As far as celebrity reality shows go, the line-up for the first season of The Traitors’ star-studded counterpart is going to be a hard one to beat.
The cast of Celebrity Traitors’ inaugural outing featured a host of impressive names – including many who’d never done reality TV before – that encompassed award-winning broadcasters and actors, athletes at the top of their game, chart-topping musicians and all-round national treasures.
But as revered as many of the celebrities on the line-up were, other famous faces turned down the BBC’s offer to appear on the show outright for a variety of reasons.
With filming getting underway on season two in the not-too-distant future, here are 11 recognisable names who are reported to have said no to appearing on The Celebrity Traitors…
Ricky Gervais
When The Celebrity Traitors was initially revealed to be in the works last year, Ricky Gervais was one of the first names reported to be on bosses’ wishlist.
However, he quickly made it clear that he had no intention of taking part because he’s “too busy” and, in his words, “there’s no way they could afford me”.
Jonathan Ross later claimed that Ricky phoned him about the offer, but the Office creator was unconvinced because he felt that “bigger names” would be easier targets – which the talk show host conceded after the series aired that he was completely “right” about.
Richard Osman
Meanwhile, former Pointless presenter Richard Osman has openly said he turned down the show because there was no way for producers to guarantee his one criteria for taking part.
“I said I would only do it if I could be a Traitor,” he told Good Morning Britain in October.
He continued: “I couldn’t bear – if I [were] a Faithful – that thing where you go back to your room at night and you’re just lying there, [knowing there were] three people up in that tower, having a load of fun in cloaks and filming something.”
Karren Brady
Apprentice staple Karren Brady made her feelings clear about Celebrity Traitors during an interview with Metro.
“I was asked and the answer was no,” she said. “One, I’ve never seen it. Two, I don’t have the time.”
She continued: “I have a full-time job and The Apprentice is filmed just in my sweet spot in the summer when the football season is over, so I can just about fit in. But that’s it.”
Martin Lewis
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
When the line-up for Celebrity Traitors season one was first reported in the press, money-saving expert Martin Lewis admitted he had major “FOMO” after having to reject an offer to participate.
“I was asked if I wanted to do it, but said no as I couldn’t commit the time,” he told his Instagram followers. “I hadn’t watched it then (but watched the last series after that and loved it) so now feel a little gutted – though I still don’t have the time. Sigh!”
Danny Dyer
Like Martin, Danny Dyer claimed during an episode of his podcast Live And Let Dyer that Traitors producers had been “sniffing round me” while putting together the cast of season one, but turned down them down as he’d not watched the original show at the time.
However, as the Traitors has been putting together its line-up for season two, it seems that Danny has had something of a change of heart.
“If they ask me I’ll do it, but no one’s asked me,” the Rivals actor claimed earlier this year. “I would fucking declare it. I’m not on it, you’ll see when it comes on.”
Miriam Margolyes
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True to form, Miriam Margolyes had no issues revealing exactly why she had no intention of signing up for Celebrity Traitors.
“I was offered this job just recently – and I can’t think of anything I’d rather less do,” she insisted during a Q&A at the Cheltenham Festival. “I’m not into that. I’ve never watched it, I don’t intend to watch it.”
The Bafta winner added: “If they want to do it for money, well, that’s fair enough [but] you won’t get me on it.”
Daisy May Cooper
When the Celebrity Traitors line-up was first starting to take shape, comedian Daisy May Cooper was heavily rumoured to be competing alongside her brother (and This Country co-star) Charlie, with producers reported to be hoping to capitalise on the drama past seasons of the regular show where contestants have known one another outside the show.
The Sun later claimed that the duo had pulled out of the show just weeks before filming was set to begin, due to scheduling issues.
Like Danny, it seems that Daisy could potentially be putting in an appearance on season two, despite having swerved the show’s first outing.
Andy Murray
Similarly, The Sun claimed in 2024 that tennis pro Andy Murray and his mum Judy had also been in consideration for the reality show.
However, they apparently turned it down, at which point the tabloid claimed bosses turned to Daisy May and Charlie as a duo with a family connection (in the end, none of the Celebrity Traitors wound up in the castle with people they were related to, although there were definitely connections outside the show that became part of the gameplay).
Lorraine Kelly
In February 2025, The Sun claimed that daytime legend Lorraine Kelly had been contacted by the BBC with an offer to appear on The Celebrity Traitors.
However, the tabloid said that while Lorraine was “flattered” to have been invited, she had to turn it down for scheduling reasons.
Lorraine later told comedian Joe Wilkinson that had she known he’d be on the line-up, she’d have been more inclined to sign up.
Anna Maxwell Martin
During an interview on Jonathan Ross’ talk show in April 2026, Anna Maxwell Martin was asked directly if she’d ever been approached about taking part in Celebrity Traitors.
The Line Of Duty star then admitted she had been, but made a realisation about the show that put her off the idea.
“I can see from the civilian one how late it gets on that show,” she explained. “That’s a Scottish summer – and they’re not leaving that castle until it gets dark. That’s 11pm, 12am… if you’re a Traitor, it’s 1am, 2am. I want to be in bed by 8pm.”
Peter Capaldi
While most of the stars on this list relate to Celebrity Traitors’ first run, Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi is one of the new prolific names to have turned down season two.
Peter admitted that because the show “propels” its contestants “into the public eye” and to a “level of fame” and “exposure” that he’s personally not comfortable with, he had to say no to the offer.