Celebrity charity game show returning for second series
Level
b2
Topic
culture
Read this at a different level:a2b1c1
Fatima, who works as a nurse in Bristol, had been looking forward to this announcement for months. When the news broke that The Traitors — the celebrity charity edition — was returning for a second series, she called her flatmate immediately. "I can't believe it's back," she said. Her flatmate told her to calm down and wait for the details, but Fatima was already searching for everything she could find online.
The show, which had generated considerable excitement during its first run, will feature twenty-one celebrity contestants competing against each other. Fatima had watched the previous series closely and had already begun guessing which celebrities might have been selected this time. The format remained the same: a mix of strategy, deception, and social pressure. What made this series feel different to Fatima, however, was the charitable angle.
Each winner's chosen charity will receive £100,000. Fatima found this particularly meaningful, since she had spent years working alongside charitable organisations through her hospital. When she explained the prize structure to her colleague Dani, Dani told her to send the link immediately so she could read more. Fatima also told Dani to look up which charities the celebrities had chosen to support, though that information had not yet been confirmed.
For Fatima, the show represented something more than entertainment. The combination of celebrity culture and genuine charitable giving seemed, to her, like a format worth taking seriously. She wished she had watched the first series with more attention, since she might have understood the strategies better by now. Nevertheless, she was determined not to miss a single episode this time. She had already asked her flatmate to keep the evenings free, and her flatmate had agreed without hesitation.
Highlighted sentences show the grammar focus structure.
Key Vocabulary
contestant
/kənˈtɛstənt/
A person who takes part in a competition or game show.
The last contestant to answer correctly won a trip abroad.
considerable
/kənˈsɪdərəbl/
Large in size, amount, or degree, and worth taking seriously.
The new policy caused considerable debate among local residents.
deception
/dɪˈsɛpʃən/
The act of making someone believe something that is not true.
The investigation revealed a pattern of deception within the company.
charitable
/ˈtʃærɪtəbl/
Relating to the act of giving help, money, or support to people in need.
The organisation runs several charitable programmes for homeless families.
hesitation
/ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/
A pause before doing or saying something, often because you are uncertain or nervous.
She accepted the job offer without any hesitation.
strategy
/ˈstrætɪdʒi/
A carefully planned approach or method for achieving a particular goal.
The team developed a clear strategy for entering the new market.
represent
/ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/
To be a symbol or example of something, or to stand for a particular idea or group.
For many young athletes, reaching the finals represents years of hard work.
| Image | Word | IPA | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
contestant | /kənˈtɛstənt/ | A person who takes part in a competition or game show. | The last contestant to answer correctly won a trip abroad. | |
considerable | /kənˈsɪdərəbl/ | Large in size, amount, or degree, and worth taking seriously. | The new policy caused considerable debate among local residents. | |
deception | /dɪˈsɛpʃən/ | The act of making someone believe something that is not true. | The investigation revealed a pattern of deception within the company. | |
charitable | /ˈtʃærɪtəbl/ | Relating to the act of giving help, money, or support to people in need. | The organisation runs several charitable programmes for homeless families. | |
hesitation | /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/ | A pause before doing or saying something, often because you are uncertain or nervous. | She accepted the job offer without any hesitation. | |
strategy | /ˈstrætɪdʒi/ | A carefully planned approach or method for achieving a particular goal. | The team developed a clear strategy for entering the new market. | |
represent | /ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnt/ | To be a symbol or example of something, or to stand for a particular idea or group. | For many young athletes, reaching the finals represents years of hard work. |
Grammar Spotlight
Reported Commands and Requests
told / asked + object + (not) to + infinitive
When do we use it?
- Use reported commands and requests to relay what someone instructed or asked another person to do, without quoting their exact words.
- Choose 'told' when the original speaker gave a direct instruction or order, and 'asked' when the tone was polite or uncertain.
- Add 'not' before 'to' to report a negative command or request — the word order never changes.
How is it formed?
told / asked++ object (her, him, them…)++ (not) to + base verb
'told' = command; 'asked' = polite request
★Drop the quotes — add 'to' and an object!
See it in action
The producer told the contestants to keep their strategies secret.
Fatima's flatmate asked her not to call so late at night.
The director asked the cast to arrive on set by six in the morning.
The show's host told the audience not to reveal the winner online.
Remember this
✗She told him go to the studio immediately.
✓She told him to go to the studio immediately.
After 'told/asked + object', you must include 'to' before the base verb — never skip it.
✗She asked to him to leave the room.
✓She asked him to leave the room.
'Asked' is followed directly by the object (no 'to' between 'asked' and the person).
✗He told her not call during the show.
✓He told her not to call during the show.
Negative reported commands need 'not to' — both words together before the base verb.
Discussion Questions
- 1.
In what ways do you think combining entertainment with charitable giving changes how audiences engage with a programme? Does it make the experience feel more worthwhile to you personally?
- 2.
Are game shows or reality competition programmes popular in your country? What kinds of formats tend to attract the biggest audiences, and why do you think that is?
- 3.
Fatima felt that watching the first series more carefully would have helped her understand the strategies better. To what extent do you think preparation and observation improve performance in competitive situations — and can you think of an example from your own life where this was true?
- 4.
How important is charitable giving in your culture or community? Are there particular causes or organisations that people tend to support, and what motivates them to do so?
Comprehension Questions
- 1.
Why did Fatima react so strongly when she heard the news about The Traitors returning?
- 2.
What made the second series feel different to Fatima compared to the first?
- 3.
How does the article suggest that Fatima's professional life influenced the way she viewed the show?
- 4.
What might have happened if Fatima had paid closer attention to the first series?
- 5.
To what extent does the article present The Traitors as more than a typical entertainment programme?
View answers for the comprehension questions
- 1.Fatima had been anticipating the announcement for months, so when it finally arrived, her excitement was immediate and intense. Her emotional investment in the show meant she could not wait to share the news, which is why she called her flatmate straight away.
- 2.The charitable angle set the second series apart for Fatima, as each winning celebrity's chosen charity would receive £100,000. This gave the show a sense of purpose beyond entertainment, which resonated with her because of her own experience working alongside charitable organisations through her hospital.
- 3.The article implies that Fatima's years of nursing and her contact with charitable organisations made her more sensitive to the value of the prize structure. Her work gave her a personal connection to charitable giving, which is why she found the format particularly meaningful rather than simply entertaining.
- 4.According to the article, Fatima felt she might have developed a better understanding of the strategies used by contestants if she had watched the first series more carefully. This suggests she saw the show as something that rewarded close, analytical viewing rather than casual watching.
- 5.The article consistently frames the show as having genuine social value, particularly through Fatima's perspective. The combination of strategic competition, celebrity culture, and meaningful charitable giving is presented as a format worth taking seriously, suggesting the article positions the show as something that bridges entertainment and social responsibility.
Test your knowledge
Question 1Fill-in-the-blank
The organisation runs a ____ programme that provides free meals to elderly people living alone in the city.
Question 2Fill-in-the-blank
The old clock tower in the centre of the square has come to ____ the town's long and complex history.
Question 3Fill-in-the-blank
After weeks of training, each ____ arrived at the venue feeling prepared but visibly nervous about the first round.
Question 4Fill-in-the-blank
The delay caused ____ disruption to the schedule, and the team had to work late into the evening to catch up.
Question 5Fill-in-the-blank
The investigator discovered that the signature on the document was part of a carefully planned ____.
View answers for test your knowledge
- 1.charitable
- 2.represent
- 3.contestant
- 4.considerable
- 5.deception
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