Claudia Winkleman Doubts Traitors Success Amid Budget Boost

has admitted she never expected to become the huge success it is today.

The series has become one of the broadcaster's biggest recent hits, regularly pulling in millions of viewers.

Speaking about her initial doubts about the show, Claudia revealed she was hesitant to sign up when the BBC first approached her.

'Traitors was not supposed to be what it was,' She told The Mirror.

'When the BBC asked me to go to Scotland for three weeks I was like: 'Oh, thanks for asking...' I said: 'No. I don't want to do that'.

Claudia explained how they sent her the version and told her to 'take a risk'. 

She continued: 'And I watched it and after three episodes I said I would get on the train and I am in.'

But she was not alone in doubting the format's potential success. 

The Traitors was reportedly rejected by TV bosses in the Netherlands for seven years before eventually becoming a global phenomenon.

The award-winning show, which first launched in 2022, is now filming a second season of the celebrity spin-off. 

The BBC have reportedly been forced to double its £1million Celebrity Traitors budget for its second and most star-studded series yet. 

Money has also been spent on beefing up security to keep the stars safe and the castle's goings on under wraps ahead of transmission later this year.

A source said: 'Although most of the stars are British, so many of them are used to working in America that their teams are used to the treatment.'

They told The Sun: 'The production team have little choice, however, than to cater for their demands because they accept the number of A-listers taking part in this year's show makes it exceptional.'

The Daily Mail have contacted BBC for comment.

Maya Jama was reportedly the first star to be approached by Celebrity Traitors bosses in a bid to pull in a younger audience thanks to her Love Island hosting duties.

The 31-year-old was more than willing to take a huge £760,000 pay cut compared to her fee hosting the ITV dating show.

She is said to have taken the £40,000 rate after falling in love with the series while watching it with her boyfriend Rúben Dias.

A source told The Sun: 'She loved watching the first Celebrity Traitors series at home with boyfriend Rúben and is so excited to get filming. She can't wait to do some fibbing and be as deceitful as possible to try to win it.

'It has worked out perfectly that she can go straight from the Scottish castle to the villa in Majorca to film the summer Love Island series in June.'

The Celebrity Traitors series two cast was officially announced when the BBC dropped the first teaser trailer earlier this month, with Jerry Hall also seen heading to the castle.

Shortly after the announcement, Jerry was spotted touching down in Inverness alongside Richard E Grant, Bella Ramsey and Amol Rajan, before jumping in cars to head to the Scottish Highlands.

After months of speculation over who could be following in the iconic footsteps of last year's winner Alan Carr, in a quirky new trailer, the 21 names were finally revealed.

Also heading to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands are Michael Sheen and James Blunt.

Comedians Rob Beckett, Joe Lycett, Miranda Hart and James Acaster will also be joined by Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock.