By LAURA FOX, ASSOCIATE SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR

Published: 21:59 BST, 24 September 2026 | Updated: 22:02 BST, 24 September 2026

James Blunt has revealed he had to ‘speed watch’ the last series of Celebrity Traitors after learning his wife Sofia Wellesley signed him up for the show.

The singer, 52, is one of 21 stars who headed to the famous Scottish castle to appear on the BBC series, which kicks off on Thursday October 1.

While James was tight-lipped about his appearance on The Traitors, he did share that he tried to emulate last year’s finalist Joe Marler.

The pair were both guests on Thursday’s episode of The One Show, with James quick to avert questions about how far he progressed in the castle.

Advertisement

When discussing potential favourites for the show, Joe backed James, saying: ‘It’s James! As soon as that cast was revealed, I was like, it’s James Blunt, he’s going to be the dark horse. I’ve admired him.’

Turning to James, he added: ‘I’ve admired you from afar,’ and James replied: ‘Well, I’ve always thought we were brothers separated at birth. We’re so similar!’

James Blunt has revealed he had to ‘speed watch’ the last series of Celebrity Traitors after learning his wife Sofia Wellesley signed him up for the show

Advertisement

The singer is one of 21 stars who headed to the famous Scottish castle to appear on the BBC series, which kicks off on Thursday October 1.

Reflecting on watching the previous series of The Celebrity Traitors, James revealed: ‘I haven’t watched much TV and I found out from my wife that I was on Celebrity Traitors, she signed me up for it. So I was given a speed-watch of the whole thing.’

Asked which former contestant he would most like to emulate, James added: ‘If I can’t be Alan Carr, then if I would want to be anyone, it would be a Joe Marler.’

Joining James and host Claudia Winkleman in the Scottish Highlands for the second series are Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

Advertisement

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 complete the line up. 

A trailer released last week showed the stars meeting each other for the first time at Ardross Castle, where the show is filmed, as Claudia declared: ‘The game is on!’

The clip hinted at the difficult tasks the group had to endure, including an exploding pirate ship, as the stars try to build up a £100,000 cash prize for a chosen charity.

It showed the players arriving at the castle before heading to a church to take their seats for the first task. 

Advertisement

Maya quipped to her fellow players: ‘If this is the last time we are all friends, then good luck!’

While James was tight-lipped about his appearance on The Traitors, he did share that he tried to emulate last year’s finalist Joe Marler, as the pair appeared on The One Show

The teaser then cut to the first tense Round Table as Ms Winkleman told them: ‘I have chosen my Traitors. The game is on!’ 

She added: ‘There are now killers among you. People are out there to deceive. Fame won’t save them.’

Advertisement

The series will begin with an extra-long episode and a new bonus special, Traitor Or Faithful? Claudia Decides, which will be available on October 1 from 9.15pm on BBC iPlayer. Viewers will find out how Claudia chooses her Traitors in the one-off show. 

The regular episodes will be screened on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8pm. 

The Celebrity Traitors line-up 2026

 

Advertisement

 Jerry Hall

Jerry Hall, 70, rose to fame in the Seventies and became one of the era’s most recognisable fashion icons 

Richard E Grant

Richard E Grant, 69, is celebrated for his roles in everything from the cult classic Withnail & I to modern flicks such as Everybody’s Talking About Jamie 

 James Blunt

James Blunt, 52, shot to global fame with his debut album and the hit single You’re Beautiful

 Ross Kemp

Ross Kemp, 62, who recently returned to EastEnders to reprise his role as hardman Grant Mitchell, is said to want to challenge himself

Advertisement

 Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen, 57, is celebrated for his incredible performances across stage and screen, particularly his work in Good Omens and The Queen

 Rob Beckett

Best friend of fellow Traitors star Ranganathan, comedian Rob Beckett, 40, is known for his high energy and booming laugh

 Sharon Rooney

Sharon Rooney, 37, is best known for her breakout role as Rae Earl in the acclaimed series My Mad Fat Diary

 Joanne McNally

Joanne McNally, 43, is known for her brutally honest humour and hilarious takes on dating, chaos and modern life

Advertisement

 Amol Rajan

Journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, 43, has carved out a successful career across major UK media, including radio and television

 King Kenny

King Kenny, 29, is a content creator known for his prank videos and street-style social experiments

 Sebastian Croft

Sebastian Croft, 24, is best known for his breakout role as Ben Hope in the Netflix series Heartstopper

  Maya Jama

Maya Jama, 32, is quickly becoming one of the UK’s most popular stars and famously fronts Love Island

Advertisement

 Miranda Hart

Miranda Hart, 53, broke through with her hit sitcom Miranda, which became a resounding success and cemented her as a comedy legend

Romesh Ranganathan

Romesh Ranganathan, 48, has been taking British TV by storm in recent years is known for his deadpan delivery

 James Acaster

Comedian James Acaster, 41, is good friends with Ed Gamble, who hosts The Traitors: Uncloaked. The duo present the hit food podcast Off Menu 

 Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey, 22, rose to fame as Lyanna Mormont in Game Of Thrones and gained global acclaim for their leading role in The Last Of Us

Advertisement

 Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 34, is known as a member of the girl group Little Mix, which found fame on The X Factor in 2011

 Joe Lycett

From TV stunts to clever public pranks, Joe Lycett, 38, has built a reputation as one of Britain’s most inventive comics

 Hannah Fry

Mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry, 42, is known for turning complex data into engaging content for viewers

 Julie Hesmondhalgh

Julie Hesmondhalgh, 56, is best known for her long-running role as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street – the first transgender character in a British soap opera

Advertisement

 Myha’la

Myha’la, 30, is known for her striking portrayal of brutal fintech expert Harper Stern in the HBO drama Industry

 

Manchester United are expected to continue their search for a left-back when the transfer window reopens in January

Manchester United have been handed updates on two left-back targets ahead of the January transfer window. The position was one targeted by United in the summer window.

While the priority was to strengthen the midfield, the final days and weeks of the window saw them try to add to their left-back options. They eventually decided to go with what they have for the first half of the season.

With Michael Carrick seemingly preferring to play Patrick Dorgu further forward, it leaves Luke Shaw as the only natural senior left-back in the squad. While he played every Premier League game last season, he has had previous spells out due to injury.

A recent injury to Shaw has led to Dorgu playing further back as he provided cover. However, United could look to provide genuine competition to the 31-year-old when the window reopens in January.

They could potentially reignite interest in a couple of their targets from the summer. RB Leipzig’s David Raum was one of the names said to be on the list.

He’s been linked with United for the last few years, with reports that he was offered to the club in the summer. He has less than a year remaining on his current contract, meaning he could be available for a cut-price.

However, it seems that United are expected to face competition for the 28-year-old. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus are keen to sign him on a free transfer next summer when his contract expires.

It’s added that the Italian side face competition from teams in England, but have ‘positioned themselves favourably’ due to a positive relationship with the player’s agent.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Another player who United were linked with in the summer was Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde. It seems that they have been handed a boost over a potential January move with Fichajes reporting that Balde is at the top of the list of players Barca want to sell.

The report adds that before any new signings can be made at the Nou Camp, the club must first let players go, with a one in one out policy. The 22-year-old has played just 12 minutes of football so far this season and has been an unused substitute for the remainder of games.

Given Barcelona’s need to sell, it’s a situation that United could potentially take advantage of to try and get a transfer completed at a reduced rate.

One transfer target who United won’t be reigniting their interest in is Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall. The England international was the left-back United were the most heavily linked to in the summer.

But in a blow, Hall has recently signed a new long-term deal at St James’ Park. United will therefore now have to move on to other options, unless they want to pay a huge fee that Newcastle will demand.

He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Friday September 25.

A man has been charged with the murder of a man in North Belfast in 2020.

Robbie Lawlor was shot dead outside a house in the Etna Drive area of the city.

A 41-year-old man who was arrested in Liverpool on Wednesday has been charged with murder, and possession of a firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Friday September 25.

All charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas has been charged with criminal damage after he was seen in a video slashing at a dinghy in the English Channel.

The 37-year-old, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, has also been charged with failing to disclose the PIN to his phone, Hampshire Police said.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.

Several hundred people, many wearing black, had gathered outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening believing Thomas was inside.

They arrived shortly before 18:30 BST and stood on the road outside the building and could be heard chanting “free DT”.

The crowd began to disperse at about 21:45 after protesters learned of the charges against Thomas.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary earlier said an arrest had been made after a “boat that had an emergency responder on board” was damaged in the Channel.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X, external to get the latest alerts.

North Yorkshire Police wanted York magistrates to order that 4th Avenue Shop in Tang Hall remain closed for three months.

Julie Dalzell, for the force, claimed that the shop was selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco at cut price sales, that there was a risk to children and that girls had been subjected to unwelcome attention from staff.

The allegations were opposed by solicitor Kashif Khan, speaking on behalf of the shop which is owned by Mohammed Latif Ahmad.

He said the shop and its staff denied the allegations and that the police case only amounted to suspicions, not evidence.

“You cannot go on suspicion to close a man’s business and his livelihood for any period of time, let alone three months,” he told the court.

Magistrates agreed and rejected the application for a closure order.

The closure notice fastened by police to the shop on Wednesday (Image: Newsquest staff)

The shop, which had been closed under a temporary closure notice on Wednesday, can now reopen.

Ms Dalzell claimed that the authorities had made test purchases in September 2025 and on September 19, and received tobacco and cigarettes that did not comply with the law.

She alleged that trading standards officers on October 25 had found 25 pouches of illegal tobacco and 104 packets of illegal cigarettes concealed on the shop premises.

Mr Khan said Mr Ahmad had only taken over the shop in November 2025 and that there was no evidence before the court about the illegal nature of the tobacco and cigarettes.

He said no hidden illegal tobacco and cigarettes had been found on Wednesday’s raid.

Police in Tang Hall on Wednesday (September 23) (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Dalzell alleged that on Wednesday a member of staff had given his keys to a vehicle in which police had found illegal products.

The claim was disputed by Mr Khan who said the vehicle was unconnected to the shop and no staff member had handed over their keys.

Ms Dalzell claimed there was risk of exploitation of children through the shop’s activities because a school was nearby.

“There are reports as well of young girls being subjected to abuse and potentially harassment as a result of people working at the premises,” she alleged.

Mr Khan said the police had not produced evidence to support their claims and magistrates should totally disregard a particular police statement put before them because of what he said were problems with the way it had been composed.

Members of Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee gave the green light to Homes by Esh’s scheme for land at High Faverdale Farm on Wednesday.

The development will deliver 230 homes on a site known as Burtree Cell CH and forms part of the wider Burtree Garden Village project, which is expected to bring forward around 2,000 homes over the next two decades.

Dale Morris, technical director at Homes by Esh, said: “We have been working closely with Darlington Borough Council to answer an important housing need across the borough.

“Following on from the planning approval for 130 new homes at Burtree last month, our focus remains on bringing forward high-quality, design-led homes in Darlington, and contributing positively to the long-term vision for the garden village.”

(Image: Lovell)

The approved scheme includes a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties, with 46 earmarked as affordable homes.

Plans also feature areas of open space, landscaping, drainage infrastructure and links to walking and cycling routes.

The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers, who said it would make an important contribution towards Darlington’s housing growth and support the long-term vision for the garden village.

Burtree Garden Village is planned to include a new primary school, community centre, pub, health facilities and employment land alongside housing.

It follows a decision earlier this year to grant permission for 130 other homes within the garden village.

Only two public comments were received on the application, with concerns raised about local road infrastructure and potential noise from neighbouring industrial buildings.

If anyone needs a friend on Coronation Street, it’s Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin).

The troubled teen’s life has been turned upside down when her decision to try consensual strangulation during sex with Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) resulted in disaster.

As a result, Betsy collapsed at home suffering a stroke that put her in hospital, caused by a blood clot resulting from neck artery damage.

Unfortunately, the story didn’t end there. The stroke completely stripped Betsy of her independence, affecting her ability to speak clearly as well as her mobility.

Now she is forced to rely on twenty-four-seven care from her two deeply worried mums, Carla and Lisa Connor-Swain (Alison King and Vicky Myers). Even her best friends like Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) treat her like she’s wrapped in cotton wool.

Sadly, Betsy’s independence isn’t the only thing her stroke has taken from her. Now her entire future is up in the air. Prior to the accident, she was going to study fashion in London and had big catwalk dreams. Now her condition makes her chance of attending college seem increasingly bleak.

Despite physical progress, Betsy continues to have the ups and down that come from living with a serious condition that affects day-to-day living. An outing to the Bistro with Lauren recently led to a mortifying moment whenaccidentally knocked over cutlery, leading Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) to suggest that a mortified Betsy was drunk.

This makes it all the more heart-warming to see Betsy’s friends and neighbours step in to offer support and help make he dreams come true.

Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) has already treated her to a manicure to cheer her up, while Sally Metcalf (Sally Dynevor) showed Carla a website for a fashion course at a local college that might suit Betsy. Carla thought it was a great idea, even organising some fashion work experience for her step-daughter at Underworld.

Sadly, as previous mentioned, Betsy has her down days. It seems she’s due one in upcoming episodes of Coronation Street, where one Weatherfield resident comes to her aid.

Betsy heads to work at the factory, hoping to get some practice before her college interview.

But it’s far from plain sailing as Betsy struggles at her machine, Sean Tully (Antony Cotton) offers to help her.

This is particularly significant seeing as Sean is Dylan’s father, and has previously refused to accept that his son could be responsible for her injury, going so far as to suggest that she must have cheated. How will Betsy react to this assistance from Sean?

The next day. Lisa accompanies a nervous Betsy to her college interview. Will Betsy be ready for this next step?

MORE: Dylan tormented as Betsy is devastated by Debbie’s joke in Coronation Street spoiler video

MORE: New Coronation Street spoiler videos confirm devastating reveal of deadly illness

MORE: Betsy’s utter terror in Coronation Street as pain suggests another stroke

Wales return to Nations League action tonight as Craig Bellamy’s side face a daunting trip to Lisbon to take on Portugal.

The Dragons are back in League A after winning promotion in the previous campaign, with Bellamy eager to build on the progress made during his first two years in charge.

Portugal provide the ultimate test, with Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of international stars standing between Wales and a positive start to their latest Nations League campaign.

Bellamy’s future was a major talking point during the summer after interest from Burnley, but the Wales boss has reaffirmed his commitment to the national side and can now focus fully on the task ahead.

Wales have been hit by a number of injuries, with Harry Wilson, Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and Nathan Broadhead all unavailable for this international window.

Wales’ clash with Portugal kicks off at 7.45pm tonight and is being shown live on BBC One Wales and S4c, with coverage also available on BBC iPlayer.

We’ll have all the build-up, team news, live updates, analysis and reaction throughout the evening.

Portugal XI: Costa; Neto, Veiga, Dias, Mendes; Vitinha ,Fernandes, Cancelo; R Neves, Ronaldo, Felix.

Subs: Silva, Soares, Dalot, Araujo, Tavares, Palhinha, Ramos, Silva, Conceicao, J. Neves, Trincao, Leao.

Wales XI: Ward; Williams, Cabango, B. Davies, Dasilva; J. James, Sheehan, Ampadu; Koumas, Johnson, Brooks.

Subs: Cornell, King, Mepham, Burns, Cullen, Moore, Roberts, Norrington-Davies, Harris, Thomas, D. James, Colwill.

Scroll down for live updates…

A young woman was found dead in a hotel room after swallowing poison in the company of a stranger she met online, a court has heard.

Aimee Louise Elif Walton, 21, bought the illegal substance for $269 on several occasions between June 2022 and September 2022.

She was discovered unresponsive in Slough, Berkshire, on October 14, 2022 after reportedly struggling with her mental health following the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in her delaying her studies.

Ms Walton, from Southampton, was one of 79 victims from the UK known to have died as a direct result of purchasing poison from Kenneth Law, who sold 1,200 packages to 40 countries across the world from Canada-based websites.

Law, 61, previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of aiding suicide, all relating to Canadian victims.

Although he was not formally charged with the deaths, the 79 UK victims also form part of the wider Canadian case into his offending.

Ms Walton’s sister, Adele Zeynep Walton, recorded her victim impact statement in a video which was played out in court in Ontario, Canada, on Thursday.

In her statement, Adele Walton said her sister was not found by a friend, as previously reported, but died in the company of a stranger she had met in an internet forum where people discussed ending their own lives.

Aimee Walton, left, with her sister Adele Zeynep Walton. Aimee Walton was discovered unresponsive in Slough, Berkshire on October 14, 2022

Ms Walton ‘died in a strange place, in a strange city, in the company of a stranger’, her sister said

Advertisement

The man ‘had flown from America to be with her when she died’, and had been staying with her for 11 days prior to her death, she said.

‘She died in a strange place, in a strange city, in the company of a stranger,’ Adele Walton told the court.

‘You only need to listen to the recording of the emergency call to know how much she suffered during the last moments of her life.’

Authorities previously informed the victims’ families Law would not face criminal proceedings in the UK because of the potential for the accused to challenge the extradition under ‘double jeopardy’ laws.

Adele Walton, along with other family members of the British victims, previously criticised the decision, saying ‘doors have been shut’ for families seeking justice.

‘The question for our own country is simpler still: who here will examine how the British state let this happen, and what it will do so that no other family goes through it?’ Adele Walton previously said.

‘A foreign sentencing hearing cannot answer that. Only a statutory public inquiry can.’

Law sent a total of 330 products to the UK, with 286 individuals receiving the products, according to the National Crime Agency.

Aimee Walton with singer-songwriter and music producer Pharrell Williams – of whom she was said to be a huge fan

Photo issued by Peel Regional Police of Kenneth Law, 57, of Mississauga

The court previously heard Law was the sole owner of four companies, with one firm’s website offering a ‘set of instructions’ and advertising 40-minute telephone consultations for $150 (£111).

The court in Ontario also heard how Law would occasionally frequent an online forum where users discussed ending their lives and he would post under the pseudonym ‘Greenberg’ to direct people to one of his websites.

The maximum sentence for aiding suicide in Canada is 14 years – the same for encouraging suicide in the UK.

It is understood the sentence in Mr Law’s case is likely to be more than 14 years because of the number of victims and the nature of the offences.

• For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org