![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1_JS382786370.jpg\")
Claudia and the producers say the show is the best they have ever made – and they can’t wait to share it with viewers<\/p>\nThe Celebrity Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman has said her fear was because she’s ‘in love with this show’ and ‘wanted to keep it small’ – but she’s glad bosses ignored her<\/p>\n
20:20, 29 Sep 2025Updated 21:27, 29 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
Claudia and the producers say the show is the best they have ever made – and they can’t wait to share it with viewers<\/p>\n
The Celebrity Traitors host Claudia Winkleman <\/a>has admitted that she was firmly against the idea of the hit BBC<\/a> One show being filled with famous faces when the idea was first mooted.<\/p>\n As fans await the first episode airing next week, the presenter told how she wanted to protect the series that has proven so popular with viewers, it has spawned a slew of lookalike shows on rival channels. \u201cI was scared,\u201d she admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly because I\u2019m in love with this show and I wanted to keep it small. Once a year or maybe once every two years felt like enough. My bosses, thank goodness, ignored everything I said.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Dianne Buswell ‘not silly’ when competing while pregnant with first Strictly baby says Stefan Dennis<\/a> And so it came to pass that 19 huge stars were signed up for The Celebrity Traitors – each vying to win \u00a3100,000 for their chosen charity.<\/p>\n Claudia said she found her role even tougher than usual. \u201cIt was scarier, because all I wanted to do was chat to them and make them like me,\u201d she explained. \u201cBut of course, I have to be extremely unlikeable. It was tricky!\u201d<\/p>\n When she saw the calibre of celebrity queuing up to be a Traitor or a Faithful, even Claudia had to agree the show was a good idea. Working alongside Stephen Fry<\/a> and bearded comic Joe Wilkinson left her especially starstruck.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I talked to Stephen Fry I almost welled up,\u201d the 53-year-old TV star confessed. \u201cI told him this was my dream. I could barely breathe when I saw them all in the Highlands. I\u2019m such a fan of every single one of them. The whole team were just in awe, it was hard not to scream, \u2018You\u2019re here!\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n Claudia oversees the games on the show but admits she finds it a challenge not to get too chummy with the players. \u201cThe biggest challenge was being strict,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll I wanted to do was chat and be friendly but my role is aloof and grumpy. I found it hard not to just sit down with them and have a cup of tea.\u201d<\/p>\n She was left impressed by how wholeheartedly they entered into the gameplay, \u201cThey play the game beautifully and were fully engulfed in it. It was an extraordinary experience and we\u2019re so, so lucky this 19 said yes.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the celebrities who seems particularly confident ahead of entering the castle is singer Paloma Faith<\/a>, whose plan is to go in all guns blazing.<\/p>\n The singer says she\u2019s going to be loud – and vote off anyone who is dull. \u201cI’m in favour of having a voice of any kind, rather than sitting on the fence,\u201d she declared.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d get rid of the boring ones. If I don’t think someone is contributing much to our entertainment, I\u2019ll just exert my influence at the Round Table.\u201d<\/p>\n Paloma, 44, reckons she\u2019s going to going to be so good at playing the game, the other celebrities will be jealous of her skills. \u201cI’m exceptional at reading people and I’m worried that I’ll get voted off or murdered, because they’ll see that in me,\u201d she declared.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to keep it under the radar about how good at it I am. I’m at the point in my life where people don’t even want to introduce me to their new boyfriend because they’re worried I’ll say I don’t get good vibes from him.\u201d<\/p>\n TV\u2019s Clare Balding<\/a> says she\u2019s hoping to succeed by excelling in the missions. \u201cThat side of the programme I’m all over. It’s deception and the expelling of people that I’m not so comfortable with,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n Her strategy is to be one of the quieter ones. \u201cDo not be the loudest person in any situation,\u201d she reasoned. \u201cBe good at the missions, because if you’re good at those you have a value. So even if they thought you were a Traitor, would it be worth having you around? That’s what I think. If you\u2019ve got a real athlete on the team, I’d want to keep them even if I thought they were a Traitor, because they’ve got value.\u201d<\/p>\n Comedian Lucy Beaumont<\/a> admits she has no clue how she will do – but was desperate to take part because she is a superfan. \u201cI love the show. It’s the best telly I’ve ever seen and I\u2019ve watched every series.\u201d<\/p>\n The Celebrity Traitors launches on Wednesday 8 th October, 9pm, BBC1<\/p>\n Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok<\/a>, Snapchat<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, YouTube<\/a> and Threads<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Paloma](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_JS382785731.jpg\")
Paloma Faith is planning to make lots of noise in the castle<\/p>\n![\"Clare](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_JS382785725.jpg\")
Clare Balding is hoping she’s good at the missions to keep her in the game<\/p>\n![\"Lucy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_JS382785752.jpg\")
Lucy Beaumont loves the show and will muddle through – she has no idea how she’s going to play it<\/p>\n