In a stunning turn of events on BBC One's The Traitors, barrister Hugo was sensationally banished, becoming the first traitor to be ousted in a shock early exit that left both contestants and viewers reeling.
A Fatal Breakfast Monologue
The dramatic banishment unfolded during the third episode of the hit series, marking a rare and significant early victory for the Faithful contestants. The pivotal moment stemmed from a lengthy and oddly commanding speech Hugo delivered at the breakfast table, just hours after the traitors' second murder, which saw retiree Ben, 66, eliminated from the game.
Hugo launched into a passionate defence of Ben, stating, 'Whoever has done that is beyond mean,' and speaking at length about Ben's efforts in a previous challenge. This unexpected soliloquy immediately raised suspicions among the group, who were unaware of Hugo's true identity as a traitor at the time.
Fellow traitor Rachel watched in horror, later confessing to the camera: 'Oh my god, why did he do that, like he literally commanded the room... That's a little bit much.' Her reaction foreshadowed the trouble Hugo had unwittingly created for himself.
The Roundtable Takedown
By the time the players gathered for the tense roundtable discussion, Hugo was firmly in the firing line. His breakfast monologue was repeatedly cited as the moment trust in him evaporated. Leading the charge was crime writer Harriet, 52, who delivered a forensic analysis that proved decisive.
In an ironic twist, Harriet revealed that Hugo's profession as a barrister had always placed him under her scrutiny. 'It has occurred to me from the moment that I found out that you were a barrister that you would be a prime target for the traitors to take out,' she argued. 'You have experience at cross-examination, you're good at presenting your case and you’re highly articulate.'
She directly linked his skills to his suspicious behaviour, adding, 'You certainly threw your weight around at breakfast... The speech this morning in the breakfast room that was the piece that I felt was overacting.'
Other players quickly agreed. Ellie, 33, said the speech struck her as 'odd,' while sweet shop assistant Reece, 27, and creative director Matthew, 35, both confirmed they had voted against Hugo for the same compelling reason.
Betrayal and Aftermath
When the votes were revealed, Hugo received the most – a result that included a jaw-dropping betrayal from his fellow traitor, Stephen. Stephen chose to sacrifice his ally to protect his own position in the game, a move that left Hugo utterly stunned.
'Stephen has turned on me, he's voted against me,' Hugo said in disbelief to the camera. 'What on God's green earth has just occurred?'
In his final speech, the barrister made one last attempt to frame himself as a wrongly accused Faithful, telling the group, 'You are sending home someone who has the forensic skills to find the Traitors.' He then delivered the iconic reveal: 'I am a traitor.' The castle erupted as Faithful contestants leapt from their seats, celebrating one of the earliest traitor banishments ever seen on the show.
Behind the scenes, the remaining traitors were quietly delighted. Stephen later admitted he hadn't expected to turn on an ally so soon, but felt Harriet's powerful intervention left him no choice. Rachel told Stephen she was 'delighted' at the outcome, stating Hugo had 'dug his own grave.' The pair then made a pact, vowing never to vote against each other as they set their sights on reaching the final together and splitting the £120,000 jackpot – a feat no pair of traitors has managed before.
The Traitors continues on January 7 at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
