The launch episode of the latest series of The Traitors served up an immediate surprise when two contestants had an unexpected reunion at the show's famous Scottish castle. Netty and Ross, who know each other from London over a decade ago, were stunned to see one another among the 20 strangers arriving for the game.
An Awkward and Unplanned Reunion
According to BBC producers, this reunion was entirely unplanned. While background checks revealed the pair followed each other on social media, the connection was deemed tenuous. Mike Cotton, Creative Director at Studio Lamberts, told the Daily Mail that neither contestant was warned, as producers wanted to capture their genuine reaction on camera for the first time.
The moment played out with contrasting emotions. Netty's initial shock quickly turned to excitement, and she jumped into Ross's arms after exiting her car, gleefully pointing him out to the group. Ross, however, was more reserved and sceptical, immediately thinking about how the connection might look to others in the game, even before any Traitors had been selected.
"Seeing Netty for the first time, I was like oh can we keep…," Ross later said to the camera, miming zipping his mouth shut. He added, "In the back of my mind, I was thinking this looks a bit suss."
Not the Only Known Pair in the Game
This was not the only pre-existing relationship in the castle. It was revealed very early in the episode that Judy and Roxy are mother and daughter. Judy adopted Roxy when she was four years old. Bosses confirmed they never plan when to reveal such secrets to viewers, choosing moments that feel natural.
The dynamic added immediate tension when Judy's name was floated as a potential Traitor on the first night, making Roxy feel protective. "I feel super protective of her, and hearing anyone cast doubt on her for her actions is just generally not nice," Roxy confessed.
Who Are the Contestants?
Netty, 42, is a single mother from Glasgow with a limb difference. She joined the show to challenge herself and win money to take her seven-year-old daughter travelling, aiming to "get a bit of herself back."
Ross, 37, is a personal trainer from London. A self-described lucky guy, he boasts a history of sporting accolades, including playing basketball for London, rugby sevens, and being a fifth-ranked muscle model in Europe.
Roxy, 32, believes her difficult early childhood, where the first six years were "rocky," has given her the skills to adapt and read people, which she hopes will help her in the game.
The new series of The Traitors continues on January 2 at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
