TV hardman Ross Kemp is rumoured to have signed up for the second season of The Celebrity Traitors. The former EastEnders star was expected to join host Claudia Winkleman at Scotland's Ardross Castle for filming in the coming days.
Since leaving the BBC soap, Ross has made a number of gritty documentaries, but he is now keen to take on a new challenge. Although the 61-year-old has reportedly turned down other reality TV opportunities, he was said to be intrigued by the 'psychological' nature of the show.
Why Ross Kemp Wants to Join
According to The Sun, an insider said: "He loves Traitors and thinks it's a programme on another level, which is why he really wanted to take part. Ross loved the mix of psychological intrigue paired with some of the very physical trials that the group have to complete – both suit him perfectly."
The source said Ross also saw it as an opportunity to connect with a younger audience, who would not see him as his soap character Grant Mitchell, or have watched his documentaries. They said: "He knows The Celebrity Traitors won't just be watched by people who are familiar with his work, but by younger viewers who may be less familiar with Ross, and this opens him up to a whole new audience. He's also a very BBC name and this is another big BBC show."
Previous Success and Other Cast Rumours
The Mirror reports that last year's celebrity version of The Traitors - won by Alan Carr - was a huge success. Other big names who featured in the series included Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, Celia Imrie, Cat Burns, Tom Daley, Charlotte Church and Nick Mohammed.
Aside from Ross, those believed to be part of this year's cast include Richard E Grant, Michael Sheen, James Acaster, Joanne McNally, Hannah Fry and Amol Rajan. However, the BBC told The Sun: "We are not commenting on speculation, and details for The Celebrity Traitors series 2 will be announced in due course."
