BBC One's phenomenal reality hit The Traitors is back for a brand new season, promising four weeks of high-stakes deception to brighten the dark January nights. The show returns just months after the first UK celebrity edition, which saw comedian Alan Carr emerge as an unlikely victor.
Claudia Winkleman Returns as Host
Fresh from her departure as co-host of Strictly Come Dancing, Claudia Winkleman once again presides over the tense game of trust and betrayal. The 2026 series introduces a fresh batch of 22 ordinary contestants, all vying for the prize fund, alongside some intriguing new twists.
Meet the Players and Their Strategies
The new cohort boasts an array of backgrounds and skillsets, each hoping their unique experience will give them the edge. Two contestants have already been secretly selected as Traitors by Winkleman at the start of the game.
Rachel, 42, a head of communications from County Down, is one of the chosen Traitors. Known as "Monica from Friends" for her competitiveness, she has taken online classes from an ex-FBI agent to learn how to read micro-expressions. Her fellow Traitor is Stephen, 32, a cyber security consultant from London. Originally from northern Scotland, he believes his linguistics degree will help him detect lies through changes in speech patterns.
The Faithful contestants include a number of professionals with sharp analytical minds. Amanda, 57, a retired police detective from Brighton, plans to use her interview experience with criminals and victims to spot deception. Harriet, 52, a bestselling crime writer and former barrister from London, is used to plotting fictional murders but aims to play up her role as a mother and housewife. Ellie, 33, is the show's first psychologist contestant and intends to keep her profession hidden while analysing others' motivations.
Hidden Relationships and Personal Motivations
This season features a hidden familial link. Roxy, 32, a recruiter from Amsterdam, is the daughter of fellow contestant Judy, 60, a child liaison officer from Doncaster. Neither is aware the other is playing, adding a layer of potential drama. Judy was banished in the early game, while Roxy remains.
The players' reasons for competing are as varied as their backgrounds. Many, like Jack, 29, a personal trainer from Essex, and Jade, 25, a PhD student from the West Midlands, hope to win a deposit for their first home. Others plan to donate portions of the prize to charity. Harriet would support breast cancer research, Amanda would donate to a pulmonary hypertension charity, and Hugo, 51, a barrister, would give his winnings to Amnesty International.
The game has already seen its first casualties. Ben, 66, a former forces member from Hampshire, and Netty, 42, a nursery teacher from Glasgow, were "murdered" by the Traitors. Judy and Hugo were banished by their fellow players at the Round Table.
With such a diverse mix of strategic minds, competitive spirits, and personal stakes, the battle for the prize fund is set to be the most cunning and emotionally charged season yet. The ultimate question remains: can the Faithful uncover the Traitors before they are picked off one by one?
