Man and two women from Lancashire to star in The Traitors

And ahead of the psychological reality TV show returning to screens on Wednesday, the 22 contestants taking part have been revealed to include a volunteer business mentor, a video director, and a retired teacher, all from Lancashire.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the first series saw competitors split, with secret traitors tasked with “murdering” the other faithful contestants at a castle in the Scottish highlands.

After trying to earn the prize of up to £120,000 by completing a series of tasks each day, they finished the evenings with a round table where they had to find the traitors and “banish” them from the game.

The cast of The Traitors series 2 (Image: PA)

Here is a round-up of the contestants in series two:

Ross

The 28-year-old video director from Lancashire says he sees it as a “good excuse to tell my business partner that I just can’t work for three weeks”.

Ross also said that being a traitor would make him on “edge” and feel a “bit gutted because then I’ve actually got to play a game”.

Sonja

The 66-year-old volunteer business mentor says “game plan is to knit my way to the finals”.

Sonja, from Lancashire, also said she learned to read body language cues from her son Dan, who died two years ago, and was “severely disabled with autism and other disabilities, and was nonverbal”.

Diane

The 63-year-old retired teacher, from Lancashire, says she has taught “some very difficult kids” and knows how to remain calm.

If she is a traitor, Diane said: “You have to be very careful about who you get friendly with. I might find it hard, but I’d still like to say I’d be able to go the whole way.”

Andrew

The 45-year-old insurance broker from Talbot Green in Wales, who describes himself as having a “larger-than-life personality” and risk averse, says he wants to inspire people who have “had a traumatic experience or suffered with their mental health” never to give up.

More than 20 years ago, he nearly died on a roadside and was left with brain damage, in a coma and his parents were told he would never walk again.

He also hopes that his background in close protection security, keeping an eye on London VIPs, will help him be prepared to be “on his toes, be alert, and be able to adapt at the drop of a hat”.

Anthony

The 45-year-old chess coach from Birmingham says he is wary as that he is someone who is naturally charismatic “which could put fear into some people” and even if he is a faithful will have to use a “human shield” during the round table.

Anthony, who has watched the UK, US and Australian series, said: “For me, it was like in a chess tournament where you’ve got to control your emotions and psychologically manage yourself.”

Ash

The 45-year-old events co-ordinator from London says she thinks “the best way for me to win is to be a traitor” where she can bring “strong alliances”.

Ash said if she wins she will spend the money on getting on the property ladder as she does not want to be “renting when I’m 60 years old, renting with housemates”.

Aubrey

The retired shop owner, 67, believes his moustache will come in handy to maintain his poker face.

Aubrey, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, said if he wins he will give the money to the Mykonos Animal Welfare charity in Greece, where he often goes on holiday.

Brian

The 33-year-old photographer from Glasgow, who has played the Werewolf game which has a similar format, believes he will be “quite entertaining” but fears he “might crumble under the pressure”.

He thinks there is more of a chance of winning if he becomes a faithful and will “observe others and take notes when I’m alone at night like a mad man”.

Charlie

The mental health area manager, 34, says she would not want to do a challenge based around sound as she wears hearing aids.

Charlie, from Bristol, says she is concerned that “people misjudge me a lot of the time because I’m a bit nuts and constantly jumping around and being a lunatic” and hopes to use the money to get married following a nine-year engagement to her partner.

Charlotte

The recruitment manager from Warwickshire, who used to compete in poker tournaments, says she thinks people will not suspect her as she can play the “the ditzy one”.

Charlotte, 32, says she wants to use the money to take her dogs Lady and Lolly on a private jet, which means they will not sit in the hold, so she and her wife can visit America with a motorhome.

Evie

The veterinary nurse, 29, from Inverness, says she entered as she is “having a bit of an existential crisis” ahead of approaching 30.

Evie said she make a good traitor because people would not suspect someone who is blonde, with dimples, who works with animals.

Harry

The British Army engineer from Slough says he wants to be a traitor as he is a bit of a “Jekyll and Hyde”, referring to the literary monster-doctor pairing created by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Harry, 22, a corporal, says if he is a faithful he wants to be “that person who takes everyone on my back so we can make it to the finish line”.

Jasmine

The 26-year-old sales executive from London says she would happy to be a traitor so she can “steal the big pot of money” but being “naturally very empathetic” she would make a good faithful.

Jasmine said she would help her parents, who have been “through some tough financial times”, if she wins.

Jaz

The national account manager, 30, from Manchester says nothing apart from his wife and his wedding day has meant more than competing on The Traitors.

He says he thinks being a faithful relies on being able to form a clique of the “the strongest and most influential people”.

Jonny

The 31-year-old from Bedfordshire is ex-military, and described himself as someone with disabilities who enjoys “psychological things” and is “a problem solver”.

He said: “I can be a bit scatty sometimes and I’m worried that because I’ve done so much in my life, people are going to start hearing more and more as I spend more time with them and think I’m just talking rubbish.”

Kyra

The apprentice economist, 21, from Kent, said: “The main motivation behind it is that my sister is getting married soon, we come from a lower-class background and I’d love to win something to help towards her wedding wedding – and hopefully honeymoon.”

Meg

The 22-year-old illustrator from Herefordshire says she “wouldn’t throw somebody under the bus so that I could win more” money so is unsure about being a traitor.

She wants to spend the money on “the most expensive pair of dungarees ever” and a Scottish motorhome trip.

Miles

The veterinary nurse from Birmingham, who now lives in Worcestershire, said he has done the “cookie cutter” life by having a husband, going to college and having a family and thinks this will be a change.

Miles, 36, said when he told his mother he was doing TV, she said it was OK “as long as it’s not something like Love Island” .

Mollie

The 21-year-old disability model from Bristol says looking “innocent” and young will help in the game if she becomes a traitor.

Mollie, who also works as a healthcare assistant, believes she is also able to be “quite good at building that relationship but also separating myself in a way which I feel like will be really good in the game”.

Paul

The business manager from Manchester says as someone who has done stand-up he can use his comedy skills to “diffuse situations when they get so tense”.

Paul, 36, said if he becomes a traitor he is “never washing” his top when Winkleman touches his shoulder – the host taps the contestants during the round table to secretly let them know what side they are on.

Tracey

The sonographer and clairvoyant, 58, from Inverness says she is “quite eccentric” and “good at lying”.

Tracey, who used to be in the air force, said: “The only thing that would be my downfall is that I do really like to be liked.”

Zack

The parliamentary affairs adviser, 27, from London says he think he would be “cutthroat” as a traitor and not “factor in sentimentality”.

He also said his girlfriend does not know he wants to spend the money, if he wins, on a Mazda MX-5 and he will tell her it will go on a flat deposit as he says she “will break up with me if I didn’t say it”.

The Traitors returns on BBC One on Wednesday at 9pm.