Nostalgic fans of The Traitors are drawing comparisons between the hit BBC series and a classic CBBC children's show, Trapped, which aired from 2007 until 2010. The eerie programme saw six children take on challenges in a gothic fairytale tower, with one secretly selected as a "saboteur" via an earpiece by the tower's caretaker.
How Trapped worked
The saboteur's job was to ruin the game without being detected by the other contestants. If the group succeeded in their challenge, the saboteur would automatically be trapped on that level while the rest moved on. If the team failed, they voted for who they thought was the saboteur, and the person with the most votes would be trapped.
The game continued floor by floor, with the group shrinking at each level. It ended with only one child escaping the spooky sea tower, while the others remained trapped.
Fans call for Traitors changes
Social media account fournine argued that "Trapped on CBBC walked so The Traitors could run," a sentiment echoed by many viewers. One person wrote: "The generation that watched Trapped is now grown up and loving The Traitors." Another exclaimed: "I was obsessed with this."
Some fans suggested The Traitors should adopt ideas from Trapped to improve the game. One fan explained: "Omg what nostalgia! The Traitors should run like this. The tasks are useless for the most part but why can't a Traitor sabotage? That should be something they are forced to do or some evidence will be planted against them or some sort of blackmail. At the moment the game is pure pot luck and vibes. We need a mix up!"
Another agreed: "YES! I say this every season. The traitor should be asked to earn the money lost by the faithful if they sabotage the challenges. And also, if someone just naturally makes a mistake and they're faithful, it will cause suspicion against them and add another layer of intrigue!"
Childhood memories
Other viewers reminisced about believing the contestants were genuinely trapped after filming. One Brit said: "I loved this show. I always wanted to be on it but I was too scared to apply in case I was trapped." Another admitted: "Genuinely thought those kids died after they got trapped."
A third confessed: "When I was a kid, I genuinely thought they were all being bitten by snakes in this challenge." Someone else shared: "I used to get threatened to get put on this show when I was naughty. My parents knew I would fail." One viewer made a bold claim: "Trapped was better than The Traitors is currently and I will die on that hill."
