Mark Bonnar reveals behind the scenes Celebrity Traitors filming secrets as he details 'intense' experience

As fans eagerly anticipate the airing of Celebrity Traitors in October, one of the show’s stars, actor Mark Bonnar, has revealed behind the scenes filming secrets of the much-awaited series.

The Scottish native, 56, is one of 19 famous faces to take part on the first celebrity instalment of the show as the group filmed at Ardross Castle back in April this year.

Speaking about his experience, he said: “It’s so intense — you have no phone, so all you think about is the show. The line-up was pretty starry. Stephen Fry has been omnipresent in my life — I watched Blackadder growing up — and I loved chatting to Jonathan Ross about Nirvana.”

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Mark went on to reveal to The Sunday Times that the cast are all now part of a WhatsApp group as he explained: “It’s mad being in a Traitors WhatsApp group with them all.”

Stephen himself gave an insight into his own experience as he said on The Show People podcast: “'It was a bit like a Chinese foot massage. You know it is absolutely agony but you sort of want to do it again. It is emotionally violent but you kind of love it.

“Obviously, I can't say a word about what is in this recently recorded celebrity version I suppose. I am certainly not telling you if I am a traitor or a faithful. I am one or the other.

“'I have said no to any number of Strictlys and Get Me Out of Heres as it is just not my kind of thing. But this, I watched the first and second series and it is such a clever game.”

The 67-year-old added: “'It's so extraordinary what it does to the psychology of the individual. And I just thought it would be really interesting to play it. And what an opportunity to do so. And that's what I found.”

Aside from Mark and Stephen, the cast also includes singer Charlotte Church, comedian Bob Mortimer, Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway and funny man Alan Carr.

Joining them as either traitors or faithfuls are, TV host Jonathan Ross, rugby ace Joe Marler, actor Nick Mohammed, diving legend Tom Daley and historian David Olusoga.

Also part of the starry line-up are YouTube sensation Niko Omilana, comedian Joe Wilkinson, sports presenter Clare Balding and funny woman Lucy Beaumont.

Rounding out the cast are singer Paloma Faith, Netflix star Ruth Codd, EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, acting legend Celia Imrie and singer Cat Burns.

Host Claudia Winkleman will of course be returning and will no doubt be offering up plenty more iconic moments, after previously hosting the last three instalments of the main series.

The BBC confirmed in August that the series would premiere in October this year. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival 2025, Syeda Irtizaali, Interim BBC Director of Unscripted, said: “I was worried about how they were going to play it compared to members of the public, but we have nothing to worry about. Some of the things you'll see them doing are extraordinary.“

The BBC also previously confirmed that the main Traitors series will also return for its fourth run in early 2026, likely keeping its usual winter slot.