Best-selling author and former Pointless star Richard Osman has revealed a surprising personal connection to the new series of the hit BBC show The Traitors. The programme, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, returned for its fourth season last week, and Osman has admitted he 'sort of knows' one of the contestants.
Osman's Authorial Connection
Speaking on the podcast The Rest is Entertainment, the Thursday Murder Club novelist shared his thoughts on the new cast. He pinpointed contestant Harriet, describing her as a "million-selling author" and a "real-deal big name crime author". Osman, 55, expressed his delight at seeing her in the competition and suggested she might be the mysterious 'Secret Traitor' introduced this series.
"She wasn't in the first episode much," he observed, adding, "That's the first time I've seen in the non-celebrity version someone who I sort of know."
The 'Secret Traitor' Twist Unfolds
The latest series of The Traitors has introduced a major new twist. While three contestants were initially selected as Traitors in the premiere, a fourth Secret Traitor is also in play. Crucially, this individual's identity is unknown to the other Traitors, the Faithful contestants, and even the viewing audience.
This twist has already led to speculation among fans. During a confessional in the third episode, contestant Ellie, a psychologist, mentioned not wanting people to think she is a "Secret Traitor". Sharp-eyed viewers quickly questioned how she knew the term if the Faithfuls had not been briefed about the new rule, leading many to suspect her.
Early Drama in the Scottish Castle
The new series, filmed in a imposing Scottish castle, has not been short on early drama. By the third episode, one Traitor had already been banished. Hugo was sent packing after being betrayed by fellow Traitor Stephen.
The show follows the intense format where Traitors must 'murder' Faithfuls each night and avoid detection during the daily roundtable banishments. The arrival of the Secret Traitor adds a fresh layer of paranoia and strategy to the game, with the audience kept in the dark alongside the players.
The series launched on January 7, 2026, and comes hot on the heels of the celebrity edition which concluded in November 2025, where comedian Alan Carr emerged victorious.
