Jonathan Ross has revealed that Ricky Gervais turned down an invitation to appear on the first series of Celebrity Traitors, fearing his fame would make him an early target. Ross, a contestant on the show, shared the conversation on his Reel Talk podcast, explaining that Gervais called him after learning Ross was taking part.
“He said, ‘I’m not doing it. The reason I’m not doing it is, I’m pretty sure that if you go in there they’re going to say it’s got to be one of these bigger names. You’re going to wind up getting voted out just because they think you’re a bigger name in the outside world,’” Ross recalled. Gervais’s prediction proved accurate, as the so-called “Big Dogs” – including Stephen Fry and Ross himself – were among the first eliminated.
Comedian Alan Carr ultimately won the series, taking home £87,500 for his chosen charity. The finale drew more than 14 million viewers, making it the BBC’s most-watched unscripted show since 2021 and sparking a surge of interest from celebrities who had previously declined to take part.
According to an industry insider, “Everyone’s kicking themselves. You had big names saying they didn’t have time or didn’t get it and now they’re texting producers trying to see if there’s space next year.” Among those who turned down the first series were Richard Osman, Martin Lewis, Karren Brady, Lorraine Kelly, and Daisy May Cooper with her brother Charlie.
Casting for the second series, scheduled to film in 2026, is already underway. Producers report being “flooded” with calls from agents of A-listers who previously passed. The show is expected to return to the same Scottish castle, with Claudia Winkleman again hosting, and BBC bosses are considering expanding the line-up and increasing the prize fund.
