The Traitors Ditches ‘Secret Traitor’ Twist Ahead Of Next Year’s Season


The most recent season of The Traitors introduced a new twist that split fans right down the middle.

In the latest run’s opening episode, Claudia Winkleman explained that, for the first time, a “Secret Traitor” was being appointed, who even viewers were being kept in the dark about the identity of.

Of course, in the end, the twist lasted for just three episodes, before Fiona was unmasked to viewers as the figure in the red cloak.

While the efficacy of the “Secret Traitor” twist is definitely still up for debate, Traitors producer Stephen Lambert has insisted it’s not one we should expect to see repeated when the castle reopens its doors.

What I like about The Traitors is there’s so many ways that story can go […] once you add a different cast and once you think of some additional tweaks here and there,” he told an audience at the University Of East Anglia, as reported by IGN.

“After the huge success of the Celebrity Traitors, we introduced the idea of a Secret Traitor as a way of doing something that was different, but it wasn’t something we wanted to keep going with.”

He conceded: “The trouble is you’re completely a victim of the edit – and that doesn’t feel very satisfying.”

The Traitors Ditches ‘Secret Traitor’ Twist Ahead Of Next Year’s Season
Fiona was revealed to have been acting as the “Secret Traitor” after just three episodes

BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry

Filming on the upcoming fifth season of The Traitors is due to begin filming in the summer – as is shooting on the second season of the show’s celebrity counterpart.

While a line-up is yet to be confirmed for The Celebrity Traitors’ second output, a number of stars have already been rumoured to be joining the cast, including the likes of Ruth Jones, Danny Dyer and Alison Hammond.

Meanwhile, if you’re missing having Claudia on our screens, her new BBC talk show kicks off on Friday night, with her star-studded inaugural guests having already been unveiled.