The BBC's smash-hit reality competition, The Traitors, is set to return with a seismic shake-up to its established formula. A newly released trailer for the upcoming civilian series, launching in January, has teased a major format change centred on a mysterious new figure dressed in a red cloak.
A Festive Teaser Full of Menace
In a specially filmed Christmas advert, host Claudia Winkleman set the scene before a dramatic reveal. As a camera panned over a festive dinner table, a grandfather clock chimed and a candle was snuffed out. The atmosphere was shattered by the arrival of a shadowy figure walking through in a distinctive red cloak, a stark departure from the traditional black worn by the show's deceivers.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas… I’m joking," Claudia quipped, as the red-cloaked Traitor set down a lantern, turned to the camera, and made a silencing 'shh' gesture. The brief clip has sent fans into a frenzy of speculation about the new role's power and purpose within the game of trust and treachery.
An Unprecedented Twist to Fuel Distrust
According to a source speaking to The Sun, the introduction of the red cloak is designed to radically alter the dynamics that players and viewers have come to understand. "Nobody knows what the red Traitors cloak means, what that player will do, how they will fit in or even if there is just one of them," the insider revealed.
They emphasised that this innovation is a direct response to the audience's growing familiarity with the game's mechanics. "The new twist creates distrust and treachery like never seen before. Bosses know that viewers and players alike know the game inside out so they have to keep everyone on their toes," the source added, hinting that the change will be unveiled in the very first episode of the new series.
The source also warned that fans who first joined via The Celebrity Traitors are "in for a shock," noting that while the celebrities "played nice," the forthcoming civilian edition is described as "totally savage."
Following a Celebrity Victory
The new series follows the recent celebrity edition, which was won by comedian Alan Carr, who successfully deceived his fellow stars as a Traitor. Reflecting on his win, Carr humorously questioned his own skill, stating, "I don’t know if I was a really good Traitor or if the Faithfuls were just useless."
He advised that future contestants must genuinely love the game, Claudia, and the iconic Scottish castle setting. Carr even joked about a potential return, saying, "Maybe I can just sneak in with my cloak and lantern and murder someone just for the thrill, just for old time's sake!" His victory secured a substantial donation for his chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK.
With the red cloak mystery poised to redefine the rules, the stage is set for the most unpredictable and cut-throat season of The Traitors yet when it returns to BBC One and iPlayer next month.
