Claudia Winkleman’s longtime pal and Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter Tess Daly could be joining Celebrity Traitors.
However, BBC bosses reportedly want the 55-year-old and her husband Vernon Kay, 50, for the backstabbing game show in a huge twist.
It’s been claimed they are on the hunt for a celebrity duo to replicate the success of the likes of mother-and-son duo Diane and Ross on the original Traitors.
A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses know the intrigue will make for great telly, as they’ve seen how it stirs things up in previous series.
‘Signing up Tess would be compulsive viewing as obviously she and Claudia are good friends from co-hosting Strictly Come Dancing.’
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When asked if the BBC had approached Tess and Vernon by Metro.co.uk a spokesperson declined to comment. Tess’ rep has also been contacted.
Other celebrity pairings being considered are reportedly father-and-son Harry and Jamie Redknapp and mother-and-son Judy and Andy Murray.
The insider said: ‘Although the famous couple won’t have any secrecy around the fact they are linked, it will still create huge amounts of suspicion and paranoia and really test allegiances.
‘Will family ties prevent them from stabbing their relative or partner in the back? Would it warp the normal dynamic between the Traitors when it comes time to ‘murder’ their loved ones?
‘And if they do turn on their partner, will it strain the relationship?’
It comes after reports that British comedy legend Stephen Fry had all but signed on the dotted line for Celebrity Traitors.
The Blackadder actor, 67, reportedly told bosses to ‘name a time and date and I’ll be there’ as he is a huge fan for the show.
The Hobbit star was approached for Celebrity Traitors because he was at the top of 52-year-old presenter Claudia’s wish list, it was claimed.
It’s also been suggested Friends legend Courteney Cox, 59, could be joining the blockbuster show- after previously begging her friend Claudia for a spot.
In a hilarious clip during the application process of season two, Scream queen Courteney dressed the part with a hooded cloak, which she unveiled and pleaded: ‘Claudia, please can I do it?’
But her cries fell on deaf ears. ‘I’ve said this to you before, it’s a no,’ stressed Claudia.
’You cannot apply if you’re a celebrity or as famous as this one. Now… off you go.’
The celebrity spin-off of runaway hit The Traitors was confirmed by the BBC earlier this month with the broadcaster’s head of entertainment Kalpna Patel-Knight promising that it will ‘take the series to a whole new level.’
A celebrity version of The Traitors has already aired in the US – and featured British stars including Love Island’s Ekin-Su Culculoglu and former speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow.
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The Traitors first aired in the UK on the BBC in 2022 after being adapted from the original Dutch format and took the nation by storm. To date, there has been two seasons in the UK.
Faithfuls Meryl Williams, Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski took home the £101,050 prize in season one, while Traitor Harry Clark proved to be undefeatable and walked away with £95,150 in season two.
The series has earned a raft of awards including the Bafta TV Award for best reality and constructed factual in 2023 and a National Television Award for best reality competition, also in 2023.
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The Traitors and Celebrity Traitors are coming to BBC One and iPlayer.
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