The BBC has reportedly had to double it’s £1million budget for star signings on Celebrity Traitors, to meet the demands of this year’s cast.
For the series due to launch in Autumn, the broadcaster has secured some A-list names, including Richard E. Grant, Michael Sheen and Miranda Hart.
Some of them have already landed glamorously on Scottish soil, flying into Inverness via private jet.
They were then seen getting into blacked out cars, ready to be whisked away to Ardross Castle.
A source has told The Sun that the production team have had ‘little choice’ but to cater to the celebrities’ demands ‘because they accept the number of A-listers taking part in this year’s show makes it exceptional’.
According to the publication, the cost of travel, security and accommodation for this year’s cast is predicted to come to at least another £1million.
The source also made note of the fact that lots of the stars are used to working in the US, and so therefore accustomed to the ‘Hollywood treatment’.
This is said to include their safety and privacy expectations. The show insider continued: ‘They don’t want to find themselves thrust into the spotlight, or put in any kind of danger, so demand substantial security the minute they arrive.
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‘But it’s also more than a little bizarre because Inverness is pretty quiet and remote — it’s not like arriving at JFK or LAX Airport.’
The publication claims that last year contestants were driven around in a minibus, whereas this year they’re in chauffeur-driven cars.
From the airport it’s about a 45 minute drive to the castle where the elaborate game will all unfold.
It also states that this time around, most of the contestants are arriving with their partners and PRs, instead of arriving alone.
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So far, we’ve seen the likes of Jerry Hall, Maya Jama, Amol Rajan and Bella Ramsey touching down in Scotland. Others pictured in transit to the castle include James Acaster, Ross Kemp, Joanne McNally, James Blunt, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Michael and Miranda.
With each contestant believed to be getting paid a flat fee of £40,000 for the Claudia Winkleman-hosted show, the total cost of the 21 signings alone is set to come to £840,000.
The price for taking part is a lot lower than what some of the participants will be used to accepting for jobs, but it seems the stars are doing it for more than just the money.
They’ve got the chance of winning £100,000 for their chosen charity, be watched by up to 15million people per episode, and play an amazing game in the process.
BBC declined to comment on the above when contacted by Metro.
Celebrity Traitors will return return to the BBC this autumn.
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