The glittering celebrity edition of The Traitors captivated audiences this autumn, but behind the scenes, a surprising financial uniformity was at play. A television insider has revealed that every famous face in the cast received an identical payment for their participation in the BBC's mind-bending game of deception.
Flat Fee for a Star-Studded Cast
Speculation was rife about the wages commanded by the show's impressive line-up, which included national treasures like Stephen Fry, comedians such as Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross, and stars from music, sport, and broadcasting. However, reports confirm that the BBC opted for a straightforward approach: each of the 19 celebrity contestants was paid a flat fee of £40,000.
This detail was discussed on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast in July, where presenter Marina Hyde highlighted the calibre of celebrities attracted by this blanket fee. Despite the uniform pay packet, sources also disclosed that the famous cast stayed in the same budget hotel during filming at the iconic Ardross Castle, levelling the playing field off-camera as well as on.
The Charity Twist in the Prize Fund
While the original series sees contestants battle for a cash prize they can keep, The Celebrity Traitors introduced a significant charitable twist. The show features a prize pot of £100,000, but the ultimate winner—whether a cunning Traitor or a perceptive Faithful—will not pocket the money personally.
Instead, the entire £100,000 jackpot will be donated to charity. This decision reframes the high-stakes competition, turning the tactical gameplay into a philanthropic endeavour for the victorious celebrity or team.
A Game Played with 'Empathy and Wit'
Host Claudia Winkleman returned to oversee the celebrity spin-off, which premiered in October 2025. Ahead of the launch, she teased that viewers would see a different side to the well-known personalities. "You think you know these people, and then you watch them play this game," Winkleman said, praising the cast for playing "with empathy, with wit and with real smarts."
The full celebrity line-up for the series was:
- Alan Carr – Comedian
- Cat Burns – Singer/songwriter
- Celia Imrie – Actress
- Charlotte Church – Singer
- Clare Balding – Broadcaster
- David Olusoga – Historian and filmmaker
- Joe Marler – Former England rugby union player
- Joe Wilkinson – Comedian
- Jonathan Ross – TV Presenter
- Kate Garraway – TV and radio presenter
- Lucy Beaumont – Comedian
- Mark Bonnar – Actor
- Nick Mohammed – Actor and comedian
- Niko Omilana – YouTuber and influencer
- Paloma Faith – Singer/songwriter
- Ruth Codd – Actress
- Stephen Fry – Actor and writer
- Tameka Empson – Actress and comedian
- Tom Daley – Olympic diver
The revelation of the standardised fee and the charitable prize fund adds a new layer to the public's understanding of the show, contrasting it with other major celebrity formats and underscoring the BBC's distinctive approach to its flagship reality competition.
