Mark Bonnar opens up on filming Celebrity Traitors as he admits experience was ‘so intense’ and reveals cast have WhatsApp group

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Mark Bonnar shared that the stars of Celebrity Traitors stay in touch through a group WhatsApp chat, having finished filming the popular show earlier in the year.

The 56-year-old Scottish actor was among the 19 celebrities who competed in a challenge at Ardross Castle, starting in April.

Claudia Winkleman will return to host the celebrity version of the hit show, and viewers are excited to see the drama, rivalries, and unexpected turns involving stars like Alan Carr and Tom Daley.

Mark shared that he was excited to join the show because his whole family – including his wife, Lucy Gaskell, and their children, Martha, 14, and Samuel, 10 – were already fans of the BBC series.

He excitedly talked about meeting up with his co-stars at the castle, and shared that the cast members still chat with each other on WhatsApp.

He shared with The Sunday Times that his family enjoys watching The Traitors, and he thought Lucy and his children would be thrilled if he participated in the show.

It was completely immersive – without your phone, you’re fully focused on the performance. Plus, the performers were all really famous.

Stephen Fry feels like a constant presence in my life – I was a big fan of Blackadder as a kid – and I really enjoyed talking to Jonathan Ross about the band Nirvana. It’s surreal being in a group chat with them both for the show The Traitors.

Stephen described his challenging time on the show as ’emotionally violent,’ but surprisingly compared it to a surprisingly pleasant ‘Chinese foot massage,’ ultimately speaking positively about the experience.

The 67-year-old actor described the experience on The Show People podcast as strangely addictive, comparing it to a painful but desired Chinese foot massage. He explained it was emotionally intense, even violent, yet he found himself wanting to repeat it.

I can’t reveal anything about the latest celebrity recording, of course. I won’t say whether I’m working with the other side or remaining loyal – I’m definitely one or the other, but you’ll have to guess which.

I’ve turned down many offers to appear on shows like Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! because they just don’t appeal to me. However, I started watching The Traitors and really enjoy it – it’s a brilliantly designed game.

He explained that the role had a fascinating effect on a person’s mind, and he was eager to explore that through acting. He felt it was a unique and compelling opportunity, which ultimately drew him to the part.

Joining Mark and Stephen, the cast of celebrities playing the game – some as Traitors and others as Faithfuls – also includes actors Ruth Codd, Celia Imrie, and Tameka Empson.

Alan Carr, Nick Mohammed, Joe Wilkinson, and Lucy Beaumont-all known for their comedy-will join singers Paloma Faith, Cat Burns, and Charlotte Church for the event.

Jonathan Ross, Clare Balding, and Kate Garraway will host the show. Joining them are guests including Olympic diver Tom Daley, rugby player Joe Marler, historian David Olusoga, and YouTuber Niko Omilana.

With excitement growing for the first UK version featuring celebrities, The Rest Is Entertainment podcast recently shared how much the famous contestants are being paid.

According to journalist Marina Hyde, all the celebrities received a flat fee of £40,000 for appearing on the show, instead of being paid different wages.

She mentioned that it’s interesting to compare the BBC show *Celebrity Traitors* to ITV’s *I’m a Celebrity*, while they were talking about how much the BBC pays its talent, and speaking with her co-host, Richard Osman.

We haven’t seen the celebrity version yet, but it’s going to be huge. The team they’ve assembled is incredibly talented.

She revealed that everyone received a flat fee of $40,000, adding, “I’m sharing everything today. They’re paying each person $40,000.”

Richard Osman, the host of the game show Pointless, drew a comparison to the HBO series The White Lotus. He explained that the celebrity contestants on that show all received a standard payment of $40,000 (about £29,000) per episode, rather than being paid different amounts based on their individual fame.

He compared the situation to the show *The White Lotus*, explaining that everyone received significantly lower pay than usual. He quickly followed up by saying that, generally, people in the entertainment industry are already very well compensated.

Richard shared that he’s heard the first episode is ‘amazing’ from someone who’s seen it, suggesting fans will really enjoy it.

Filming for the latest season of The Traitors, featuring celebrities, began in late April with cast members arriving at Inverness Airport, and the show has already finished filming.

While the official release date isn’t set, the show is currently planned to premiere on BBC in fall 2025.

After several details were leaked, BBC executives went to great lengths to keep the show’s cast a secret until the official announcement.

The Sun reports that executives organized a highly coordinated operation, similar to a military one, to bring the show’s stars to Ardross Castle.

As a huge fan, I was amazed by the lengths they went to protect the surprise! They actually established a no-fly zone over Claudia’s beautiful home in the Highlands – it was incredible! It was all to prevent anyone with drones from getting sneaky pictures of the location.

It’s been surprisingly difficult to keep the celebrity version of the show under wraps, especially since the show relies on secrets and unexpected turns of events.

Choosing celebrities like Kate Garraway, Joe Marler, and Paloma Faith for a project significantly increases the risk of information leaks and gossip, compared to hiring someone with a more private profession, like a call center manager or a retired opera singer.

‘So execs have worked really hard to lock down every inch of the production.’

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2025-09-14 12:34