Sharp-eyed fans of the hit BBC reality show The Traitors believe they have uncovered another secret family connection, this time between contestants Jessie and James. The theory exploded on social media after a tense moment during the show's episode aired on Thursday, 16 January 2026.
The Breakfast Table Blunder
The speculation ignited following a dramatic breakfast scene. The episode, which followed the emotional banishment of Faithful Harriet, revealed that Adam had been murdered by the Traitors. Attention then turned to James, who had fibbed about successfully claiming a shield during a previous challenge.
As other contestants began to question James's story, fellow Faithful Jessie jumped swiftly to his defence. She intervened, telling the group: "Can I just add please, because I don't want James to get a lot of heat. If he was a Traitor, he wouldn't be desperate to get one."
In a later private confessional, Jessie reflected on the dilemma, stating: "It is hard because James is my best mate, but he has messed up really. I am an empathetic person. I do get why he took it, but it's just caused a bit of tension that we don't need really."
Viewer Theories Run Wild
For many viewers, Jessie's immediate and protective reaction went beyond simple camaraderie. Audiences took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their suspicions that the pair might be secretly related.
One viewer posted decisively: "Jessie knows James because he's her brother." Another remarked: "Not me thinking Jessie was about to reveal that James was her boyfriend or brother." The sentiment was echoed by others, with comments like "Jessie defending James is giving related" and "Bless Jessie going in to bat for James. Think she might have ruined her game plan defending him, surely they're brother and sister?"
This is not the first familial link to surface in the castle. The game has already confirmed three connections:
- Judy and Roxy are mother and daughter.
- Ross and Ellie are in a romantic relationship.
- Ross was previously linked to Netty, despite years apart.
The discovery of a family tree diagram in a castle corridor in a previous episode has further fuelled theories that more undisclosed relationships are waiting to be exposed.
A Game of Lies and Family Ties
The new series, once again hosted by Claudia Winkleman, returned to the Scottish Highlands earlier this month with 22 new contestants. Their goal is to lie, backstab, and scheme their way to the £100,000 jackpot.
The latest drama unfolded after a pivotal moment in Wednesday's episode (14 January), where Faithful Harriet correctly identified Traitor Rachel but was subsequently banished after her breakfast revelation backfired. Her sacrifice set the stage for the tense accusations against James the following day.
As the game progresses, viewers are now watching Jessie and James's interactions more closely than ever, questioning whether their bond is purely strategic, a genuine friendship, or something much deeper. With the castle's history of hidden links, the sibling theory adds a compelling new layer to the high-stakes deception.
