Celebrity Traitors 2 returns next week with 21 new celebrities competing in a game of deception and amateur detective work, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. The show involves contestants forming alliances and identifying who among them is a "traitor" secretly working against the group. Last year's show featured Alan Carr, who won by hiding in plain sight and later broke down in tears at the end of the final. This year, comedians such as Joe Lycett, James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, Miranda Hart, and Joanne McNally are among the contestants, with some hoping to follow in Carr's footsteps. Lycett, known for his quick wit and political stunts, asked Carr for advice on spotting a traitor, to which Carr replied, "Just anyone that's sweating and giggling." Acaster, a "huge fan" of the show, prefers to be a faithful as he is not good at lying, though Carr had previously said something similar. Ranganathan, who hosts The Weakest Link revival, hopes his dry humor will help him be a more believable traitor or faithful. Beckett, a close friend of Ranganathan, may be on his side or twist the knife in his back. Hart, known for her self-deprecating humor, may seem more trustworthy. McNally, whose podcast is full of gossip and comic bickering, could be the joker of the pack. The "Big Dog Theory," proposed by Joe Marler last year, suggests that a famous contestant will be chosen as a traitor to cause confusion. This year, notable figures such as Michael Sheen, Richard E. Grant, Jerry Hall, Maya Jama, Amol Rajan, Ross Kemp, and James Blunt are among the contestants. Rajan, who is in it to win, plans to form alliances and avoid being seen as a target too soon. Kemp may prove popular once the tasks get physical. Blunt's participation could be either as the soppy You're Beautiful balladeer or the prolific online troll. Potential dark horses include Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Bella Ramsey, King Kenny, Hannah Fry, Myha'la, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sharon Rooney, and Sebastian Croft. Ramsey, who has been playing a version of The Traitors since age 10, plans to be "instinctive, measured, and perceptive." Fry, who co-hosts The Rest is Science podcast, aims to fulfill the "nerd quota" and is aware that people tend to think she is smarter than she actually is. Myha'la, who plays Harper Stern in Industry, wants to be seen as herself rather than her character. Hesmondhalgh, known for her role in Coronation Street, has a warm personality but is also a talented actress. Rooney, star of My Mad Fat Diary and the Barbie film, is likely to keep a low profile. Croft, star of Netflix's Heartstopper, is a younger contestant who may not be as well known to older contestants. The show will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday, 1 October.