Celebrity Traitors suffers another huge blow as ‘ITV legend pulls out of game show after secret talks’

Celebrity Traitors have reportedly suffered yet another huge blew after an ‘ITV legend pulled out of the game show last minute’.

Lorraine Kelly, 65, was allegedly in ‘secret talks’ with bosses after being ‘flattered’ when she was approached by producers.

But sadly the presenter was forced to pull out after her busy schedule clashed with the filming for the show. 

The hotly-anticipated celebrity version of the BBC show will see stars going head-to-head in the psychological game. 

A source told The Sun: ‘BBC bosses were really keen to sign Lorraine Kelly up for Celebrity Traitors.

‘She loves the show and was super flattered to be asked, so she had a meeting with them which went really well.

‘Producers were hoping she would sign on the dotted line, but in the end, Lorraine couldn’t make it work with her schedule at the moment so had to pass.’

MailOnline have contacted ITV for a comment. 

It is also rumoured Daisy May Cooper and her brother Charlie had to quit the series over her commitments to her family. 

Meanwhile, an EastEnders icon has been tipped for Celebrity Traitors with bookies revealing the big names that could be set to join game show.

Danny Dyer, 47, reportedly has 4/9 odds of taking part, while Stephen Fry has 1/3 odds, figures obtained by The Mirror from Gambling.com show. 

Other stars that could be set to join the cast include Clare Balding (4/6), Tom Daley (Evens), Ricky Gervais (11/10) and Jonathan Ross (11/8). Alan Carr, Jennifer Saunders and Paloma Faith. 

Producers of the reality TV show were said to be desperate to bag the EastEnders star – but he has form for turning down such gigs. 

Danny has repeatedly said no to reality TV stints, including for both ITV‘s I’m A Celebrity and BBC‘s Strictly Come Dancing. 

When the much-anticipated celebrity version of The Traitors films, the line-up will not feature any reality TV stars – despite the persistence of their agents. 

The Mail on Sunday reported in December that the show has been inundated with requests to include less well-known names from shows such as The Only Way Is Essex and Love Island.

An industry source said the phones had been ‘ringing non-stop’ with agents trying to get their D-list clients a prime seat at The Traitors’ notorious Round Table – and the primetime exposure and publicity it would guarantee them.

But only bona fide celebrities and genuine household names will make the cut.

The source said: ‘The team behind The Traitors have never seen anything like it. Ever since the celebrity series was announced in the summer, the phones have been ringing non-stop with agents desperate to pitch their talent for the show.

‘But it has been made loud and clear that they only want high-profile household names and aren’t looking for the usual fodder from the reality TV circuit.’

The show, which is filmed at the atmospheric Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands and is hosted by Claudia Winkleman, splits the cast into Faithfuls and a small handful of Traitors.

The Traitors must conspire to eliminate the Faithfuls by ‘killing’ one every night – without being identified – to get their hands on a cash prize.