Sharp-eyed fans of the hit BBC series The Traitors believe they have uncovered a significant clue that could point to a major, unrevealed twist involving a secret family connection between contestants. The show's fourth series, once again hosted by Claudia Winkleman, is currently airing and has already exposed one secret mother-daughter duo to the audience.
The Curious Case of Ben's Missing Surname
Online detectives, primarily on Reddit, have focused their attention on contestant Ben, a 66-year-old retired navy officer who was the second Faithful to be 'murdered' in the game. They noted a highly unusual detail: Ben's surname has not been publicly revealed anywhere. While the show typically does not share contestants' full names, sleuths pointed out that official releases and wikis list every other player with their full name, except for Ben, who is referred to only by his first name.
This anomaly extended to local newspaper interviews in Hampshire, which also only called him 'Ben'. Fans argue that a newspaper would only accept this if there was a specific agreement, perhaps to avoid revealing a shared surname with another player still in the game. "I’m pretty convinced we’ve found the big twist," one Reddit user stated, with the post quickly gaining traction as others agreed.
Speculation Points to a Possible Relative
The most prominent theory suggests Ben could be related to fellow player James, who remains in the castle. Supporters of this idea note that James is from Weymouth, not far from Ben's Hampshire base, and that Ben's ex-Navy background could link him to Portsmouth despite his Scottish accent. Some even remarked on a perceived physical resemblance around the eyes.
Other commenters offered alternative explanations, wondering if the secrecy was related to his military past. However, the prevailing suspicion is that this is a deliberate clue from the producers. "They are making such a big deal of the family tree that I think there have to be more connections," a third viewer commented.
Further Secret Connection Theories Emerge
This speculation follows earlier rumours about another potential hidden relationship. The first banished player, 60-year-old child liaison officer Judy Wilson, who was a Faithful, later suggested to Metro that she suspected a father-son link between 59-year-old Maz and 22-year-old Faraaz during her time in the game.
"I think there are more secret connections," Judy shared. "There was a lot of speculation when I was in there about Faraaz and Maz - are they son and dad? We kept thinking that." This theory was also circulating on Reddit, but was seemingly debunked by a user who claimed to know Faraaz and had seen his father, confirming they are not related.
With The Traitors continuing to grip the nation, viewers are now scrutinising every detail for hints of further deception, proving that the game of intrigue extends far beyond the castle walls. The series continues on BBC One and iPlayer.
