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If you have started watching The Celebrity Traitors and you are wondering who half of these people are, you are not alone. Many of them are household names (= people almost everyone in the country knows) in Britain but completely unknown abroad. Here is a short, spoiler-free guide to all 21, so you can follow the conversation at work or university. I won’t tell you who the Traitors are!

Amol Rajan, a journalist and broadcaster who presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and the quiz show University Challenge.

Bella Ramsey, an actor you may know from Game of Thrones and The Last of Us.

James Acaster, a stand-up comedian with Netflix specials and the food podcast Off Menu.

James Blunt, the singer of You’re Beautiful, now just as famous for his witty replies to people who insult him online.

Jerry Hall, the American model and actor.

Joanne McNally, an Irish comedian and podcaster.

Joe Lycett, a comedian and presenter from Birmingham, famous for his stunts and pranks.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, an actor much loved for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street, and more recently in Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

King Kenny, a YouTuber and member of the Beta Squad group, and a trained boxer.

Leigh-Anne Pinnock, a singer and former member of Little Mix, now a solo artist.

Maya Jama, a television presenter, best known as the host of Love Island.

Michael Sheen, the Welsh actor who has played Tony Blair, David Frost and Brian Clough.

Miranda Hart, the comedian and writer behind the sitcom Miranda.

Myha’la, an actor known for the drama Industry.

Professor Hannah Fry, a mathematician who presents science documentaries.

Richard E. Grant, an actor and author, known for Withnail and I and, more recently, Saltburn.

Rob Beckett, a comedian who co-hosts the podcast Parenting Hell.

Romesh Ranganathan, a comedian who has hosted The Weakest Link and appeared on Taskmaster.

Ross Kemp, an actor and presenter, famous for EastEnders and his documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs.

Sebastian Croft, an actor and musician who appeared in Game of Thrones and Heartstopper.

Sharon Rooney, an actor known for My Mad Fat Diary.

That is a lot of comedians, which is good news for you as a learner, because comedians play with language constantly. Listen for irony and understatement (= saying less than you mean), which British people use all the time and which I write about often on this blog.

Not sure what Traitors, Faithfuls and the Round Table are? Read my earlier post on why The Celebrity Traitors is a brilliant way to practise your English.

Cast details from the Royal Television Society, 1 October 2026.