The fourth series of The Traitors made its thrilling return to BBC One last night, with Claudia Winkleman once again leading the charge. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Scotland’s Ardross Castle, a fresh batch of contestants entered the fray, each hoping to outwit others and claim a prize pot of up to £120,000.
Mike Cotton, the creative director at Studio Lambert, revealed something unexpected about the show’s impact. “We’ve had parents tell us they’re watching The Traitors again with their teenagers and children,” he shared. “It’s become this huge family viewing event, which was surprising for a show centered on murder, lies, and betrayal.”
In previous celebrity editions, viewers were already familiar with the contestants, making it easier to engage. But in the civilian series, where participants are largely unknown, viewers must invest time to truly connect with the players. This dynamic led to the introduction of an exciting new twist—a secret fourth traitor, whose identity remains hidden not only from the faithfuls but also from the other traitors and the audience. This element promises to reshape the strategy and discussions around the roundtable.
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Claudia Winkleman noted how intense the competition gets: “The contestants really get brutal during the roundtable discussions,” she told The Guardian. Despite new players being allowed to watch past series to prepare, Claudia pointed out that every game unfolds differently. “Each series has a whole new cast with different minds and interpretations of the game,” she explained.
Last year’s celebrity series concluded dramatically with Alan Carr emerging victorious as a traitor. His emotional reaction to revealing his identity underscored the psychological challenges the game poses. Carr’s win also benefitted Neuroblastoma UK, a children’s cancer charity, with a prize of £87,500.
Claudia has previously shared her initial hesitation about presenting The Traitors, recalling on Gabby Logan’s The Mid Point podcast how she almost declined the role due to the filming location and duration. However, after watching the Dutch version, she became determined to take on the job, eventually embracing the challenge wholeheartedly.
As The Traitors dusts off its cloak-and-dagger drama once again, Claudia also has new ventures to celebrate, recently taking on her own chat show following her departure from Strictly Come Dancing.
The Traitors airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One.