CLAUDIA Winkleman is about to welcome a batch of new contestants to the castle to play the ultimate game of deception.
The highly anticipated second instalment of The Traitors will soon air on BBC One, but the main question who will be taking part?
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But who are the contestants that Claudia will greet at the castle gates and where do they come from?
We have all the detail you need to know ahead of series two of the beloved BBC show.
Andrew
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The 45-year-old Insurance Broker comes from Talbot Green and he admitted he plans to use his experience working with high-level clients to his advantage.
Andrew explained: “I do like to adapt to the situation in front of me … I have worked in close protection security, so I looked after a lot of VIPs in London.
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“This meant I had to be on my toes, be alert, and be able to adapt at the drop of a hat.
He also revealed that he got inspiration from Amanda Lovett, 54, from the first series.
“I like the Welsh … I liked Amanda’s character and she was quite ruthless.”
Anthony
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He’s also 45-years-old and as a chess coach, he is used to playing a smart game.
“It’s like a real life, live game of chess, He declared. “Instantly, I was intrigued by that, and I just felt it was for
me.
Without giving anything away, he also went into the competition wanting to posses the poisoned chalice.
He admitted: “If I get a tap on the shoulder, then a big smile will appear from ear to ear, definitely.
“I will then need to control my breathing and remember that I need to control things from now on!
Ash
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Ash is an events coordinator from London.
The 45-year-old is looking for an “adventure” as she makes her way to the castle to join the game fronted by Claudia Winkleman.
“I’ve spent my life moving around, moving cities, moving countries, doing different things,” she remarked.
“But lately I’ve been in the same place kind of doing the same thing.”
The upcoming reality also thinks she is a good judge of character, and she loves making friends, something which she thinks will play to her advantage.
“I’m quite good at spotting people I don’t trust, it could be about someone’s energy,” she admitted.
Aubrey
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Aubrey is 67-years-old and he helms from Loughborough.
He’s retired now, having owned a shop, but that means he has had time to think up a cunning idea to win the game.
The personality admitted: “My game plan is to get on with everyone and to try and befriend everyone.
“If you’re not going to be friendly with people, they’re not going to like you, are they? But I know there will be obstacles in the way.”
However, Aubrey did admit that his physical qualities could be a big help to him.
He remarked “I don’t give things away easily. I’ve got a moustache and, unless I’m smiling, I think it makes me a look a bit more serious.”
Brian
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The 33-year-old photographer was born and bred in Scotland and he currently resides in Glasgow.
He revealed that he is someone that will go with the flow when sat around the round table.
“My game plan is to not have a game plan and take everything as it happens,” he explained.
“Looking at other people’s game plans and trying to break down other people’s strategies. At night I’ll be a crazy man scribbling but during the day I’ll just take everything as it comes.”
He added: ” If I have too much of a game plan and it gets thrown off course, I’ll think, ‘Well what the hell do I do now?!’ So, literally just take things as they come really.”
Charlie
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The 34-year-old Mental Health Area Manager calls Bristol her current home.
She says that she is not coming to the castle for a laugh as she thinks the game could have serious repercussions.
Charlie explained: “I said, initially, it was a little bit of fun and just to have a laugh but when you look at the potential prize money, that’s life changing stuff.
She said: “I think everybody’s struggling at the moment with the cost of living crisis and I think that’s why we’ve got to take it seriously.”
The upcoming star also thinks her previous experience will help her to “suss people out.”
“I’ll try not to be influenced by what other people say as well, make my own mind up,” she added.
Charlotte
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The Warwickshire native is 32-years-old and as a recruitment manager, she has more than enough experience getting people on board her cause.
But more than anything, she is happy to act out any scenario to get what she wants.
Charlotte confessed: “I think I’m really good at pretending I don’t know what’s going on, when actually, I have a very good idea.
“I play the ditzy one and I make self-deprecating jokes constantly, and I don’t get embarrassed easily either – which I think is good.”
She also admits that she is more than comfortable playing games as she explained: “I used to play poker tournaments.”
The personality added: “They used to just think ‘Who’s the bimbo at the end of the table?’ but I’d still make it to the end.
Diane
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As a retired teacher, Diane has no problems hammering lessons for her co-stars.
However, the 63-year-old Lancashire native said more than anything, she wants to bring humour back to the castle classroom.
“I’m very good at motivating,” she admitted. “I’ve discovered over the years that I can either raise an atmosphere or bring it down.”
Like her other fellow contestants, she wants to use her skills from school to her advantage.
She said: “As a teacher at a PRU I’ve had to use tactics to get control of a classroom. I’d use humour a lot, and you had to know when to pick your battles.”
Evie
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The Inverness personality has made it clear she wants to put on a show for her the audience at home, especially if she’s picked as a Traitor.
She said: “I also think I look like a Faithful. If I got cast as a Traitor, I think I’d be an amazing. Although watching my acting might be funny!
The 29-year-old veterinary nurse is ready to take the game seriously and she plans to go all the way.
“£120,000, I mean that’s not pocket money is it, that’s a lot,” she exclaimed.
“There’s never going to be a chance for me to do it again. So, I’m here to play.”
Harry
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The rest of the contestants must be prepared to stand to attention when Harry from Slough makes his way into the castle.
Although he’s only 22-years-old, Harry has experienced in the British armed forces as an Army Engineer.
Just like his occupation, Harry says he is ready for the physical challenges as he embarks on his latest mission.
He explained: “I’ve never had any fear; I’d jump from an aeroplane, skydive and jump off cliffs. I’ve done all of it at work so I’m sure I’ll be fine up in Scotland.
“I’m also used to working in teams and every day I’m in groups, whether they are big or small, trying to solve tasks, bouncing off each other.”
Jasmine
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She is no ordinary 26-year-old sales executive, meet Jasmine!
Although trust and deception is the aim of the game, the London resident is taking the format at face value.
“It’s a game at the end of the day and everyone knows it’s a game,” she remarked.
“It’s not that deep. It’s not typically who I am as a person but
I just want to win the money, and so does everyone else.”
Jasmine also reckons she is good at spotting other people who lie saying: “I think I’m good. Whenever news will come out of the friendship group, I always think ‘I literally could have told you that.’ I am very rarely surprised.”
Jaz
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The 30-year-old Manchester resident wants to be the northern powerhouse of the series.
The National Account Manager has his eye on the £120,00 prize, as he explained: “The thing is everyone wants the money, for all sorts of different reasons, so that’s just going to cloud my vision if I start to get emotionally involved in everyone’s story.”
He added: “But for me, I want to go all the way. The last man standing.
Jaz said ready to evoke hard memories from his personal life to get through the Round Table discussions.
He said: “You just have to think of some really hard things that you’ve done in life, things that you’ve been put through, and you just think of that, and your mind goes floating away to something totally different.”
Jonny
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31-year-old Jonny is an ex-military man from Bedfordshire.
But he promises to bring real entertainment to the gameshow as he revealed: “I’m quite enthusiastic, I’m quite hyper and I’m quite clumsy. I’m a character, basically.
“Everyone my entire life has said ‘Jonny, your life is like a film mate. The things you end up in.’ I like to light up a room.”
He also admitted that his personal life struggles have meant he can deal with potentially stressful situations clearly.
The personality confessed: “I’ve had a lot of darkness around me a lot of my life and I think I’ve learnt to use humour to combat it, you create your own stress, and you create your own environment.
Kyra
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She’s an apprentice economist from Kent, but at the age of 21 she’s the joint-youngest member of the cast.
But Kyra fully intends to use her youthful demeanour to climb up the ladder to the top.
She admitted: “In my workplace and my household, I’m always the little star, the little sister, a little baby, the innocent one that everyone always wants to look after.
“So, I’m going to try use that to my advantage at key moments, hopefully.”
She added: “There are so many emotions involved so I think it will be very psychological.”
Meg
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22-year-old Meg is a true artist, working as an Illustrator out of Herefordshire.
Although she desires the life of a Faithful, she emphasises that she would still play the game with integrity if she was chosen to be a Traitor.
She admitted: “I wouldn’t go to the lengths of throwing somebody under the bus, unless they were going to throw me under in that same moment.
“If I’m going down you’re coming down with me, that’s how I’d see it.”
She added: “I think you need to have a good balance with the other Faithfuls.”
Miles
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Miles, 36, originally comes from Birmingham but he now lives in Worcestershire.
Going into the game, the veterinary nurse admits: “I’m playing a role. As long as my
nearest and dearest know that then that’ll make me feel a bit better – it’s not real life.”
He also has big plans if he walks away with the life-changing £120,000 cash prize.
Miles said: “What I really want to do is get our forever home.
“I’d like to pay off our debts and get into our forever home and really settle our roots.”
Mollie
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Like Kyra, Mollie is the joint youngest of the pack at 21-years-old.
She calls Bristol her home and works as a disability model, but has previously been a healthcare assistant.
The other contestants claim their past experience could help them, but Mollie says she is used to seperating emotion.
She said: “I’m quite good at building that relationship but also separating myself in a way which I feel like will be really good in the game.”
If it came down to it, the star said she would have no problem turning on her co-stars.
Mollie added: “You have to turn on people at some points,
and that person could be your friend in there.”
Paul
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Paul is 36-years-old, lives in Manchester and works as a business manager, but has dreams of being a comedian.
More than anything, he wants to “fully” participate in the game and says he would be “buzzing” if Claudia picks him for the dreaded challenge.
He joked: “If Claudia touches my shoulder, I’m never washing that top again.”
“To participate in the show fully is to be a Traitor I think.”
He added: “It’s great to be a Faithful and find the Traitors but I want to be the one that people are trying to find.”
Ross
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Video director Ross comes from Lancashire and is 28-years-old.
Going into the BBC game, he admits that he has no interest in being a Traitor, although he says he won’t take the game too seriously either way.
He admitted: “I’m definitely not going in it to take it too seriously.
Obviously, it is a game, and I am in it to play but, I’m not really there to play a game to be honest with you.
Although he admits that he wants to actively be there to help his fellow co-stars.
He said: “I’m very much a mother hen, if it’s all too much for someone I’ll take them under my wing and make sure they’re alright.”
Sonja
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At the age of 66-years-old, the Lancashire native works as an Volunteer Business Mentor.
“I’m used to big stakes, big ticket negotiations in very challenging environments with cultural variations. I think that will serve me well,” declared Sonja.
Away from the business world she has faced much hardship looking after her late son Dan, who she revealed was severely disabled with autism and other disabilities.
But the upcoming personality said this has given her an advantage as she has an “understanding nonverbal hints and cues,” from her 41 years of care.
Tracey
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The castle is known to be spooky but Tracey might just be the perfect casting choice.
The 58-year-old works as a sonographer and clairvoyant out of Inverness.
Tracey insists she will use her ‘gut instinct’ to spot situations which may not feel quite right.
She admitted: “I feel like I genuinely can spot people a lot more for
what they are, and I use my gut instinct a lot as well.
“So, I think I would be quite good at spotting a liar. I’ve got very good instincts.”
Zack
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Completing the line-up is Parliamentary Affairs Advisor, Zak.
The 27-year-old Londoner says that he wants to use his experience within the House Of Commons to put his fellow contestants under ‘scrutiny’.
He explained: “I’ll bring an understanding of what people are thinking and lies they might be weaving without them really realising it because of my career.
“I ultimately find out what MPs are thinking so I feel like I could do it with the average person who hasn’t undergone that scrutiny or the media training before.”
The Traitors returns Wednesday 3 January from 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.