An incredible 15million viewers tuned in to the first Celebrity Traitors final last year.
And they have been waiting with baited breath for the next installment to hit their screens ever since.
The BBC has released the trailer for the hotly anticipated series, as host Claudia Winkleman leaves the star-studded line-up quivering in the chilling debut teaser.
Set in an eerie church, the celebrities, including Maya Jama, James Blunt and Richard E Grant, gather in the pews, as Claudia asks: ‘A moment of silence for the celebrities gathered today.’
The camera then panned across a terrified Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Bella Ramsey, Ross Kemp and Sharon Rooney.
‘Thoughts and prayers,’ said Claudia, before striding down the aisle as she adds: ‘Who doesn’t love a dramatic exit.’
Funeral-style flowers can be seen behind Claudia, spelling out ‘RIP VIP’.
Details about the new series are being kept secret, so it remains to be seen who Claudia will choose as her three Traitors.
With this line-up proving to be the starriest yet, it was previously reported that bosses were forced to double their £1million budget in a bid to cater to the A-List contestants’ demands.
Claudia Winkleman left Maya Jama, James Blunt and Richard E Grant quivering in the chilling teaser
Michael Sheen and Maya Jama sit in the pews of an eerie church in the latest series’ trailer
Maya and Jerry Hall are two of the biggest names leading this year’s cast as they join legendary actor Richard E. Grant and comedian Romesh Ranganathan.
Also heading to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands are Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Ross Kemp, Bella Ramsey and James Blunt.
Comedians Rob Beckett, Joe Lycett, Joanna McNally and James Acaster will also join, alongside Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
The line up will be completed by mathematician Hannah Fry, broadcaster Amol Rajan, Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, prankster King Kenny, Industry star Myha’la, Heartstopper’s Sebastian Croft and My Mad Fat Diary’s Sharon Rooney.
In June, it was reported that producers of the show are ‘shocked’ by how the new series has unravelled after the original Traitors went on a ‘recruiting spree’.
A third of the 21 stars are said to end up as Traitors in a huge twist no one saw coming.
Insiders say the tactics caused a ‘thrilling shift of power’ to take place in the game which reached new levels of backstabbing and betrayal.
It is said to be completely different from the first series of the Celebrity spin-off which saw Alan Carr and Cat Burns stick together as Traitors all the way through the series after Jonathan Ross got banished earlier on.
Maya and Jerry Hall are two of the biggest names leading this year’s cast as they join legendary actor Richard E. Grant and comedian Romesh Ranganathan
The camera then panned across a terrified Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Bella Ramsey (pictured left), Ross Kemp, Sharon Rooney and Richard E. Grant (pictured right)
Rob Beckett looked stony-faced as he sat behind fellow comedian Joe Lycett
Details about the new series are being kept a closely-guarded secret, so it remains to be seen who Claudia will choose as her three Traitors
A third of the 21 stars are said to end up as Traitors in a huge twist no one saw coming
Sharon Rooney looked shocked in the teaser clip
Miranda Hart (L) and Julie Hesmondhalgh (R) both struck a serious expression
Ross Kemp kept a straight face as Claudia made her dramatic exit
‘Those working on the programme were quite shocked by the approach adopted by the core Traitors,’ a source told The Sun.
‘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.’
The Daily Mail contacted the BBC for comment.
The first series of the celebrity version of the popular programme hit screens in October last year and saw Alan, 49, win £87,500 for his chosen charity Neuroblastoma UK.
After a nail-biting season, fans were left jumping for joy when a second was confirmed – and filming started in May.
The BBC game show, which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman, has increased security for the upcoming series to make sure the public doesn’t find out which of the celebrities have been chosen as Traitors.
Locks have been installed in the editing suite, and staff are forbidden from talking about the show outside the building.
Last month, an insider told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: ‘They’re saying it’s become like The Masked Singer set-up, which is shrouded in secrecy with sealed production rooms.
‘Only a few people are allowed in and out.’
