Some players arrive at Ardross Castle hoping to survive. Joanne McNally arrived with a plan. The Joanne McNally Celebrity Traitors story that viewers are following this autumn is one of the most intriguing of series two, because the Irish comedian told the world exactly how she intended to play before filming even began.
She wants to be a Traitor. She reads body language for a living. And she has already warned that she will throw her fellow comedians under the bus without a second thought. Here is everything you need to know about the 43 year old stand up star, from her sold out tours and hit podcast to the ruthless game plan that could take her all the way to the £100,000 charity prize.
Who Is Joanne McNally
Joanne McNally is an Irish comedian and podcast host who has become one of the biggest names in Irish comedy over the past decade. The Sunday Times called her a “truly gifted stand up”, and her live shows have a habit of selling out wherever they go.
Her comedy is unfiltered and self deprecating, built on brutally honest stories about relationships, single life, dating apps and the expectations placed on women in their forties. It is the kind of material that makes audiences feel like they are chatting with their funniest friend, and it has earned her a fiercely loyal following in Ireland and the UK.
From Edinburgh to Sold Out Theatres
McNally’s rise began with one woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival, where both Wine Tamer and The Prosecco Express enjoyed sell out runs. The Prosecco Express then toured Ireland and went international, with dates in London, Australia and Dubai.
Back home, the numbers tell the story. The Prosecco Express played a remarkable 78 night run at Dublin’s Vicar Street. Across her career she has sold out more than 50 nights at the venue, played four nights at the London Palladium and three nights at London’s Eventim Apollo. Her current show, Pinotphile, launched in 2025 and has toured Ireland and the UK, including an extended residency at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre.
Television came calling too. She created, wrote and presented the documentary Baby Hater, an honest and funny look at not wanting children, which went on to sell to 12 countries. She co hosted RTE 2’s flagship comedy show Republic of Telly, and her credits include The Jonathan Ross Show, Richard Osman’s House of Games, The Big Fat Quiz of Everything and Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back. That last credit is worth remembering, because Joe Lycett is now one of her rivals around the Traitors roundtable.
The Podcast That Made Her a Household Name
In 2021, McNally launched My Therapist Ghosted Me with her friend and fellow media personality Vogue Williams. The podcast became a phenomenon, drawing millions of weekly listeners and ranking among the most popular comedy podcasts in the UK and Ireland.
The format plays to all of McNally’s strengths: quick thinking, emotional honesty and the ability to turn an awkward moment into comedy gold. Listeners tune in for the laughter, but they stay for the warmth between the two hosts, who have become one of the most loved double acts in podcasting.
Williams has been McNally’s loudest cheerleader since the Traitors casting was announced. “Get it, girl,” she told her friend, joking that it would be funny to watch McNally walk into the castle completely double dealing. Given what McNally has said about her own game plan, Williams might just get her wish.
The Joanne McNally Celebrity Traitors Game Plan
Most contestants keep their cards close to their chest before a series airs. McNally did the opposite. In an interview before filming, she laid out her approach with startling honesty, and the Joanne McNally Celebrity Traitors game plan she described is not for the faint hearted.
Why She Wants the Traitor Cloak
First, the headline. She was actively hoping to be chosen as a Traitor. While most players pray for the safety of the Faithful, McNally wanted the power to plot and murder under cover of darkness. It is a bold call from a first time reality contestant, and it tells you everything about her confidence.
She described herself as “quietly competitive”, then explained exactly why she fancied her chances: “I’m great at spotting lies. I can read body language, and I’ve dealt with a lot of snakes.” In a game built entirely on deception, the ability to read a room is the single most valuable skill a player can hold.
The Body Language Edge
Think about what McNally does every night on stage. She stands in front of hundreds of strangers, reads the energy of the room in seconds and adjusts her timing to win them over. That is essentially the Faithful game in miniature: sense who is uneasy, spot who is performing, and steer the group toward your chosen target.
As a Traitor, those same instincts become weapons. A good Traitor needs to know when a lie is landing and when to change the subject. McNally has spent years doing exactly that in front of live audiences, where there is nowhere to hide if a joke falls flat.
Playing for the Group Chat
She also revealed her real motivation for signing up, and it was not the prize money. “It’s all about the celebrity WhatsApp group,” she admitted, describing a gloriously unpredictable cast with no consistency to it at all. She loved the chaos of the lineup and she could not wait to be thrown into the middle of it.
That attitude might be her secret weapon. Players who are too desperate to win often tie themselves in knots. McNally sounds like someone who will genuinely enjoy the madness, and relaxed players make fewer mistakes.
No Mercy for Her Fellow Comedians
Series two features six comedians, and McNally has made it clear that friendship will count for nothing once the game begins. Comedians, she said, are “more than willing to throw each other under the bus”.
There were no secret pacts before filming and no cosy alliances. As she put it, they are professional entertainers who will happily kill each other off for the craic. It is a warning the other funny players would do well to take seriously.
The comedy contingent is seriously strong. Alongside McNally, the lineup includes James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Miranda Hart, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan. That is a lot of quick wits in one castle, and it guarantees that the roundtable debates will be must watch television.
Her fellow comic Miranda Hart, whose own journey on the show is winning fans over, brings a very different energy to the game, while Maya Jama, whose role on series two has viewers talking, is another of the 21 famous faces competing for the charity prize.
How Fans Guessed Before the Big Reveal
Sharp eyed listeners worked out the casting before the BBC made it official. A week before the lineup announcement, McNally told her podcast audience: “I have a job coming up that I’m not allowed to have a phone on.” Phones are famously taken away during Traitors filming, so fans quickly joined the dots.
When the cast was confirmed, she was revealed as the only Irish contestant in the series. That detail has made her a particular favourite with Irish viewers, who finally have one of their own to cheer on inside the castle.
The Show at a Glance
New to the format? Here is the setup for series two:
- 21 celebrities travel to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands
- The show is hosted by Claudia Winkleman
- The prize is up to £100,000 for the winner’s charity of choice
- It airs on Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer
- The first celebrity series was a phenomenon, with the 2025 finale peaking at 15.4 million viewers and Alan Carr lifting the prize
Why She Could Go All the Way
The Traitors rewards three things above all else: reading people, commanding a room and lying with a straight face. McNally’s entire career is built on the first two, and she has openly said she wants the third. That is a rare combination.
Her confessional comedy style makes her naturally likeable, and likeable players survive roundtable votes. Years of live stand up and podcasting have trained her to think on her feet, defuse tension with humour and steer a conversation exactly where she wants it to go. Those are Traitor skills, whether she ends up wearing the cloak or not.
There is a risk, of course. Comedians are often the first people others suspect, precisely because everyone knows they can perform. If the Faithful decide the funny ones are too clever to trust, McNally could find herself in danger early. But at the time of writing, her mix of charm, honesty and calculation makes her one of the most fascinating players to watch.
Final Takeaways
The Joanne McNally Celebrity Traitors journey is still unfolding, but the early signs are hugely promising. She walked into the castle as the only Irish contestant, armed with a lie detector’s instincts and a comedian’s perfect timing, and she told us her plan before the cameras even rolled.
Remember the key points. She wants the Traitor cloak. She reads body language like a professional. She will not protect her comedian friends. And she signed up for the group chat as much as the glory. Whether she ends the series lifting £100,000 for charity or gets banished in a blaze of roundtable drama, one thing is certain. Joanne McNally will be impossible to ignore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Joanne McNally?
Joanne McNally is an Irish comedian and podcast host, 43, known for sold out stand up tours including The Prosecco Express and Pinotphile, and for co hosting the hit podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me with Vogue Williams.
Is Joanne McNally on Celebrity Traitors series 2?
Yes. She is one of 21 celebrities competing at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, and she is the only Irish contestant in the lineup.
What is her game plan on Celebrity Traitors?
She wants to be chosen as a Traitor, describes herself as quietly competitive, and says she is great at spotting lies and reading body language. She has also warned that the comedians in the cast will throw each other under the bus.
Who is her podcast partner?
Vogue Williams. The pair launched My Therapist Ghosted Me in 2021 and it became one of the most popular comedy podcasts in the UK and Ireland, drawing millions of weekly listeners.
When does Celebrity Traitors series 2 air?
The show airs on Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. The prize is up to £100,000 for the winner’s charity of choice.
