Ricky Gervais Says “BBC Can’t Afford Me” For Celebrity Version Of ‘The Traitors’

UPDATED with Ricky Gervais response: Ricky Gervais is at the top of producers’ wish list to star in the forthcoming celebrity version of the BBC’s big hit The Traitors, reports The Sun newspaper.

On Monday, the comedian and producer has responded to our post, saying: “I love the show and I’m very flattered, but it won’t happen. I’m too busy and there’s no way they could afford me.”

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Quoting TV insiders, The Sun lists Gervais among other high-profile UK names desired for the show which was confirmed by makers Studio Lambert at the Edinburgh TV Festival last week.

It quotes one industry source as saying: “The BBC want the crème de la crème of stars for the celeb spin-off, and they ideally have to be incredibly smart, funny, and mischievous — and that’s Ricky in three words.

“Behind the scenes, big names have already expressed their interest in taking part from the moment it was revealed the new version of The Traitors was being made.”

Other names in the frame include British TV presenter Jonathan Ross, a friend of Gervais, and Friends alumna Courteney Cox, known to be chummy with The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman.

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The Traitors became a massive hit for the BBC on its debut in 2022, with Studio Lambert swiftly recommissioned for further seasons. Two already have aired, with a third having wrapped production and two more ordered.

The show sees a group of people put together in a Scottish castle, where a minority are secretly created murderers. The suspense is built on whether that group succeed in polishing everyone off before or after they are uncovered. Filming on the celebrity version is expected to begin in early 2025.

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