By CONOR O'BRIEN, TV REPORTER and GERAINT LLEWELLYN, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER and DOMINIQUE HINES
Celebrity Traitors fans are convinced pop star Cheryl will join the star-studded line-up in a new twist.
The Girls Aloud singer, 42, was reportedly approached by Celebrity Traitors bosses back in January as they assembled the cast.
The BBC have already confirmed 21 names entering the famous castle - and Cheryl is not among them.
This left many fans disappointed, as one wrote online: 'Noooooo! No Cheryl on Celeb Traitors!!!' and 'Celeb traitors cast reveal but there's no Cheryl.'
However, all might not be lost because viewers have since theorised whether there could be a secret 22nd contestant taking part.
The star-studded spin-off confirmed its line-up over the weekend - with 21 names set to join host Claudia Winkleman (pictured)
Fans wrote on Reddit: 'Only 21 cast members, a secret 22nd or a late drop-out?'
'Danny Dyer was extremely heavily rumoured for this so it'd be funny if in Episode 2 he just gets thrown in like a grenade.'
'I could see them bringing an early out from season 1 back as a surprise cast member like Paloma or Tom.'
The BBC officially revealed stars include Michael Sheen, Richard E. Grant, Maya Jama, Ross Kemp, James Blunt, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jerry Hall.
A slew of comedians including Miranda Hart, Joe Lycett, James Acaster, Joanne McNally, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan have also been lined-up.
Rounding out the group are Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny, Dr. Hannah Fry, Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, Myha'la, Sharon Rooney and Sebastian Croft.
The regular civilian series usually features 22 players taking part, all hoping to win a jackpot of up to £120,000.
Meanwhile, the first celebrity edition - which was won by Alan Carr - only had 19 contestants.
It comes as the BBC have reportedly been forced to double its £1million Celebrity Traitors budget for its second and most star-studded series yet.
The increased budget was already obvious as pictures emerged of the stars touching down in the highlands after travelling via planes and private jets, while last year many contestants were said to have travelled on the train.
Meanwhile the likes of Alan Carr and Sir Stephen Fry were also said to have been ferried around during last year's series in a minibus, which has now been swapped for chauffeur driven cars.
Money has also been spent on beefing up security to keep the stars safe and the castle's goings on under wraps ahead of transmission later this year.
A source said: 'Although most of the stars are British, so many of them are used to working in America that their teams are used to the treatment.'
They told The Sun: 'The production team have little choice, however, than to cater for their demands because they accept the number of A-listers taking part in this year's show makes it exceptional.'
The Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment.
Maya Jama was pictured arriving at Inverness airport on Sunday afternoon, reportedly taking a huge pay cut to appear on series two of the BBC show.
Hours earlier Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh and EastEnders star Ross Kemp, 61, also touched down, before jumping into their cars to head to Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
Singer James Blunt then followed on a few hours after.
Dressed down in a white T-shirt and cream trousers, Maya wore sunglasses and flashed a nervous-looking smile at airport staff.
Comedian Joanne McNally was also seen on the same flight, dressed in cycling shorts and also hiding behind some dark shades as she wheeled her luggage to the car.
Maya was reportedly the first star to be approached by Celebrity Traitors bosses in a bid to pull in a younger audience thanks to her Love Island hosting duties.
The 31-year-old was more than willing to take a huge £760,000 pay cut compared to her fee hosting the ITV dating show.
She is said to have taken the £40,000 rate after falling in love with the series while watching it with her boyfriend Rúben Dias.
A source told The Sun: 'She loved watching the first Celebrity Traitors series at home with boyfriend Rúben 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.
'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.'
Celebrity Traitors airs on BBC One and iPlayer.