MAYA Jama was the first star to be approached by BBC bosses for the new Celebrity Traitors — and willingly took a £760,000 pay cut compared to her Love Island deal.
She is such a huge fan of the show that she wasn’t put off by the BBC’s reputed flat appearance fee of £40,000.
Maya Jama was the top of the most wanted list by BBC bosses to star on The Celebrity Traitors Credit: Getty
Some of the celebs are already heading to Scotland’s Ardross Castle for filming Credit: BBC
That’s far less than the £800,000 she’s understood to be paid to host each series.
The 31-year-old presenter was the top of the BBC’s wanted list of 21 stars – – for the second series of Celebrity Traitors, due to air in the autumn.
Some of the celebs headed to Scotland’s Ardross Castle yesterday for filming — and all are playing for a winner’s prize of up to £100,000 for their chosen charity.
Maya, who dates Man City footballer , 28, was also due to arrive at Inverness Airport yesterday, but the only celebrities pictured were actor Richard E. Grant, 68, and actress Bella Ramsey, 22, broadcaster , 42, and former model Jerry Hall, 69.
A source said: “Maya was top of the list for BBC bosses.
“They approached her first because they know that she pulls in a young audience thanks to her Love Island fame.
“She loved watching the first series at home with boyfriend Ruben and is so excited to get filming.
“She can’t wait to do some fibbing and be as deceitful as possible to try to win it.
Jerry Hall was spotted arriving at Inverness Airport ahead of filming The Celebrity Traitors Credit: Click News and Media
Richard E Grant was also pictured touching down in Scotland ahead of the new series Credit: Click News and Media
“It has worked out perfectly that she can go straight from the Scottish castle to the villa in Majorca to film the summer Love Island series in June.
“She was obsessed with Celebrity Traitors last year and the money was secondary to the taking part.”
Maya shared a clip of the BBC teaser for the show — which features a game involving Traitors murdering Faithfuls — to her 3.3million followers yesterday.
She wrote: “Secret is out. Wish me luck.”
The BBC also officially announced the full list of 21 names on Instagram yesterday with a video of drivers in arrivals at the airport holding blackboards with the name of each celebrity in the line-up.
Maya commented on the post with of a face with hands over its eyes.
Host replied to her with three love hearts.
Comedian , 53, and star , 61, are among the other top names .
Bella Ramsey was also spotted arriving in Scotland to film the celeb-packed new series Credit: Click News and Media
EastEnders star Ross Kemp was one of the last names revealed to have signed up for the show Credit: Getty
revealed in March how Miranda held secret talks with BBC bosses about a co-hosting role on , after Claudia and stepped down last year.
It is understood she might have opted instead to appear on Celebrity Traitors.
Strictly superfan Miranda had a self-titled BBC sitcom which ran from 2009 to 2015, and from 2012 was Call the Midwife’s Chummy.
Comedians , 42, , 37, Rob Beckett, 40, and his pal , 48, are also taking part.
Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock will be among the contestants in series two Credit: PA
Comedian and actress Miranda Hart has also signed up for the show Credit: Getty
An insider said: “Bosses wanted to replicate the friendship dynamic following the success of the relationship between and last year.
“Rob and Romesh are best mates so it will be interesting to see how this plays out during filming.”
The pair have appeared on a number of TV shows together over the years, including their Bafta-winning Sky Max series Rob & Romesh Vs. One of the memorable moments from last year’s Celeb Traitors series came when Alan dramatically “murdered” Paloma.
Another comedian, James Acaster, 41, and singer , 52, are also set to arrive in Scotland to join the rest of the cast.
And star Julie Hesmondhalgh, 56, who played Hayley Cropper, content creator King Kenny, 29, Industry actress Myha’la, 30, and mathematician Prof Hannah Fry, 42, also join.
Other big names taking part at the castle are pop star , 34, actor , 57, musician Sebastian Croft, 24, and actress Sharon Rooney, 37, who played Rae Earl in My Mad Fat Diary.
BBC bosses had a special agreement with Inverness Airport to allow the private cars to drive onto the tarmac to collect the stars.
Meanwhile, the BBC have boosted their security spending for this series by employing ten guards to protect the star-studded line-up.
Black tents have also been erected so they have maximum privacy and outfits remained hidden. The first challenge will be based at Loch Glass — a remote fresh-water loch with a distinctive lodge known as The Pink House.
However celebs will be exposed to the elements as temperatures in the Scottish Highlands are set to drop to -1C in some areas, with overnight frost.
Betfair’s James Mackie said it was too soon to offer odds but added: “The Traitors is a show that has gripped the nation and the cast for this year’s looks exciting with a superb mix of celebrity personalities.
“There are some household names that are sure to prove popular but it all comes down to the big decision of who will become a Traitor or a Faithful. This will have a big deciding factor on the odds throughout the show.”
Last year, 15.4million tuned in to watch comedian Alan Carr, 49, a Traitor, crowned the winner.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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