Romesh Ranganathan thought The Celebrity Traitors was more "fake"
Romesh Ranganathan is taking part in the second series of The Celebrity Traitors.
Romesh Ranganathan thought The Celebrity Traitors was more "fake" before he signed up for its second series.
The 48-year-old comedian assumed stars would turn up to Ardross Castle, Scottish Highlands, play as either Traitors or Faithfuls in the BBC's game of backstabbing, deceit, and betrayal, and went home.
On Wednesday's (24.06.26's) episode of The One Show, he told hosts Alex Jones, 49, and 52-year-old Vernon Kay: "Even as I begin to speak now, I feel incredibly nervous because I can't give anything away, but what I can say is, I thought that it was faker than it is.
"What I mean is, I thought you rock up, just have a go, and then you go home."
Romesh "couldn't believe" how immersive The Celebrity Traitors is.
He added: "You are in the game the whole time you're in the game, and that took me by surprise. It becomes all-encompassing; it's a pretty amazing experience."
The Weakest Link host is doing the show with his 40-year-old pal, Rob Beckett.
Asked if their friendship survived the intense experience, Romesh joked: "I have to be [friends with him] because it is financially rewarding!"
Joining Romesh and Rob on The Celebrity Traitors are Bella Ramsey, 22, Ross Kemp, 61, Hannah Fry, 42, James Acaster, 41, James Blunt, 52, Jerry Hall, 69, Joanne McNally, 43, and 37-year-old Joe Lycett.
The line-up is rounded out by Julie Hesmondhalgh, 56, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 34, Michael Sheen, 57, King Kenny, 29, Maya Jama, 31, Miranda Hart, 53, Sebastian Croft, 24, Sharon Rooney, 37, Myha'la, 30, and 69-year-old Richard E. Grant.
Last year, Alan Carr, 50, won the series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, 54, after he, Jonathan Ross, 65, and Cat Burns, 26, decided against trying to recruit anyone to their cause.
But for season two, it has been reported that a third of the contestants are recruited as Traitors.
A source told The Sun: "Those working on the programme were quite shocked by the approach adopted by the core Traitors.
"They went on a recruiting spree that has never been seen on either the celebrity or the ‘civilian’ version of the show in the UK.
"Last year, the original three Traitors secretly selected by Claudia remained as a trio throughout the competition - which turned out to be a winning approach.
"But on the follow-up series, all that changes. There’s a thrilling shift in the balance of power.
"Even though the whole programme is based on skullduggery, nobody thought it would reach these levels."
Series two of The Celebrity Traitors airs later this year.
