Gemma Collins could be heading back into the Big Brother house this week, with reports claiming the reality TV favourite is in talks to make a guest appearance on Friday 9 October. The GC previously entered Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, finishing in seventh place during a series that also featured Tiffany Pollard, Danniella Westbrook, David Gest and Nancy Dell’Olio. Ten years later, she could now be returning to the house as part of the current ITV2 series, although nothing has been officially confirmed yet.

Is Gemma Collins Returning to Big Brother?

Gemma Collins is reportedly in talks to appear as a guest on Big Brother this Friday, rather than joining the series as a full-time housemate. A source claimed that “the stage is set for Gemma” and that, if everything goes to plan, she will arrive on 9 October. ITV has not confirmed the appearance and Collins’ representative has also declined to comment, so viewers will have to wait and see whether she actually walks through those doors. If she does, it would bring one of the most memorable former Celebrity Big Brother housemates back to the show a decade after her original stint.

Gemma Collins’ Celebrity Big Brother Moments Are Still Everywhere

Collins’ 2016 stint produced plenty of moments that are still quoted by Big Brother fans years later. “I’m claustrophobic, Darren!” has long since become part of reality TV history, and then there is the equally useful “pack my bags, I’m outta here”, which honestly works for almost any minor inconvenience. Her season was eventually won by Geordie Shore star Scotty T, but Collins remained one of its biggest talking points. A return in 2026 would give her the chance to step back into the house without having to survive the full experience this time around.

Big Brother 2026 Has Already Welcomed Celebrity Guests

A Gemma Collins appearance would continue a run of guest visits during the current series. Content creator Michael “Tays” Taylor previously entered undercover as a fake housemate, before former Celebrity Big Brother stars Jedward arrived for a two-day stay and set challenges for the group.

Three contestants have been evicted from the current series so far, with Charlotte Nott also choosing to leave the house. If Collins does arrive on Friday, she would become the latest familiar face brought into the series to shake things up for the remaining housemates.

For CultureCues, we LOVE the GC, so if this actually happens, we will be seated. “I’m claustrophobic, Darren!” has basically been on a permanent loop in our heads for the past 10 years, so seeing Gemma walk back into the Big Brotherhouse would be brilliant. Nothing has been confirmed by ITV yet, but we are absolutely hoping this report turns out to be true.

Gemma Collins is reportedly in talks to enter the Big Brother house on Friday 9 October.

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The Celebrity Traitors is back tonight, picking up straight from last Friday’s cliffhanger after another dramatic episode in the castle. James Acaster is now officially the third Traitor, joining Maya Jama and Richard E Grant after being recruited in the chapel, and the first round table has already put one of them under serious pressure.

Richard took a lot of heat during the first round table and looked like he could be in real trouble, but the episode ended before the result was revealed. It may well be his time, but with The Traitors, anything can happen, so tonight we’ll finally find out who becomes the first celebrity banished and whether Jerry or Hannah is the next murder victim.

What Time Is The Celebrity Traitors on Tonight?

The Celebrity Traitors Episode 3 begins at 8pm tonight, Thursday 8 October, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The episode will continue from the first round table and banishment, which was left unresolved at the end of last Friday’s episode. That means tonight will begin with the first celebrity leaving the game before attention turns back to the Traitors and their next moves.

When Is The Celebrity Traitors Episode 4?

Viewers will not have to wait another week after tonight’s episode. Episode 4 airs tomorrow, Friday 9 October, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. That gives The Celebrity Traitors two episodes across Thursday and Friday this week.

For CultureCues, we have been waiting all week to find out how that first banishment plays out, so we are very ready for tonight’s episode. The Celebrity Traitors has already been TV gold, and we’re desperate to see whether Richard survives all the suspicion around him, who the Traitors choose to murder next and what happens once the game moves on from that first round table. We’ll be watching tonight and updating as soon as the result is in. Cloaks at the ready!

The Celebrity Traitors Episode 3 airs Thursday 8 October, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Last One Laughing is getting a Halloween special this month, with Prime Video releasing the first trailer for a new four-part spin on the BAFTA-winning comedy series. Jimmy Carr returns as host alongside Roisin Conaty as his deputy, with Jack Dee, Daisy May Cooper, Phil Wang, Lou Sanders, Reece Shearsmith, Harriet Dyer and Tom Allen entering the room for a new version of the challenge. This time, however, keeping a straight face will not be enough. The comedians are also banned from screaming, with either reaction enough to knock them out of the competition.

When Is Last One Laughing: Halloween Released?

Last One Laughing: Halloween launches on Friday 23 October on Prime Video, with the first three episodes released together. The fourth and final episode will then arrive on Friday 30 October, just in time for Halloween weekend. The special will be available globally through Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. Seasons 1 and 2 of the UK series are already available to stream, with a third series also confirmed for 2027.

What Is Last One Laughing: Halloween?

Last One Laughing: Halloween takes the usual format of the series and adds a horror twist, with seven comedians trying to make one another laugh without breaking. Alongside the normal rule that laughing means elimination, the Halloween special introduces a second way to lose: scream and you are out too.

The trailer shows the group dealing with cursed props, ghostly interruptions and other surprises designed to catch them off guard while they are also trying to get their fellow comedians eliminated. That gives the special a slightly different challenge from the main series, with contestants having to keep control of both their laughter and their nerves throughout the game.

You can watch the official Last One Laughing: Halloween trailer below.

Who Is in the Last One Laughing: Halloween Cast?

Jack Dee, Daisy May Cooper, Phil Wang, Lou Sanders, Reece Shearsmith, Harriet Dyer and Tom Allen make up the Halloween line-up, with Jimmy Carr returning to oversee the competition and Roisin Conaty back alongside him.

The special follows two successful UK seasons of Last One Laughing, with the first series winning Best Entertainment Programme at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards and Bob Mortimer taking Best Entertainment Performance. The show has also picked up awards from the RTS Programme Awards, Broadcast Awards and Edinburgh TV Festival.

For CultureCues, this feels like such a fun way to bring Last One Laughing back before Season 3. The no-screaming rule is hilarious, especially with all the spooky shenanigans going on. Between the scares and the comedians trying to break each other, not laughing or screaming is going to be very difficult. We love this show anyway and usually end up in stitches watching it, so combining that with everything we love about Halloween and spooky season feels pretty perfect. Reece Shearsmith is also such a good choice for a Halloween edition, and this cast should be a lot of fun together. Bring on the spook!

Last One Laughing: Halloween begins on Prime Video on 23 October, with the final episode arriving on 30 October.

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Big Brother 2026 is heading into another eviction cycle tonight, and this week the housemates are facing one another for face-to-face nominations. As part of the nomination process, the housemates were given cards featuring the faces of their fellow housemates and had to keep the two people they wanted to nominate. Those choices will now be revealed in front of the group, meaning everyone will find out exactly who nominated them and why.

Twinks and Catrin are both immune from this week’s eviction, although they must still take part in the nominations and cast their own votes. With tensions already rising during the House of Revelations, having every nomination revealed in front of the group could make for an uncomfortable night inside the house.

SPOILER WARNING: This article will be updated live throughout tonight’s episode with every face-to-face nomination, the final housemates up for eviction and any twists revealed by Big Brother.

Big Brother Face-to-Face Nominations Live

9.00pm: Big Brother begins on ITV2 and ITVX, with the housemates preparing to reveal their face-to-face nominations.

9.20pm: Nominations begin, with Frankie nominating Phil and Rob.

9.22pm: Omar nominates Rob and Jasmine.

9.23pm: Pauline nominates Omar and Rochelle.

9.24pm: Harry nominates Phil and Rochelle.

9.25pm: Rhianna nominates Pauline and Rob.

9.26pm: Rob nominates Omar and Lynx.

9.35pm: Phillip nominates Pauline and Rob.

9.36pm: Rochelle nominates Pauline and Samuel.

9.37pm: Samuel nominates Rochelle and Omar.

9.38pm: Yasmine nominates Rob and Omar.

9.40pm: Lynx nominates Pauline and Rob.

9.41pm: Catrin nominates Samuel and Pauline.

9.42pm: Twinks nominates Rochelle and Frankie.

9.43pm: The nominations are complete, with Rob and Pauline receiving the most votes from their fellow housemates. They are now officially up for eviction this week, with Rob receiving six nominations and Pauline receiving five.

What Happened After the Big Brother Face-to-Face Nominations?

The face-to-face nominations left plenty for the housemates to talk about, with Pauline and Rob both hearing exactly why so many of their fellow housemates had chosen them.

Pauline’s nominations largely came back to the ongoing disagreement over the house’s food. Several housemates referred to the arguments around her wanting organic food and asking others not to eat certain items she considered hers, with the issue clearly becoming a bigger source of frustration in the house than she may have realised. Rob’s singing was another surprisingly common reason given during the nominations. Several housemates said they found the amount he sings around the house annoying, leaving Rob hearing the same criticism from more than one person during the face-to-face process.

Pauline told Rob that she was considering leaving the house altogether rather than facing eviction. She asked how he would feel if she left so that he would not have to go through the public vote, but Rob immediately told her he would never want her to do that for him. Pauline said she felt unwanted in the house and did not want to stay somewhere she was not welcome, with Rob asking her not to leave but making it clear that the decision ultimately had to be hers.

Rochelle confronted Samuel on the sofa after hearing that he had called her a narcissist, asking him directly what made him think that about her. The conversation was then cut short when Big Brother started playing music for Rhianna’s birthday party, giving the housemates a temporary break from the tension.

Catrin approached Pauline after feeling she had been ignored following the nominations. Pauline responded by pointing out that this was the third time she had been put up for eviction and said she did not need “all this extra shit” on top of having to pack her suitcase again. Catrin said she had only been trying to join the conversation. Later, when Catrin went into the toilet, Pauline believed she had left and began venting about her to the others, saying Catrin wanted attention and was making everything about herself.

Catrin came back out in tears and told Pauline she had been in the toilet the entire time and had heard the conversation. Pauline responded: “Now she’s in tears and I’m the villain,” before saying that seeing Catrin cry was difficult for her because she felt she had never been given the same space to show emotion. She added: “Someone like me, the life I’ve had, I don’t get to cry. I’ve got to toughen the fuck up and be strong,” before saying: “There we go, Pauline is the villain. Story of my life.”

Catrin was comforted by Rochelle on the sofa before the pair went into the bathroom, where Pauline was already sitting. Rochelle confronted Pauline, saying: “I hope you are fucking proud of yourself,” with Pauline replying: “Don’t fucking start with me.” The exchange became heated and Big Brother called Pauline to the Diary Room, later telling her to sleep in the snug because it was not appropriate for Pauline, Catrin and Rochelle to share a room that night. Catrin remained upset and was comforted by Rochelle in bed.

For CultureCues, this was a big episode for the house. Pauline and Rob are now up for eviction, but the nominations brought drama, drama, drama. We think the whole situation between Pauline and Catrin was blown out of proportion, especially once Rochelle got involved, but I suppose that is the kind of fallout viewers keep watching Big Brother for. It will be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like in the house tomorrow after everything that happened tonight, before attention turns to Friday and whether Pauline or Rob will be the one evicted.

Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

<p>The post Big Brother 2026 Nominations LIVE: Face-to-Face Nominations and Who Is Up for Eviction first appeared on CultureCues.</p>

Channel 4 has confirmed the first ever celebrity series of Handcuffed, and the pairings are certainly going to get people talking. Celebrity Handcuffed will bring together ten famous faces in five pairs, with each duo handcuffed together 24 hours a day as they take on the social experiment. Katie Price will be paired with Rt Hon Suella Braverman MP, while footballer Neil Ruddock will be handcuffed to drag performer Bimini. The new four-part series follows the success of civilian version Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, which has also been renewed for a second season after its first episode passed two million views.

Who Is in the Celebrity Handcuffed Cast?

Katie Price and Rt Hon Suella Braverman MP
Neil Ruddock and Bimini
Kerry Katona and Mark-Francis Vandelli
Lady Victoria Hervey and Georgia Harrison MBE
DJ Fat Tony and Princess Olga Romanov

The format deliberately brings together people with very different opinions, lifestyles and personalities before making them spend almost every moment together. That means viewers will see Katie Price paired with politician Suella Braverman, Neil Ruddock alongside Bimini, former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona with Made in Chelsea’s Mark-Francis Vandelli, Lady Victoria Hervey with Georgia Harrison and DJ Fat Tony with Princess Olga Romanov.

What Is Celebrity Handcuffed?

Celebrity Handcuffed follows the same idea as Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, putting pairs together who may not ordinarily choose to spend much time in each other’s company and then physically linking them for the duration of the experiment. The celebrities will remain handcuffed together 24/7, with Channel 4 describing the series as a test of how people with opposing views, habits and lifestyles cope when they are forced to live side by side.

The civilian series proved a strong performer for Channel 4, with Episode 1 recording more than two million views. The broadcaster says it also performed well with younger viewers, reaching a 24.3% share among 16 to 34-year-olds.

Jonathan Ross Returns for Celebrity Handcuffed

Jonathan Ross, who was involved in the civilian series, will also be part of the celebrity version. Ross said he had loved taking part in Handcuffed and was looking forward to seeing what happens when the format is filled with famous faces. “I’ve done my fair share of celebrity shows, but nothing quite like this,” he said, adding that the new version could either be “a disaster” or “the best thing on TV next year”.

Channel 4 commissioning editor Tim Hancock said the celebrity series takes a format viewers responded to and adds a new group of unexpected pairings, with the show looking at what happens when people who appear to disagree on almost everything are forced to spend time together.

When Is Celebrity Handcuffed on Channel 4?

Celebrity Handcuffed will air on Channel 4 in 2027, although an exact transmission date has not yet been announced. The series will consist of four hour-long episodes and is produced by 72 Films, with Ben Allen directing and Amy Willetts serving as series producer.

For CultureCues, the pairings have absolutely done their job because we already want to see how some of these combinations are going to work. Katie Price and Suella Braverman is the one that immediately jumps out, but Neil Ruddock and Bimini could be just as entertaining, and Kerry Katona with Mark-Francis Vandelli is another combination we would never have put together ourselves. The whole format depends on the chemistry between the pairs, and Channel 4 has certainly given itself plenty to work with here. We’ll be watching.

Celebrity Handcuffed will air on Channel 4 in 2027.

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Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will say goodbye to its first celebrity tonight, as the results of the opening public vote are revealed on BBC One. The first results show of the series begins tonight, Sunday 4 October, at 7.10pm, following Saturday’s Movie Week. With nobody eliminated last week, all 15 celebrities got the chance to take part in the first themed show of the series before the judges’ scores from both weeks were combined with the public vote.

Tonight, the two couples at the bottom of the final standings will face the first dance-off of 2026 before the judges decide who stays and who becomes the first celebrity eliminated.

SPOILER WARNING: The result of tonight’s first elimination is revealed immediately below, including the two couples who faced the dance-off and who left Strictly Come Dancing 2026.

Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden became the first couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026 after facing Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu in the dance-off. Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke all voted to save Jaime and Carlos, with Craig Revel Horwood confirming he would have made the same decision.

Read on for the full live breakdown of the results show, including each couple confirmed safe, the dance-off reveal, the judges’ votes and the first elimination of the series.

Strictly Come Dancing Movie Week Scores

Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley topped Saturday night’s individual leaderboard with 31 points for their Godfather-inspired Waltz, closely followed by Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington on 30. Delta finished at the top of the combined leaderboard across the opening two weeks with 60 points.

The full Movie Week scores were:

Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley — 31
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington — 30
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby — 29
Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola — 28
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita — 28
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu — 27
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr — 25
Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon — 24
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin — 23
John Nellis and Katya Jones — 23
Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu — 21
Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał — 19
Will Best and Dianne Buswell — 19
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden — 17
Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec — 15

Those scores do not decide tonight’s elimination on their own, with the public vote also playing a part in determining which two couples end up in the dance-off.

Strictly Results Live

7.10pm: Strictly Come Dancing results show begins on BBC One.

7.18pm: Tonight’s results show begins with a look back at Movie Week before Emma and Johannes join the judges for a debrief, going through the performances, the scores they awarded and the reasons behind them.

7.22pm: In no particular order, the first couples safely through to next week are Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr, Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, and Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby.

7.25pm: Also safely through to next week are Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec, Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita, and Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley.

7.27pm: We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out which other couples are safely through, with the first results reveal now paused.

7.30pm: Vito Coppola revealed to Lacey Turner that they will dance a Samba next week, while Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby confirmed they will be taking on their Couple’s Choice. Aljaž Škorjanec revealed that Melanie Walters will be dancing a Charleston next week.

7.32pm: Mark Karmalita revealed to Tabby Stoecker that they will dance an Argentine Tango next week, while Lauren Oakley told Graeme Hall that their next dance will be the Jive – and the moustache will be gone.

7.34pm: Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood join the Strictly professional dancers for a The Devil Wears Prada-inspired group number, with Motsi taking on Miranda Priestly.

7.37pm: Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu are safely through to next week, along with Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin and Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon.

7.38pm: Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington are also safely through to next week, with John Nellis and Katya Jones the final couple confirmed safe for now.

7.39pm: Four couples remain: Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden, Will Best and Dianne Buswell, Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, and Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał. Only two are guaranteed a place next week, with the other two set to face the first dance-off of the series. Craig Revel Horwood will have the casting vote if the judges are split.

7.40pm: Nancy Xu revealed to Bethany Antonia that they will dance an American Smooth next week to “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles, while Nikita Kuzmin told Dani Dyer that they will be taking on the Tango.

7.42pm: Kai Widdrington revealed to Delta Goodrem that they will dance a Salsa next week to “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan.

7.44pm: The cast of Matilda The Musical, including Tim Minchin, take to the ballroom to perform “Quiet” live on Strictly Come Dancing.

7.47pm: Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden join Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu in the first dance-off of the series.

7.48pm: That means Will Best and Dianne Buswell and Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał are both safely through to next week.

7.54pm: Both couples have now performed their dances again, and the decision is in the judges’ hands as they choose who stays in the competition and who becomes the first celebrity eliminated.

7.56pm: Motsi Mabuse votes to save Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu. Shirley Ballas follows, saying one couple had the edge with “more power”, and also chooses Jaime and Carlos. Anton Du Beke then votes for the couple he felt danced strongest, again saving Jaime and Carlos.

7.57pm: Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu are safely through to next week after receiving three votes from the judges, with Craig Revel Horwood confirming he would also have saved them. That means Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden become the first couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026.

7.58pm: Chris Appleton says the biggest thing he will take away from Strictly is gaining a friend in Amy Dowden, adding that everyone on the show has been amazing. Asked by Emma Willis whether this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Amy replies “absolutely”, saying she is heartbroken to leave after her difficult luck over the past few years but has made “a friend for life” in Chris.

7.59pm: Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden take to the ballroom together one final time, reprising their Dirty Dancing-inspired routine to “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” for their farewell dance.

For CultureCues, it’s a shame to see anyone leave this early in the competition, especially after only two full weeks of dancing. Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu were the stronger couple in the dance-off and deservedly earned the judges’ votes, but it is still sad to see Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden become the first pairing to go. Their final comments made the exit feel especially bittersweet, with both clearly coming away from the experience with a genuine friendship.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 10 October at 6.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, when the remaining 14 couples return to the ballroom for Week 3.

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Movie Week came early on Strictly Come Dancing this year, giving all 15 celebrities the chance to take part in one of the show’s biggest themed nights before anyone leaves the competition. With no elimination after the opening show, this week’s scores will be combined with the judges’ marks from Week 1 before the public vote is added. That means Sunday night will bring the first dance-off and the first celebrity departure of the 2026 series.

The night opened with the professional dancers heading to Zootropolis for a Disney-inspired group number, before the celebrities took on everything from The Godfather and Titanic to Wicked, Grease and Mary Poppins.

Who Topped Strictly Movie Week?

Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley earned the highest individual score of Movie Week with 31 points for their Godfather-inspired Waltz. Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington followed with 30 points for their American Smooth to “I’ll Never Love Again” from A Star Is Born. Combined with last week’s score, Delta finished at the top of the overall leaderboard with 60 points.

Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby were also among the strongest performers of the night, scoring 29 for their Grease Samba, with Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola and Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita both picking up 28. John Nellis and Katya Jones had entered Movie Week as one of the couples to watch after scoring 31 last week, but their Titanic Couple’s Choice received 23 this time around.

At the other end of the leaderboard, Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec scored 15 for their emotional Waltz to “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music. Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden followed on 17, with Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał and Will Best and Dianne Buswell both receiving 19.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Movie Week Scores

Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley — 31
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington — 30
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby — 29
Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola — 28
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita — 28
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu — 27
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr — 25
Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon — 24
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin — 23
John Nellis and Katya Jones — 23
Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu — 21
Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał — 19
Will Best and Dianne Buswell — 19
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden — 17
Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec — 15

Who Could Leave Strictly This Week?

For the first time this series, the public vote is now open, with the Week 1 and Movie Week judges’ scores being combined before the viewer vote is added. The two couples at the bottom of the final standings will face each other in Sunday night’s dance-off, where the judges will decide who becomes the first celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2026.

For CultureCues, Movie Week gave us exactly what we want from Strictly: ridiculous costumes, big film choices, some genuinely lovely routines and scores that have already shaken things up. Graeme’s Godfather Waltz was a standout, Delta continues to look like a serious contender, and there are already a few couples who will be hoping the public vote gives them a boost before that first dance-off.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Sunday night for the first elimination of the 2026 series.

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James Acaster has officially become the third Traitor in The Celebrity Traitors 2026, joining Maya Jama and Richard E Grant after last night’s huge cliffhanger. Episode 2 picked up in the chapel, where James and Amol Rajan had been brought face-to-face with the Traitors and told that one of them would be recruited and the other murdered. Maya and Richard ultimately chose James, meaning Amol became the first celebrity murdered and the first contestant to leave the series.

We were glad to see James kept in, but he had already made it clear that he never wanted to be a Traitor. He was one of the few celebrities who actually wanted to stay a Faithful, and he has openly admitted that lying is not exactly his strongest skill. So we’re not quite sure how well he is going to adapt, which should make for very interesting viewing over the next few episodes. Who knows, he might settle into the role better than he expects, but right now we’re not entirely convinced he is built for the pressure of all the lying and murder. Especially when some of the people he has to lie to are fellow comedians who know him well enough to spot when something is off.

The Grave Challenge Leaves Two Celebrities at Risk

Before the challenge even began, Claudia asked the celebrities to choose a partner and warned them to choose carefully, as the decision could mean the difference between life and death. They then arrived to find a graveyard filled with coffins, where Claudia revealed the next twist. The night before, the Traitors had been asked to choose one person who would remain above ground and decide whether to spend the challenge freeing the others or collecting money for the prize fund. They chose Ross Kemp.

Because Romesh Ranganathan had paired up with Ross, he stayed above ground too, meaning both were automatically safe from the next murder. Claudia also made a point of reminding everyone that the Traitors could have chosen absolutely anyone, including one of themselves, which immediately put suspicion on Ross. Was he simply the person they trusted to get everyone out, or had the Traitors conveniently kept one of their own away from the coffins?

For everyone else, it was time to get buried. Any celebrities still inside their coffins when the challenge ended would be vulnerable to murder, and there was also a safe word if anyone wanted out early. The only problem was that shouting “haggis” would put both them and their partner at risk. Jerry Hall very quickly decided that coffin life was not for her and called out the safe word, meaning both Jerry and her partner, Professor Hannah Fry, were released and on the chopping block.

Ross got to work, and he was basically a machine. Given the choice between digging for gold or freeing the others, he decided to get everyone out first and did a huge amount of the heavy lifting. Once freed, the other celebrities also got dug in, pun very much intended, and helped with the remaining graves. Ross still powered through the task freeing pair after pair, with the rest of the group quickly joining in. They managed to get everyone else out before time ran out and still collected £5,000 in gold for the prize fund. That meant Jerry and Hannah were the only two celebrities up for murder, meaning one of them will be gone in the next episode.

Richard E Grant Comes Under Fire at the First Round Table

We had the first Round Table of the series, and most of the heat was on Richard E Grant. It all goes back to Episode 1, when Joe Lycett asked him outright what he was and Richard casually answered “Traitor” twice in a room full of people. He realised pretty quickly that he might have made a mistake, although some of the others laughed it off as Richard being Richard, especially as they all know how much he wanted to be a Traitor. Others were not so convinced. A few of the Faithfuls said they could not ignore what he had said and, with very little else to go on, Richard’s name was the obvious one to write down. There were some people arguing that it would almost be too obvious for him to actually be a Traitor, so he is not completely done for just yet.

Hannah Fry also brought up a theory in the car about Leigh-Anne Pinnock after she mentioned touching up her make-up before bed, which Hannah found suspicious enough to share with Joanne McNally. Joanne then took the theory straight to the Round Table. From the outside, knowing Leigh-Anne is a Faithful, it is very funny because she was quite literally just a girlie queen making sure her make-up was still looking on point, but when there is so little evidence this early in the game, every tiny thing starts getting analysed. Joe Lycett and Julie Hesmondhalgh also picked up a little suspicion, but Richard was still the main name being discussed. We really do not want to lose him this early, but unless the vote takes a surprise turn, we have a feeling we might be saying goodbye to one of our original Traitors next week. The episode ended before any votes were revealed, so we will have to wait until Thursday to find out who becomes the first celebrity banished.

For CultureCues, this was another great episode and The Celebrity Traitors is already delivering some comedy gold only two episodes in. Poor James. We do feel for him because he clearly did not want to become a Traitor, and right now we are not entirely convinced he is going to be very good at lying to everyone. We are hoping he can quickly adapt to the cloaks, murders and deception though, because if he does, he could end up playing an absolute blinder. Maya is handling the game well so far, and we really hope we do not lose Richard this early because he has already given us some brilliant TV. I was in stitches when he very seriously asked Rob Beckett if he has more teeth than a normal person.

We also feel for Hannah, who is now up for murder alongside Jerry after Jerry could not handle the coffin challenge. Absolutely fair enough if that was one of her fears, but it is still a rough outcome for Hannah through no fault of her own. Now we just have to wait until the next episode to find out who is banished, whether Hannah or Jerry becomes the next murder, and what completely innocent thing will send Ross Kemp into another spiral of paranoia. Cloaks at the ready. Bring on Thursday.

The Celebrity Traitors continues next Thursday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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<p>The post James Acaster Becomes Third Celebrity Traitor as Episode 2 Ends on Another Cliffhanger first appeared on CultureCues.</p>

The Celebrity Traitors returned to BBC One last night, and it looks like the country was more than ready to get back around the Round Table. The 75-minute Season 2 opener was watched by an average of 8.9 million viewers, peaking at just over 9 million during the episode. That makes it the biggest opening episode of The Traitors in the UK so far, across both the celebrity and civilian versions of the BBC hit.

Even more impressively, the launch attracted almost 55% of everyone watching television at the time. It also became the second most-watched non-sport programme of 2026 so far, behind only the civilian Traitors finale earlier this year.

The numbers are already well ahead of last year’s first Celebrity Traitors launch, which began with around three million fewer viewers. And these are only the overnight figures, meaning the total audience will grow as more people catch up through BBC iPlayer. The episode was followed by The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, hosted by Ed Gamble, which pulled in around 3 million viewers of its own.

The 21 celebrities taking part in The Celebrity Traitors 2026 are Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Professor Hannah Fry, Richard E Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft and Sharon Rooney.

We won’t spoil anything here, but the opening episode gave us plenty to talk about, from the first Traitor reveals to an inevitably dramatic cliffhanger. You can read our full Episode 1 recap and find out who the Traitors are here.

Season 2 continues tonight, Friday, 2 October, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, before returning every Thursday and Friday throughout October.

For CultureCues, those numbers are huge, but after the build-up to this series, we’re not too surprised. The first celebrity season became one of the biggest TV events of 2025, and last night’s opener had everyone talking. I should know, my phone was pinging throughout with messages from me and my pals about every suspicious look and theory. With 8.9 million already watching and plenty more catching up today, The Celebrity Traitors is showing no signs of slowing down. We can’t wait for more cloaks, murders and whatever Claudia has waiting for them next.

The Celebrity Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Faithfuls, we’re back! The Celebrity Traitors Season 2 has officially begun, with Claudia Winkleman welcoming 21 famous faces to Ardross Castle and wasting absolutely no time putting them under pressure. Her entrance set the tone straight away, with Claudia being carried into the church in a coffin before emerging with: “That was quite a nap.” She then asked the celebrities to decide, there and then, who they trusted most. Julie Hesmondhalgh was chosen after spending her arrival hugging people, chatting excitedly to her fellow contestants and telling them how much she loved their work. Claudia rewarded her with two shields, allowing Julie to keep one and decide who received the other. She chose Joe Lycett after he joked that he didn’t want to see her ending up in a coffin.

Claudia has now started choosing this year’s Traitors, although she has confirmed that the Traitor line-up is not complete yet. We’ll be updating this article live throughout tonight’s episode, with the full group only set to be confirmed once the Traitors claim their first murder.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Celebrity Traitors Season 2, Episode 1, including the identities of the Traitors.

Who Are the Traitors in The Celebrity Traitors 2026?

The first two Traitors chosen by Claudia Winkleman are Maya Jama and Richard E Grant, with both getting exactly what they had hoped for before the selection began.

Maya had already admitted that she wanted the chance to become a Traitor and hoped the other celebrities would trust her. After receiving her cloak, she declared that her “villain era has begun”, and we are SO excited to see what she does with it. She already has the charm to make people feel comfortable around her, which could make her very dangerous if she manages to keep suspicion away.

Richard E Grant was equally delighted, having openly said that he wanted to be a Traitor and even discussed the idea of teaming up with Rob Beckett. After Claudia selected him, he said he was “absolutely thrilled” and couldn’t wait to start murdering his fellow celebrities. Earlier in the episode, Richard had also described himself as “utterly ruthless”, adding that friendships would mean “diddly squat” because it is ultimately a game. He has clearly arrived ready to play.

Who Are the Faithfuls in The Celebrity Traitors 2026?

Everyone who has not received a cloak remains a Faithful for now, although James Acaster and Amol Rajan are currently facing a different fate. One will be recruited as the third Traitor and the other will become the first murder of the series.

Amol Rajan – facing recruitment or murder
Bella Ramsey
Professor Hannah Fry
James Acaster – facing recruitment or murder
James Blunt
Jerry Hall
Joanne McNally
Joe Lycett
Julie Hesmondhalgh
King Kenny
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Michael Sheen
Miranda Hart
Myha’la
Rob Beckett
Romesh Ranganathan
Ross Kemp
Sebastian Croft
Sharon Rooney

Julie and Joe are also protected from the first murder after receiving the opening shields.

The Celebrity Traitors Cast Is Already Giving Us Plenty

Even before the cloaks were handed out, this cast had already given us plenty to enjoy. Jerry Hall revealed that she doesn’t want to leave the castle until she has managed to wear all of the amazing outfits she brought with her, prompting James Blunt to volunteer to wear them himself if she gets eliminated first. Sharon Rooney, meanwhile, admitted that she felt like a competition winner getting to meet celebrities she watches on television, only for Rob Beckett to remind her that she has literally starred in a Hollywood film alongside Margot Robbie. Big up oor Sharon, Hollywood star!

Sharon later said that being a Glasgow girl means she is good at being nosy and considers herself a good judge of character, so we’ll see how quickly she starts clocking people. Leigh-Anne Pinnock said she was hoping the others would trust her, and Sebastian Croft revealed that he is secretly a huge fan of The Traitors, hoping that being younger and slightly less familiar could work in his favour.

Myha’la also arrived with a plan, saying she wants people to think she is naïve when she will actually be watching and plotting. James Acaster has taken a different approach and already sees himself as something of a detective. After spotting perfume bottles he thinks could eventually be used as poison, he immediately started telling everyone his theory instead of keeping it to himself. Subtle, James.

Several of the celebrities openly wanted a cloak, including Sebastian, Myha’la, Leigh-Anne, Bella Ramsey and Maya Jama, with Richard E Grant and Rob Beckett even discussing the possibility of becoming Traitors together. Miranda Hart and James Acaster, on the other hand, were firmly hoping to remain Faithfuls.

What Happened at the End of The Celebrity Traitors Episode 1?

The episode ended with the celebrities taking on their first challenge, which involved a huge ship, the sea and a race against the clock to recover money for the prize fund. It all came down to a final 90 seconds as the group scrambled to get off the ship before it exploded, making for a pretty spectacular end to the opening episode. They managed to secure the full amount, with Claudia praising the group as “utterly brilliant” and adding £15,000 to the prize fund.

The paranoia has started almost immediately, with Ross Kemp openly admitting that he is suspicious of everything. Bella Ramsey jokingly placed a hat from a skeleton on his head during the challenge, and Ross wondered whether he had just been “killed in plain sight”. Leigh-Anne Pinnock later rubbed his arm because she was cold, which was enough to set him off again. At this rate, absolutely anything could become evidence. One episode in and Ross is already fully living inside The Traitors.

What Is the First Traitors Twist?

Before the first murder, Claudia reveals that Maya Jama and Richard E Grant will have the chance to choose their third Traitor. They must select two Faithfuls to meet them face to face, with both given the chance to plead their case for why they should be recruited. One will join Maya and Richard as the third Traitor and the other… well, they’ve heard too much, so they’ll be murdered.

James Acaster and Amol Rajan Face the Traitors

The episode ends with Maya Jama and Richard E Grant choosing James Acaster and Amol Rajan as the two Faithfuls who could complete the Traitor line-up. Both are brought to the church, where Claudia reveals that one will be recruited as the third Traitor and the other will be murdered.

James argues that everyone is convinced he is a Faithful, which could make him useful to Maya and Richard. Amol makes the case saying he sniffs out liars for a living, giving the Traitors another reason to keep him on side. Maya admits she is torn between the two, while Richard says he got his initial read completely wrong and decides to go with Maya’s choice.

The episode ends before we find out who they picked. Maya admits the choice is a risk, with Richard agreeing to go with her decision. Richard says the decision could be “monumental” to his survival and hopes he won’t regret it, before the final shot shows a coffin closing without revealing who is inside.

We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out whether James or Amol becomes the third Traitor – and who becomes the first murder of the series.

For CultureCues, this was a brilliant start to the new series. Maya entering her villain era, Richard openly telling people he is a Traitor and somehow getting laughed off, Julie immediately becoming everyone’s favourite and Ross already convincing himself he has been murdered because of a hat… we are so back. Add the cliffhanger over James and Amol, and tomorrow’s episode already has plenty riding on it. We’ll finally find out who becomes the third Traitor and who ends up as the first murder. Cloaks on!

The Celebrity Traitors continues on Friday, 2 October at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

<p>The post Who Are the Traitors in The Celebrity Traitors 2026? Faithfuls and Traitors Revealed first appeared on CultureCues.</p>

The Celebrity Race Across The World 2026 line-up has officially been revealed, with four new celebrity pairings preparing to leave their phones, credit cards and home comforts behind for another huge journey. Sam Ryder, Princess Andre, Ella Eyre and Jeff Stelling are among the famous faces taking part in the fourth celebrity series, which will see the teams race 7,500km from Borneo across South East Asia before aiming for the finish line in Melbourne, Australia.

The six-part series will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn, with the celebrities travelling on a budget of just £26 per person each day and relying on local transport, their own resourcefulness and help from people they meet along the way.

Who Is Taking Part in Celebrity Race Across The World 2026?

Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter Ella Eyre will take on the race with her childhood friend Nana, while veteran sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling will travel with his son Matt. Princess Andre is teaming up with her brother, musician Junior Andre, with the siblings joining the race together. Eurovision star Sam Ryder completes this year’s celebrity line-up alongside his best friend and tour manager Kaz.

The full Celebrity Race Across The World 2026 pairings are:

Ella Eyre and childhood friend Nana

Jeff Stelling and son Matt

Princess Andre and brother Junior Andre

Sam Ryder and best friend and tour manager Kaz

Several of the names had already been guessed by fans after the BBC teased this year’s contestants on social media, with viewers correctly identifying Princess, Junior, Sam and Ella before the official announcement.

Where Does Celebrity Race Across The World 2026 Take Place?

This year’s race begins in Kuching, the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak in north-west Borneo. From there, the four teams will travel through Borneo and South East Asia, reaching five checkpoints across three countries and two continents before heading towards Melbourne. It marks the first time Celebrity Race Across The World has travelled to Australia, something BBC commissioning editor Jasmyn McGuile said viewers had been asking to see.

The teams will cover around 7,500km in total, travelling without smartphones or bank cards and working with a limited daily budget. As always, they will need to decide which routes to take, where they can afford to stay and how best to get themselves to the next checkpoint.

When Is Celebrity Race Across The World 2026 On BBC?

Celebrity Race Across The World will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn, although an exact start date has not yet been announced. The new series will consist of six hour-long episodes produced by Studio Lambert. The previous celebrity series aired in late 2025 and was won by Roman Kemp and his sister Harleymoon Kemp, who reached the finish line after racing from Isla Mujeres in Mexico to Península de La Guajira in Colombia.

Even better news for fans, the BBC has also confirmed that the regular Race Across The World will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer next spring.

For CultureCues, this is a really fun line-up and we’re looking forward to seeing how they all get on. Sam Ryder should bring plenty of energy to the race, and Princess and Junior Andre could be especially entertaining without the usual comforts. We have a feeling the siblings might surprise us and end up doing much better than we would. Celebrity Race Across The World is always an entertaining watch, and this year’s route should make for another great series.

Celebrity Race Across The World returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn.

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Faithfuls! The Celebrity Traitors is finally back, with Claudia Winkleman returning to Ardross Castle for another series of famous faces trying to work out who they can trust. Season 2 begins tonight, Thursday, 1 October, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer with an extended 75-minute opening episode.

There are 10 episodes in total, taking the series through to the end of October. Here’s the full schedule, when the next episode is on and when viewers can expect the finale.

What Time Is The Celebrity Traitors on Tonight?

The Celebrity Traitors returns tonight, Thursday, 1 October, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The opening episode runs for one hour and 15 minutes, finishing at around 9.15pm, while the rest of the series is expected to return to the usual one-hour slot at 8pm. The first episode sees the new celebrity contestants arrive at the castle before Claudia begins the game and chooses the players who will secretly become Traitors.

What Days Is The Celebrity Traitors On?

Good news, viewers won’t have long to wait for the next episode. After tonight’s launch, The Celebrity Traitors returns tomorrow, Friday, 2 October, at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

From there, new episodes will air twice a week on Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm. That’s a change from the first celebrity series, which aired on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Celebrity Traitors 2026 Full Episode Schedule.

Episode 1 – Thursday, 1 October, 8pm
Episode 2 – Friday, 2 October, 8pm
Episode 3 – Thursday, 8 October, 8pm
Episode 4 – Friday, 9 October, 8pm
Episode 5 – Thursday, 15 October, 8pm
Episode 6 – Friday, 16 October, 8pm
Episode 7 – Thursday, 22 October, 8pm
Episode 8 – Friday, 23 October, 8pm
Episode 9 – Thursday, 29 October, 8pm
Episode 10 – Friday, 30 October, 8pm

Episodes will also be available through BBC iPlayer, meaning viewers can catch up after each instalment airs.

When Does The Celebrity Traitors 2026 Finish?

The Celebrity Traitors 2026 finale is scheduled to air on Friday, 30 October at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. With two episodes airing each week, the 10-part series will run across five weeks before the remaining players discover whether a Faithful or Traitor has managed to make it to the end. And with the finale airing the night before Halloween, the cloaks, betrayals and murders feel very appropriately timed.

When Is The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked On?

The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked is also returning, with Ed Gamble once again hosting the companion series. Uncloaked follows each main episode and brings in banished and murdered contestants to find out who the Traitors really are, alongside reactions and discussion about what happened inside the castle.

Following tonight’s extended premiere, Uncloaked will air at 9.15pm. From Friday’s second episode, the companion show is scheduled to follow at 9pm after the regular hour-long episode. The programme is available across BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, with additional material also available through BBC Sounds.

Who Is in The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 Cast?

All 21 celebrities have now been confirmed, bringing together actors, comedians, musicians, presenters and broadcasters for another trip to the castle.

Amol Rajan – Journalist and Broadcaster
Bella Ramsey – Actor
James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster
James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter
Jerry Hall – Model and Actress
Joanne McNally – Comedian
Joe Lycett – Comedian
Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor
King Kenny – Content Creator
Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer/Songwriter
Maya Jama – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
Michael Sheen – Actor and Presenter
Miranda Hart – Actor and Author
Myha’la – Actor
Professor Hannah Fry – Broadcaster and Mathematician
Richard E. Grant – Actor and Author
Rob Beckett – Comedian
Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian
Ross Kemp – Actor and Presenter
Sebastian Croft – Musician and Actor
Sharon Rooney – Actor

For CultureCues, it’s finally Traitors time and we cannot wait to be back at the Round Table tonight. The first celebrity series was one of our favourite TV events of 2025, and this cast already looks like it could give us plenty to talk about. We have people we want to see as Faithfuls, a few we would love Claudia to hand a cloak to, and we are fully prepared for our predictions to fall apart almost immediately. We’ll definitely be rooting for oor Scottish lass Sharon Rooney, but after last year, we also know better than to trust anyone too quickly.

The Celebrity Traitors returns tonight at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Strictly Come Dancing returned for its first competitive live show of 2026 on Saturday night, but viewers looking for the usual Sunday results show tonight will have to wait another week. There is no Strictly Come Dancing results show tonight, Sunday, 27 September, and none of the 15 celebrity couples will be eliminated following their first dances. Instead, the judges’ Week 1 scores will be carried over to next weekend, when the public vote opens for the first time and the series gets its first dance-off. 

Why Is There No Strictly Results Show Tonight?

Week 1 of Strictly Come Dancing does not include a public vote or elimination, meaning all 15 couples are safely through to their second dances. The scores awarded by Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on Saturday will instead be added to the judges’ scores from Week 2. Viewers will then get their first opportunity to vote for their favourite couples, with the combined scores determining who is at risk of leaving the competition. It means there is no need for the usual Sunday night results show this week, with the first elimination instead taking place next weekend.

When Is the First Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Elimination?

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, 3 October for Week 2, when all 15 couples will perform again and viewers will finally be able to vote. The first results show and elimination will air on Sunday, 4 October, when the two couples at the bottom will face the first dance-off of the series. The BBC’s new companion show Strictly: Lights Up, hosted by Abi Clarke and Tyler West, will also launch on BBC iPlayer that night immediately after the results show. 

Who Topped the Strictly Leaderboard in Week 1?

John Nellis and Katya Jones finished at the top of the first Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard after their Foxtrot to Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” earned 31 points from the judges.

The full Week 1 leaderboard was:

John Nellis and Katya Jones – 31
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington – 29
Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola – 27
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu – 26
Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley – 24
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin – 22
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita – 22
Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu – 21
Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby – 20
Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał – 20
Will Best and Dianne Buswell – 18
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden – 16
Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec – 15
Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon – 15
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr – 15

Nobody is in danger just yet, however, as all of the Week 1 scores will be carried over and combined with the judges’ marks from next weekend before the first public vote.

For CultureCues, we are already very happy to have Strictly back, even if Sunday night feels a little strange without the first results show. Week 1 gave us our first proper look at all 15 couples, John and Katya have set an early benchmark at the top of the leaderboard, and now everyone gets another chance before the public has its say. Enjoy the stress-free Sunday while it lasts, because next weekend the dance-off begins.

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Looking for something new to watch this weekend? We have picked five of the biggest and most interesting TV releases to land across the streaming services over the past couple of weeks, with horror, comedy, true crime, action and a little Rooney family drama all covered.

This weekend’s picks include the return of American Horror Story with a huge cast of familiar faces, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson playing versions of themselves in Brothers, Netflix revisiting one of America’s most famous murder cases and a new Reacher spin-off ready to binge. Here is what CultureCues will be watching this weekend.

American Horror Story: 13 — Disney+

American Horror Story returned on 25 September, making Season 13 easily one of the freshest choices for this weekend. Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates and Emma Roberts are among the huge returning cast, with the new season bringing together characters and elements from across the anthology’s history. The first three episodes are streaming now, with the 13-episode season continuing weekly.

For longtime AHS viewers, the amount of familiar faces alone makes this worth checking out. Constance Langdon, Cordelia Goode, Madison Montgomery, Marie Laveau, Rubber Man, Twisty the Clown and Kai Anderson are all among the characters teased for the season. If you want something creepy for your Friday or Saturday night, this is our first pick.

The Real Rooneys — Disney+

If horror is not your thing, Disney+ also has one of the biggest new UK reality releases of the week. The Real Rooneys arrived on 24 September and follows Wayne and Coleen Rooney through a year of family life, career changes and raising their four sons. Eight episodes are available now, with another two special episodes coming on 1 October. 

The series follows Wayne adjusting to life away from football management as Coleen takes on new opportunities, with cameras also following eldest son Kai as he pursues his own football ambitions. With access to one of Britain’s most famous families at home as well as on holidays and at major family moments, this is probably our easiest binge of the weekend.

Brothers — Apple TV

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are playing fictionalised versions of themselves in Brothers, which premiered on Apple TV on 23 September. The comedy plays with the pair’s famous real-life friendship by having their characters discover a decades-old family secret suggesting they might actually be brothers. The first two episodes are available now, followed by a new episode every Wednesday through 4 November. 

The story sees Woody and his family descend on Matthew’s ranch after his daughter’s wedding falls apart, only for Matthew’s mother, played by Holland Taylor, to let the possible family connection slip. If you want something lighter this weekend, McConaughey and Harrelson basically getting to play with their real friendship for an entire comedy series sounds like a pretty easy choice.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story — Netflix

Netflix’s Monster anthology returned on 17 September with The Lizzie Borden Story, starring Ella Beatty as the woman accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in Massachusetts in 1892. Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s latest season looks at both the murders and the fascination surrounding Borden that has continued for more than a century. 

This is one for anyone who likes their weekend viewing much darker. The Borden case remains one of the most famous mysteries in American true-crime history, and the series stretches beyond the murders themselves to look at the story and mythology that developed around her. If you end up reaching for your phone to research the real case halfway through, we completely understand.

Neagley — Prime Video

Reacher fans have a full new spin-off waiting for them on Prime Video, with Maria Sten leading Neagley as private investigator Frances Neagley. All eight episodes arrived on 16 September, making this the best option on the list if you want a complete action series to get through over the weekend.

The story begins when Neagley learns that her childhood friend Tommy has died in what police believe was an accident. A mysterious message from him convinces her otherwise, sending her into an investigation connected to her own past. Alan Ritchson also appears as Jack Reacher, keeping the new series firmly connected to the wider Reacher world.

For CultureCues, that gives us a pretty solid weekend of television. American Horror Story: 13 is probably where we are starting thanks to that ridiculous returning cast, but Brothers looks like an easy comedy watch and Monster is almost guaranteed to send us straight down another true-crime research rabbit hole. If you somehow manage all five before Monday, we respect the commitment.

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Big Brother returns tonight, Friday, 25 September, for the second live eviction of the 2026 series, with Pauline and Chelsey facing the public vote. Tonight’s episode starts at 9pm tonight on ITV2 and ITVX, remaining in its usual Friday night slot. The live eviction episode is scheduled to run for one hour and 35 minutes, finishing at 10.35pm. The longer episode gives viewers plenty of time for the latest action from the house before one of the nominated housemates is sent home.

Who Is Up for Eviction on Big Brother Tonight?

Pauline and Chelsey face tonight’s public vote after receiving six and five nominations respectively. One of them will leave the house during Friday’s live eviction, becoming the second contestant to be evicted from this year’s series after Millie became the first housemate to leave.

Pauline’s nominations have prompted plenty of discussion among viewers, while several of her fellow housemates questioned her behaviour during the nomination process. Chelsey also received criticism inside the house, putting both women at risk as the public decides who stays.

The eviction follows another busy week inside the Big Brother house, including Jedward’s visit and the hot-tub confrontation that viewers quickly dubbed “splashgate”. The 2026 series has already produced plenty of arguments and unexpected moments, and tonight’s extended episode should give viewers even more to talk about before the latest housemate leaves.

For CultureCues, this series of Big Brother has been giving us something to talk about almost every night, and we cannot wait to see what happens with tonight’s eviction. Pauline and Chelsey have both had a big presence in the house, so either result could change things considerably heading into the next week. Just remember to get the snacks ready because, in true Big Brother fashion, you do not want to miss a thing.

Big Brother starts at 9pm tonight, Friday 25 September, on ITV2 and ITVX and runs until 10.35pm.

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The Great British Bake Off officially returned on Tuesday night, with Nigella Lawson making her long-awaited debut at the judging table alongside Paul Hollywood and 12 new bakers entering the tent for Cake Week. The opening episode brought chocolate stout cakes, a coffee and walnut Technical and self-portrait Showstoppers, but it ended a little differently from the usual first week.

Who Left Bake Off Last Night?

Nobody left The Great British Bake Off in Week One. Shannon became unwell during the final challenge and was unable to finish her Showstopper, with Alison Hammond later revealing that no contestant would be eliminated from the competition that week. It means all 12 bakers remain in the tent for next week.

Mo had a much happier end to his first week after being named Star Baker. The 21-year-old law student impressed throughout Cake Week, with his peanut and caramel chocolate stout cake earning strong praise from both judges during the opening Signature Challenge. 

How Did Nigella Lawson Get on in Her First Bake Off Episode?

Nigella’s arrival was one of the biggest talking points of the series premiere, marking her first episode since replacing Prue Leith alongside returning judge Paul Hollywood. Rather than giving her arrival a huge introduction, the programme quickly settled her into the usual judging routine as she tasted the new bakers’ creations and offered her first critiques from inside the tent. 

Her debut has already received a positive response, with reviews highlighting the warmer dynamic she brings alongside Paul’s more technical approach. She was especially impressed by Mo’s first Signature and also responded strongly to Gabe’s self-portrait Showstopper, which featured a breakable mirror revealing their drag persona underneath. After so much anticipation around how Nigella would fit into Bake Off, the first episode gave viewers a proper look at what the new judging partnership will be like for the rest of the series. 

What Happened in Bake Off Week One?

Cake Week began with the bakers making chocolate stout cakes for their first Signature Challenge before moving on to a coffee and walnut cake for the Technical. The Showstopper then asked the contestants to create cakes representing themselves, giving the new line-up their first chance to show more of their personalities and individual baking styles. 

There were already a few first-week dramas, including Molly having to start again after her original cake fell to the floor, before she recovered with a stronger Showstopper. Gabe also impressed with their self-portrait creation, while Mo ultimately did enough across the three challenges to take the first Star Baker title. Shannon’s illness then changed the usual ending, with the first elimination postponed and the full group surviving to bake another week. 

For CultureCues, we were already looking forward to seeing Nigella enter the tent, and after one episode she already feels completely at home on Bake Off. She brings plenty of sweetness (pardon the pun) to the judging while still telling the bakers exactly what worked and what did not, and pairing her with Paul seems to work really well too. Mo was a very deserving first Star Baker, and nobody leaving means we get at least another week with all 12 of this year’s bakers, giving everyone a little more time to settle in and show what they can do. We are very happy to have Bake Off back, and Nigella might just be the icing on the cake.

The Great British Bake Off continues on Tuesday nights at 8pm on Channel 4.

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Netflix has opened the doors to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, with Wonka’s The Golden Ticket streaming from today, Wednesday, 23 September. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the new reality competition takes 12 Golden Ticket holders inside a huge recreation of Wonka’s factory, where they face games, temptations and challenges designed to test them physically, mentally and morally. There are nine episodes in total, although Netflix is splitting the series across two release dates, meaning viewers will have to wait until next week to discover who ultimately wins.

Wonka’s The Golden Ticket Netflix Release Schedule

The first seven episodes of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket are available on Netflix from today, with the final two episodes arriving one week later on Wednesday, 30 September. That gives viewers most of the competition to watch before a short wait for the finale and the reveal of who walks away with the prize.

Wednesday, 23 September – Episodes 1–7
Wednesday, 30 September – Episodes 8–9 / finale

The competition began long before the contestants entered the factory, with potential participants sent Wonka chocolate bars following a nationwide casting process. They were not told whether their bar contained anything special, with only 12 people discovering a Golden Ticket inside and earning their place on the show. According to the production team, the reactions viewers see when the successful contestants open their bars are real.

What Does the Winner of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket Get?

There is a substantial prize waiting at the end of the competition, with Netflix describing it in Wonka-like fashion as a “lifetime supply of money”. In practical terms, the winner receives $3 million through a six-figure annuity paid over 30 years, giving the contestants plenty of reason to make it through the factory’s challenges.

Each Golden Ticket holder also enters with a partner of their choosing, with the factory testing their judgement, relationships and willingness to take risks as they move through its rooms and games.

Where Was Wonka’s The Golden Ticket Filmed?

Netflix did not rely on green screen to create Wonka’s world. The production built an 88,000-square-foot Chocolate Factory across three studios on Australia’s Gold Coast, with the enormous set completed in 12 weeks. It includes the Chocolate Room, Wonkavision 2.0, the Great Glass Elevator and various new areas created specifically for the competition, while thousands of square feet of synthetic grass and around 10,000 gallons of purple and gold paint were used to transform the studios.

A large amount of what contestants encounter inside the Chocolate Room can actually be eaten too. The set features candied apples growing from trees, flowers flavoured with everything from strawberry and raspberry to peanut butter, caramel and butterscotch, and grass made to taste like lemon-and-lime sour straws. The production also used thousands of gallons of honey and miles of lickable wallpaper across the challenges, although the famous chocolate river is one thing contestants should probably leave alone. Its 27,000 gallons of “chocolate goop” were specially manufactured for the show and transported to Australia in 93 large vats.

How Does Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka Feature?

Rather than having a traditional presenter guiding the competition, Wonka exists as an unseen presence throughout the factory. The production recreated the voice and manner of Gene Wilder’s version of the character with permission from his widow, Karen Wilder, who also provided access to old recordings and audiobooks to help the team reproduce his humour, delivery and distinctive tone.

The connection to the 1971 film extends to the Oompa-Loompas too, with original performer Rusty Goffe returning to help the production shape its new version of Wonka’s workforce. The 2026 series features Oompa-Loompas of varying sizes, with the team aiming to update the factory while maintaining links to the world viewers already know.

Are the Magic Tricks in The Golden Ticket Real?

Many of the stranger things happening inside the Chocolate Factory were created using practical illusions rather than simply being added in post-production. Magic consultant Adam Mada worked on effects including contestants appearing to disappear after eating a golden gumball and the transitions used during Wonkavision challenges, with the illusions designed to work in front of both the cameras and the contestants experiencing them in the room.

The Great Glass Elevator is one piece of Wonka magic that does rely on a little trickery, as the elevator itself does not actually travel up and down through the factory. Instead, lighting and special effects create the sensation of movement while contestants use it to travel between different areas, keeping the illusion of Wonka’s famously unpredictable Wonkavator alive.

For CultureCues, stepping inside Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory is one of those childhood fantasies that makes the whole idea very easy to sell to us. Netflix seems to have gone all in on actually building the world too, and details like edible flowers, lickable wallpaper, disappearing contestants and an enormous Chocolate Room make us want to see the factory almost as much as the competition itself. Seven episodes dropping today gives us plenty to get through before next week’s finale, although if we were actually inside and someone pointed us towards the chocolate river, there is a good chance we would forget about the $3 million altogether. Overall, we are more than ready to step into a world of pure imagination.

Episodes 1–7 of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket are streaming on Netflix now, with Episodes 8 and 9 arriving on Wednesday, 30 September.

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Strictly Come Dancing is getting a new spin-off show for 2026, with Strictly: Lights Up launching on BBC iPlayer alongside this year’s live competition. Hosted by comedian Abi Clarke and former Strictly contestant Tyler West, the new show will take viewers straight back onto the dance floor after each Sunday results show, with immediate reaction from the eliminated couple, the pair they faced in the dance-off, the judges, presenters and other Strictly guests.

When Does Strictly: Lights Up Start?

Strictly: Lights Up will begin on Sunday, 4 October, immediately after the first results show of the 2026 series. The programme will be available exclusively on BBC iPlayer each Sunday night once the main results show has finished. The timing means Abi and Tyler will be able to speak to the departing couple while the emotions are still fresh, alongside others involved in the night’s show, giving fans extra reaction that would previously have remained off screen.

What Else Is Coming to BBC iPlayer?

The BBC is also launching a dedicated Strictly Come Dancing hub on iPlayer for the 2026 series, bringing the main shows together with a range of new digital extras.

Alongside Lights Up, Abi Clarke will visit different celebrity and professional couples in rehearsals for new weekly training-room episodes, while a separate weekly highlights show will round up the biggest moments from across the competition. Every dance from the series will also be available to watch individually, and episodes of the main show will include chapters for the first time, allowing viewers to jump directly to particular couples or performances.

The additions arrive as the main competition prepares to begin, with the first live show airing on Saturday, 26 September on BBC One and BBC iPlayer following last weekend’s launch show.

For CultureCues, this sounds like a really fun addition for Strictly fans. Getting the eliminated couple straight after the results show should give us those first reactions before they have had much time to process what has happened, and Tyler West already knows exactly what it feels like to be in that position, which should make those conversations even better. We also like the idea of having more rehearsal footage and individual dances easier to find on iPlayer, because once the live shows get going, there is never really such a thing as too much Strictly. We will see how Lights Up works once it gets going, but for now, it is 10s across the board.

Strictly: Lights Up begins on BBC iPlayer on Sunday, 4 October after the results show.

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