Traitors were appointment-to-view television.

Viewers were hooked on watching each episode live - partly to avoid being at risk of hearing spoilers, but also simply because it's addictive viewing.

A huge number of Traitor-inspired formats have followed as other TV networks and streamers tried to get in on the action but the original kept growing in popularity.

The five million who watched the first season grew to eight million for the second, and 10 million for the third.

The BBC will know that the format can't stay popular forever, and a celebrity spin-off is a natural way to try and keep the format evolving.

Hannah Karpel
Live reporter, and wannabe Traitor

Image source, BBC/Studio Lambert

From fizzy-rosé-induced deaths to spelling mishaps on a chalk board, there are plenty of moments that have got people talking. Here are five of our favourites:

“...But Ross is”

A dramatic reveal uncovered a hidden relationship between two players in series two. It came after speculation that there was a mother-son duo roaming the castle – namely, fellow contestants Diane and Paul. To which Diane replied: “Paul just couldn’t be my son... but Ross is.”

Hidden romance

Before that, came the original hidden relationship between couple Tom and Alex in season one. “She’s my girlfriend,” Tom announced at breakfast, pleading with the group to not label his girlfriend as a traitor. The announcement didn’t quite have the desired effect, with the players descending into emotional, tearful meltdowns.

Detective Maddy

It wouldn’t be a list of viral moments if Maddy’s outburst at the Round Table in series one that subsequently turned everyone against her didn’t get a mention too.

“Faithful, faithful, faithful, not sure, Traitor, Traitor, Faithful,” she said whilst pointing at each player. I mean, at least she got one right – if you know, you know.

Linda’s theatrics

It's hard to forget the much-adored Linda from series three, who didn’t quite have traitor traits come naturally to her. First it was the head turn in response to Claudia calling out the “traitors”, then the questionable melodrama at breakfast as she anticipated who might come through the door: “Oh my god”, she said, “Who the hell is not going to come back”.

Jazatha Christie

Jaz from series two, also dubbed ‘Jazatha Christie’ for his traitor-detecting spidey senses, is no doubt one of the ultimate faithfuls. He was consistently on the money with who the traitors were during his run. It’s just a shame no one would listen.

We’re expecting plenty more drama from this celebrity season. So, start taking notes as the game begins.

Hannah Karpel
Live reporter, and wannabe Traitor

Image source, BBC / Studio Lambert

Channelling Cruella de Vil with a touch of Miss Trunchbull, Winkleman’s fierce yet slightly grumpy character mustn’t be underrated in the game - and neither, for that matter, must her outfits.

Over the seasons, we’ve even had some viral moments – remember THAT oversized woollen roll neck jumper from Season 1? Or the “full yeti” faux fur coat with matching furry Chanel boots from Season 3? I mean, it was "the ceremony of truth" after all.

With her thick fringe and bold eyeliner, some might dub Winkleman’s traitors look as "iconic", even recreating her key features for their own Traitors games and watch parties.

And each morning, as each player anticipates who’s survived the latest banishment and will walk through the doors at breakfast, we’re just as eager to see Winkleman’s latest look.

So far, her aesthetic has sat somewhere between Highlands gothic and cosy-chic effortlessly blended by stylist Sinead McKeefry. And, the wardrobe this celebrity season is expected to take on a whole new level.

“It’s absolutely nuts,” says Winkleman. “Unhinged in taffeta was where we went...”

Image source, BBC / Studio Lambert

Image source, BBC / Studio Lambert

Steven McKenzie
BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter

Image source, BBC/Euan Cherry/Studio Lambert

Ardross Castle has become one of the biggest stars of the reality show.

The 19th century former stately home, about 30 miles north of Inverness, is set in about 100 acres of gardens and parkland near the Easter Ross town of Alness.

The property was built more than 170 years ago in a Scottish baronial style - a type of elaborate architecture featuring complex rooflines with turrets and fortress-like battlements.

It was built for Sir Alexander Matheson, who made his fortune trading in China. He was an MP and an instrumental figure in the building of railways in the Highlands.

Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society says that from 1847, about 400 workers were involved in the property's construction. They built 30 rooms and laid out the castle's extensive grounds.

Today, the property is marketed as a wedding venue and location for TV shows and films.

• Read more on the castle, and whether you can stay there, here

Image source, PA Media

Did The Traitors receive an unofficial royal stamp of approval earlier today?

Prince William and his family are "very much looking forward" to watching The Celebrity Traitors, he reportedly said at an investiture.

His remarks were made to TV executive Stephen Lambert - chief executive of the production company behind The Traitors - as Lambert received an OBE at Windsor Castle.

"He said he and the family were very much looking forward to watching it. It was going to be a big treat for them and probably for the nation, he expected," Lambert says.

Lambert adds that he and his team were "blown away by the quality of the people" interested in participating in the first season of Celebrity Traitors.

"They're all people that everybody knows about."

Ian Youngs
Entertainment and Arts reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Click here for part one and part two of the list

• Celia Imrie: Beloved veteran British actress who has been in Calendar Girls, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Bridget Jones
• Joe Marler: Rugby union prop who earned 95 caps for England until his retirement last year, and now hosts his own podcast
• Nick Mohammed: Received an Emmy nomination for playing Nate in Ted Lasso
• David Olusoga: Historian who has fronted the BBC's A House Through Time and other documentaries
• Niko Omilana: Content creator with more than eight million followers on his YouTube channel famed for pranks
• Jonathan Ross: Host of long-running Saturday night chat show on ITV, and a panellist on The Masked Singer
• Joe Wilkinson: Comedian known for his deadpan delivery and bountiful facial hair

Ian Youngs
Entertainment and Arts reporter

Image source, Getty Images

• Ruth Codd, actress: Has appeared in Netflix series The Midnight Club and the Fall of the House of Usher
• Tom Daley, Olympic gold medal-winning diving champion who's also a knitwear entrepreneur, podcaster and children's author
• Tameka Empson, actress and comedian who has played Kim Fox on EastEnders since 2009
• Paloma Faith, Brit Award-winning singer has had six UK top 10 albums and acted in shows like Batman spin-off Pennyworth
• Sir Stephen Fry, comedian, actor, author and presenter who most recently hosted game show Jeopardy!
• Kate Garraway, known for presenting ITV's Good Morning Britain, Kate Garraway's Life Stories and a Smooth Radio show

Ian Youngs
Entertainment and Arts reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Here's part one...

• Clare Balding, broadcaster and author, known for her love of sport and animals
• Lucy Beaumont, comedian - a familiar face from panel shows and sitcom Meet the Richardsons
• Mark Bonnar, actor who has starred in TV shows like Guilt, Apple Tree Yard, Catastrophe and Shetland
• Cat Burns, singer-songwriter: nominated for three Brit Awards for her 2022 hit Go
• Alan Carr, comedian - hosts Interior Design Masters and attempts to fix up crumbling European houses with Amanda Holden
• Charlotte Church, singer and activist who now runs a nature-based wellness retreat and educational project, and is a political activist

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter, and wannabe Faithful

Image source, BBC/PA

Autumn is upon us, and Ardross Castle stands ready in the depths of the Scottish Highlands to welcome 19 celebrities to its shadowy corridors.

From a gold medal-bearing Olympian to singers, actors and comedians, it’ll be the first time Claudia Winkelman welcomes celebrities for a UK series.

Tonight, three will be tapped to become Traitors. Could beloved broadcaster Clare Balding be picked for the green cloak? Or perhaps chatty man Alan Carr will be forced to keep secrets at breakfast times?

Unlike the three UK series so far - which have seen contestants compete for a sizable jackpot for themselves - the celebrities will be hoping to grab £100,000 for a chosen charity.

Hour-long episodes will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:00 BST, and be available on BBC iPlayer afterwards. They will be followed with editions of Uncloaked, hosted by comedian Ed Gamble.

As we build up to tonight’s extended 70 minute opener, we’ll fill you in on how exactly the show works, and bring you a rundown of all the celebrities about to find out their fate.

And then - from 21:00 - you'll be able to watch and follow along right here on this page.