Award-winning actor and proud Accringtonian Julie Hesmondhalgh is preparing to enter television’s most famous castle as The Celebrity Traitors returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its highly anticipated second series.
Julie will be one of 21 famous faces heading to the Scottish Highlands to take part in the ultimate game of detection, deception and betrayal when the series returns on Thursday 1 October at 8pm.
Hosted once again by Claudia Winkleman, the celebrity version of the hugely popular format sees the contestants secretly divided into Faithfuls and Traitors, with up to £100,000 available for the winner’s chosen charity.
Julie joins a star-studded cast which includes Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, James Blunt, Maya Jama, Richard E. Grant, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Romesh Ranganathan and Ross Kemp.
Speaking ahead of entering the castle, Julie revealed that she had initially been tempted by the prospect of becoming a Traitor, before changing her mind and deciding she would rather try to uncover them as a Faithful.
Whatever role awaits her in the castle, viewers in Accrington will have an extra reason to tune in.
Proud of her Accrington roots
Born and raised in Accrington, Julie has enjoyed an acclaimed career across television, theatre and film.
She remains best known to many television viewers for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street, while her extensive credits also include Broadchurch, Happy Valley, Doctor Who, Inside No. 9 and Mr Bates vs The Post Office. In 2026, Julie added another major accolade to her career when she won an Olivier Award for her performance in James Graham’s Punch.
Despite her success, Julie has continued to speak proudly about her hometown and her Lancashire roots.
Amazing Accrington readers may remember Julie featuring in a special Amazing Accrington Magazine interview back in Winter 2016, in which she spoke about growing up in Accrington, her family and her career.
Born in Rough Lee and brought up on Elmfield Street in Church, Julie spoke warmly about her upbringing and her affection for the town.
She told LIFE at the time that she was “dead chuffed” to have been made a Freeman of the Borough of Hyndburn, adding that “Accy is really special to me.”
Almost a decade later, Accrington will now be watching as one of its own takes on one of television’s toughest games.
Will Julie be chosen as a Faithful or a Traitor? And, more importantly, can she make it all the way through the castle?
We’ll soon find out.
The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 begins on Thursday 1 October at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with new episodes airing on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Read our original Amazing Accrington Magazine interview with Julie Hesmondhalgh here:
https://user-29310172.cld.bz/Amazing-Accrington-Issues/LIFESTYLE-Magazine-Winter-2016/6/
