Alan Carr to star in The Traitors On Stage as Claudia Winkleman

Exclusive: Alan Carr will make his West End acting debut in The Traitors: On Stage next spring.

Carr, best known for his comedic turn and his appearances in series like Last One Laughing and Alan and Amanda’s Italian Job, will portray iconic host Claudia Winkleman for the 12-week limited West End run.

The stage production is based on the television series hosted by Winkleman, which recently completed its fourth series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. A celebrity edition aired last year and became the most watched UK television programme of 2025, with a reported audience of 15 million viewers for its final.

While little is known about what to expect from the stage show, the producers have explained they plan to “reimagine the TV show as a bold and surprising theatrical performance. Faithful fans should expect an intense, joyful night out as we reveal a thrilling new hunting ground for our Traitors.”

Carr’s performance as Winkleman is said to be comparable with The Emcee’s performance in Cabaret, with enigmatic narration and legendary costume changes. Carr, a guest host on ITV TV stage talent series Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, has been rehearsing for a selection of musical numbers that will appear throughout the show.

Director Robert Hastie has form with staging shows featuring actors doing convincing and deft portrayals of women, after Jak Malone’s Tony Award-winning turn as Hester Leggatt in Operation Mincemeat. Malone is said to be a creative consultant for the Traitors stage show.

Hastie explained the casting decision: “We’re all incredibly aware of the debate around celebrity casting in theatre, there really was no one else for the job. Alan’s subtle, serious and inscrutable persona just felt like the ideal match for Claudia’s brilliant turn in the TV show.”

Throughout the night, Carr’s Winkleman and a kickline of triple-threat performers will break up the tension with a range of musical numbers, with tunes including “Empty Chairs at the Round Table”, “Send In the Cloaks”, “Treasons of Love”, and “The Turret Where It Happens”. Composition is by Alexander Dragonetti, former Traitors contestant known for his brilliant and operatic vocal performance in season three.

Carr explained his career move into the “straight” acting performance in an exclusive interview, saying: “Just like the round table, it definitely feels like I’ve come full circle with my West End acting debut in 2027. While I’ve appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe, there’s only one truly iconic fringe in Scotland – and that belongs to the incredible Claudia Winkleman. Stepping into her iconic outfits for the four-hour West End show is an opportunity I couldn’t miss out on.”

Given how much attention will be paid to Winkleman’s character’s hair design, Carr hopes his efforts further the cause for a Best Wigs, Hair and Make-up Award at the Olivier Awards.

Further casting for the production will not be revealed: instead, there are currently plans for a selection of audience members to be picked at random to take part in the show every night. Punters will be left unable to distinguish between who is acting, and who is a true audience pick – making the stakes even higher.

There will be one exception – contestant and actress Maddy Smedley will portray herself and deliver her iconic line: “Faithful. Faithful. Faithful. Not sure. Traitor”, likely to be a big crowdpleaser.

At the end of the night (which will culminate in Carr delivering a solo rendition of “The Winner Takes It All” at a fake firepit), it will be revealed that one performer has also been faking a Welsh accent throughout the show.

Of course, the stage show wouldn’t be complete without some luxury add-ons – VIP packages include a fizzy rosé in a chalice (in honour of the great Diane Carson) and a selection of stale pastries.

Performances will begin on 1 April 2027 at the Comedy Theatre in the West End.