The Traitors Series 2: meet the two Birmingham contestants taking part in BBC TV show

The first series of the BBC show The Traitors was a huge hit and the show will return to our screens on Wednesday, January 3, with two Brummies taking part.

The Traitors arrived on UK screens for its first series in November 2022, providing us with dramatic moments and edge-of-your-seat television that gripped the nation.

The reality television game show focuses on a group of strangers living together in a Scottish castle, with some of them being secretly given the title of ‘Faithful’ and others being given ‘Traitor’. The ‘Traitors’ must work together to eliminate ‘Faithfuls’, by ‘murdering’ them while avoiding being detected as a ‘Traitor’. 

The ‘Faithfuls’ must try to work out which of their fellow players are ‘Traitors’, and at the end of each episode, players must gather at the Round Table, to discuss who may be a ‘Traitor’, and ‘banish’ a contestant they suspect.

The aim of the show is to win the prize money which is up for grabs for both ‘Faithfuls’ and ‘Traitors’. The prize money is accumulated by the players participating in various challenges.  Claudia Winkleman will be returning to host The Traitors UK for series two, with a number of contestants from around the UK taking part.

The two Birmingham contestants taking part in show

Anthony - A 45-year-old chess coach from Birmingham will be featuring in series 2 of the show. Ahead of the show, he revealed why he decided to apply for the show. He said: "When I started to watch series one, I thought that this is a game where basically everybody's expendable.

"Like a game of chess, every piece on the board is expendable, the only thing that matters is the king, that's it. And ultimately, the idea is to checkmate and win the game. For me, it was like in a chess tournament where you've got to control your emotions and psychologically manage yourself. I was completely intrigued by it."

When asked what he'll bring to the game, he said: "My life experiences and being able to manage my emotions. That's something I've discovered I'm actually pretty good at, being able to keep my emotions in check.

"I think that's something that's going to be really key, because if you don't keep your emotions in check, you might say the wrong thing at the wrong time and rub people up the wrong way. I believe it's something that I will definitely be able to bring to the game."

Miles is the other Brummie taking part in series 2. The 36-year-old veterinary nurse from Birmingham now lives in Worcestershire. He said: "I’ve done everything that I feel like is the cookie cutter thing to do, you know? I went to school, went to college, got my qualification, found my husband, had a family.

"I just thought I’ve done everything so “correct”. When I saw the show, I thought it was quite clever, quite different. It was nicely done. I like that the show has normal, everyday people.

"There are going to be times when you’re going to have beef with people, because we’ll get so involved in the roles that we’re playing. It’s just that, I'm playing a role. As long as my nearest and dearest know that then that’ll make me feel a bit better – it's not real life."

When asked what he'll bring to the show, he said: "If anything, it has to be humour. Humour is my number one really, so I find the funny in everything. Obviously respectfully. Humour’s probably the first thing that I bring forward because that’s my norm, even if I’ve been cooped up that’s what I fall back onto to make myself feel comfortable again. I’m happy to laugh at myself...and others."

Who are the cast of The Traitors UK series two?

• Andrew - A 45-year-old insurance broker from Talbot Green.
• Anthony - A 45-year-old chess coach from Birmingham.
• Ash - A 45-year-old events coordinator from London.
• Aubrey - A 67-year-old retired shop owner from Loughborough.
• Brian - A 33-year-old photographer from Glasgow.
• Charlie - A34-year-old mental health area manager from Bristol.
• Charlotte - A 32-year-old recruitment manager from Warwickshire.
• Diane - A 63-year-old retired teacher from Lancashire.
• Evie - A 29-year-old veterinary nurse from Inverness.
• Harry - A 22-year-old British army engineer from Slough.
• Jasmine - A 26-year-old sales executive from London.
• Jaz - A 30-year-old national account manager from Manchester.
• Jonny - A 31-year-old ex-military employee from Bedfordshire.

• Kyra - A 21-year-old apprentice economist from Kent.
• Meg - A 22-year-old illustrator from Herefordshire.
• Miles - A 36-year-old veterinary nurse from Birmingham.
• Mollie - A21-year-old disability model from Bristol.
• Paul - A 36-year-old business manager from Manchester.
• Ross - A 28-year-old video director from Lancashire.
• Sonja - A 66-year-old volunteer business mentor from Lancashire.
• Tracey - A 58-year-old sonographer and clairvoyant from Inverness.
• Zack - A 27-year-old parliamentary affairs advisor from London.

The show returns at 9pm on Wednesday, January 3. You can watch the show on BBC or BBC iPlayer.