Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham has revealed she turned down an invitation to compete on the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, citing her reluctance to participate in the show’s intense elimination sequences.
The 52-year-old actress, best known for her role as Rebecca Welton in the Emmy-winning sitcom, explained that despite being asked to join the first series, she simply couldn’t bring herself to take part in the programme’s dramatic “burying” mechanics.
A Co-Star’s Temptation
Waddingham discussed her decision during an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show, revealing that her close friend and former Ted Lasso colleague Nick Mohammed had already committed to the inaugural celebrity series.
“My great buddy Nick Mohammed from Ted Lasso is on it and I nearly did because I knew he was going to be on it,” she said. “But I’m a great big scaredy cat.”
The actress admitted that despite her initial interest, the prospect of being “buried alive” proved too much for her to handle, even with the assurance of professional safety crews on set.
The Traitors Phenomenon
Mohammed went on to reach the final of last year’s Celebrity Traitors but ultimately fell short, with comedian Alan Carr emerging as the winner representing his chosen charity. The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, challenges 21 celebrities to identify the “Traitors” hiding among them, who secretly eliminate contestants throughout the competition.
The celebrity spin-off debuted last autumn and quickly became a ratings sensation for the BBC. Its nail-biting finale attracted a peak audience of 15.4 million viewers, marking it as the network’s biggest television audience of 2025.
This year’s series continues to captivate audiences, with two episodes remaining before Friday night’s highly anticipated final.
Waddingham’s Rising Profile
Beyond her iconic turn in Ted Lasso, Waddingham has established herself as a versatile performer through her work in Netflix’s Sex Education and her recent role opposite Octavia Spencer in the Amazon Prime series Ride or Die.
Her candid revelation about declining Celebrity Traitors adds another layer to her public persona, showcasing a more relatable side of the accomplished actress.
Why it Matters
Waddingham’s candid admission reflects the genuine human apprehension many feel toward reality television’s more extreme challenges, highlighting how even seasoned performers draw personal boundaries. Her decision underscores the psychological toll these shows can exact, while also potentially influencing future casting decisions for the programme. As Celebrity Traitors continues to dominate viewing figures, such revelations remind us that behind the glamour lies real people making authentic choices about their comfort zones.
