Sporting legend ‘signs up for Celebrity Traitors with game plan all mapped out’

Though it’s been weeks since Claudia Winkleman graced our screens with a new series of The Traitors, there isn’t long to go before we’re introduced to a new batch of noble Faithfuls and conniving Traitors.

The beloved BBC competition – which sees contestants put their wits to the test in a bid to win a huge cash prize – saw Faithfuls Leanne Quigley and Jake Brown taking home a cash prize of £47,300 each from a total jackpot of £94,600.

And now, Celebrity Traitors is also on the horizon, and is expected to air later this year with an all-star cast.

So who could be in the line-up of the celebrity version of the series? Names floated about have included the likes of actor Stephen Fry, soap legend Danny Dyer and Friends star Courteney Cox, and now, a sporting legend has joined the list and is even said to have their game plan ‘all mapped out’.

This comes after it was claimed the show was thrown into chaos when sibling duo Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper pulled out weeks before filming.

Let’s unpack the latest rumours!

Who is rumoured to be doing Celebrity Traitors UK?

Joe Marler

Rugby legend Joe Marler is the latest name rumoured to be joining Celebrity Traitors.

The 34-year-old former rugby union player has reportedly signed his contract for the BBC series after retiring from the sport in November.

A source told The Sun: ‘Joe has officially signed his contract for Celebrity Traitors and can’t wait to get stuck in.

‘He has spent his whole career on the rugby pitch and won the Six Nations three times with England — but now he’s ready for a fresh challenge.

‘Joe is a huge fan of The Traitors and the BBC loved him when they met him for an interview for the show.

‘He says he’s got his game plan all mapped out and thinks he can go all the way.’

Danny Dyer

Fresh off the adulation he received for his performance in Disney Plus hit drama Rivals, it’s been claimed that Danny Dyer has an exciting new TV project on the horizon with Celebrity Traitors.

A source has claimed that the EastEnders actor ia ‘reality TV booker’s dream signing’, but has apparently turned down several other opportunities over the years.

‘He’s a huge character who effortlessly creates telly magic without even trying, so Traitors bosses have been pursuing Danny hard. They’re doing everything they can to get the deal over the line,’ they told The Sun.

Other reality TV shows he has done in the past have included Celebrity Gogglebox, The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, The Wheel and presenting The Wall.

Stephen Fry

One of the top stars rumoured for Celebrity Traitors is TV legend Stephen Fry – and honestly, he would be a stellar signing.

According to a source, Traitors presenter Claudia put him ‘right at the top of celebs she’d want’ on the show – and he ‘made it clear he’d be game’.

‘Stephen is a fan of the show and Claudia was desperate for him to be in it,’ the insider told The Sun.

‘No contracts have been signed yet — but he told the show’s bosses to name a time and date and he’ll be there.’

Stephen also addressed the rumours in an interview with Metro, joking: ‘I can say that the BBC would slice off my testicles if I were to comment publicly on the possibility of such a thing as dwelling in a castle in Scotland for a week or two – or indeed for a day or two, quite likely.

‘I would be fired in the driveway, which is the thing they sometimes do, isn’t it, before you even get there, if you say the wrong thing.’

Despite staying tight-lipped about the rumours, he did reveal how much of a fan he is.

‘I think it’s brilliant. I’m not usually a fan of what you might call reality TV, but I think of it more as a game than reality TV, it’s just a very clever game, simple but complex as well,’ he added.

‘I’m a terrible liar [though],’ he quipped, before laughing: ‘Or am I?’

Well played, Stephen. Well played.

Alan Carr

If rumours are to be believed, then comedian Alan Carr was reportedly in talks to join the show and would no doubt bring entertainment in spades.

‘Alan is an absolute national treasure and will be an incredible contestant – he’ll make great telly as well as being a top player,’ a source told The Sun.

‘Bosses are thrilled at the kind of scenes that could play out as he grapples with the more sensible names on the line-up as well as him giggling away with pals like Jennifer [Saunders].’

They added that Alan was supposedly in ‘final talks’ to join the series, and that he would be a ‘dream signing’.

Alison Hammond

When fans have discussed their dream castings for Celebrity Traitors, one person has cropped up who would be sensational – national treasure Alison Hammond.

Some people mentioned the fact that this wouldn’t be the This Morning star’s first experience on the round table, as she took part in the Traitors special for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.

‘Alison Hammond please!’ Reddit user raccC0 pleaded, while mikus-fikus responded saying: ‘Oh yasssss please!!!’

Claudia herself has also suggested Alison as one of the big names she’d love to see join the series.

Bob Mortimer

Comedian Bob Mortimer, whose unbelievable stories on panel show Would I Lie To You? have become the stuff of British TV legend, has put himself forward to take part in Celebrity Traitors.

Hopefully the BBC has taken note, as we know he’d make for an iconic player, whether competing as a Traitor or a Faithful.

‘It’s the only show of its kind on TV that I would agree to get involved with but, yes, definitely count me in, I’d love to do it,’ he told The Mirror.

‘I watch the American, UK and Australian versions of The Traitors. I think they’re all great, it’s a brilliant format. And Claudia is the best of the presenters.’

Courteney Cox

Before the celebrity version of The Traitors had even been confirmed by the BBC, Friends star Courteney Cox was claimed to have been eyed by producers to take part.

A source told The Sun that a celebrity of Courteney’s level of fame ‘shows the kind of calibre of famous faces Celebrity Traitors is aiming for’.

‘After the show was announced, producers were swamped with calls from big names and their agents wanting to throw their hat in the ring — many of them a big surprise,’ they said.

‘Courteney has always been a fan of the show, particularly as the British version has her mate Claudia fronting it.’

Jason Manford

Days after the original series of The Traitors UK ended on the BBC, comedian Jason Manford made it clear that he was very interested in doing a celebrity version of the show.

‘Just finished ‘The Traitors’ on @BBCOne! No idea how I managed to avoid any spoilers but what a brilliant bit of telly! Loved it!’ he tweeted on December 27 2022.

‘@ClaudiaWinkle the perfect host. If they do a celeb version, I’m throwing my hat in the ring now! Catch it on iPlayer if you haven’t managed it yet!’

Several of the contestants who competed on The Traitors replied to his tweet, supporting the idea of him entering the gripping competition.

Adam Woodyatt

Another celebrity fan of The Traitors is none other than Adam Woodyatt, who shared an eerie picture of himself in a hood while watching the second series of the UK programme in January this year.

‘All caught up on @bbciplayer and waiting for tonight’s episode,’ the EastEnders star wrote in his Instagram caption.

‘If they ever do a celeb version of #traitors I would walk to Scotland to be part of it!!’

A number of fans loved the idea, with one called Poppy commenting: ‘Oh you would be brilliant 👏😍.’

When approached for comment, a BBC spokesperson told Metro: ‘The Traitors is a game that includes lies and deception, thus it would be foolhardy for any Faithful to speculate before the game has begun.’

A version of this article first published on December 19, 2024.

Celebrity Traitors will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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