BBC confirms return of Amanda Holden for its "gripping, high‑stakes quiz show"
Contestant applications for the new season are now open.
Amanda Holden's quiz show The Celebrity Inner Circle will return for a second season.
The show – described as "gripping" and "high‑stakes" by the BBC – sees a contestant pair up with a celebrity with the aim of making it all the way to the final round, where two players face the ultimate decision... to either split the prize money and walk away as equals or attempt to take it all by shafting the other player, leaving them with nothing.
The first season aired at the end of last year and combined elements from popular shows The Traitors, Golden Balls and The Weakest Link, while replicating a similar format to the 2001 game show Shafted.
The first season contained six celebrity special episodes, but thanks to its popularity, season 2 will contain eight.
Amanda Holden said: "It’s a joy that The Celebrity Inner Circle returns to BBC primetime for a second series of backstabbing, betrayal and a sprinkle of team play!
"This is not just a quiz show, it’s a real mind game. My jaw was on the floor throughout the first series at the level of deception!"
She continued: "It’s truly wonderful that I’m left to improvise with my script on this show and I guarantee you a mini skirt, high heels and a lash on top of a brilliant show of trust – with no obligation to tell the truth!
"Only the viewer at home really knows what’s truly going on, so shouting at the telly throughout series 2 for all the right reasons is guaranteed!"
Season 1's celebrity line-up included comedians Lou Sanders and Maisie Adam, who recently competed in Jimmy Carr's Last One Laughing, as well as a trio of EastEnders stars in the shape of Tamzin Outhwaite, Danielle Harold and Nina Wadia.
They were joined by former Love Island contestants Zara McDermott and Tasha Ghouri, JLS singer JB Gill, presenter Jeff Brazier and The Saturdays star Una Healy, among others.
Kalpna Patel‑Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said of the new season: "Under the watchful eye of our charmingly witty host Amanda, The Celebrity Inner Circle will once again see famous faces paired with members of the public as they try and bluff their way to the exciting end game.
"We’re thrilled to bring it back bigger than before, and we can’t wait for viewers to see what’s in store for series two."
The celebrity cast for season 2 is yet to be announced but applications are now open for contestants to take part in The Celebrity Inner Circle.
The Celebrity Inner Circle season 1 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Authors
Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a Freelance Writer who covers pop culture and entertainment programmes for the Radio Times. She previously worked as the Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab where she managed its local department. She obtained a BA (Hons) in English Literature from University of Nottingham.
