Devoted fans of the hit BBC series The Traitors have been left utterly astonished after the Faithful contestants seemingly failed to notice a significant blunder by Rachel Duffy that potentially exposed her true allegiance. Claudia Winkleman originally selected Rachel as a Traitor in the very first episode, alongside Stephen Libby and Hugo Lodge, setting the stage for a tense and deceptive game.
A Critical Moment Overlooked
Throughout the series, Rachel has faced accusations from banished players Fiona and Harriet, who both pointed the finger at her. However, viewers believe the remaining players missed another glaring clue. During episode seven, Rachel revealed to her fellow contestants at the roundtable that she had spent several months training with a former FBI agent. This specialised training focused on skills such as identifying people's ability to lie and reading micro-expressions, which should have raised eyebrows among the Faithful.
The Breakfast Revelation
In a pivotal scene from episode nine, Rachel confidently announced at breakfast that she had deduced the identity of a Traitor. She declared she would withhold the name until that evening's roundtable, a strategic move that ultimately led to the banishment of Ellie Buckley, who was later revealed to be a Faithful. Social media erupted with commentary from fans who couldn't believe this tactic went unchallenged.
One viewer expressed their disbelief online, writing: 'I still can’t get over the fact they didn’t pile on Rachel’s ‘I have something to share at the roundtable later based on someone’s mistake last night’ play from last week.' Another added: 'They forget about Rachel’s ‘I have something which I’ll reveal later at the round table’ thing that led to a faithful Ellie being banished.' A third fan questioned: 'Surely this has to throw suspicion on Rachel!'
Previous Confrontations and Survival
Rachel's journey has been marked by intense confrontations. Earlier in the series, she found herself in an explosive showdown with fellow Traitor Fiona Hughes. Viewers were stunned when Fiona, aged 62, accused Rachel, 42, of lying about Amanda Collier's secret past as a former senior police detective in the Metropolitan Police. Fiona boldly called Rachel out as a Traitor in front of the group, leading to a dramatic exchange where Rachel retorted: 'Fiona, when you tell a lie, you are a liar.' The majority sided with Rachel, resulting in Fiona's banishment.
Not long after, Faithful Harriet Tyce also challenged Rachel. Harriet, a published author of psychological thrillers and former criminal barrister, presented her evidence, claiming Rachel had been 'in character' since the initial roundtable. Sensing the discussion was turning against her, Harriet requested the group vote her out to prove her Faithful status, which they did. Her banishment followed a heated breakfast confrontation where she was labelled 'rude and erratic' by other contestants.
Praise and Peril for Rachel
Despite these close calls, Rachel's adept gameplay has earned her high praise from viewers, with many branding her 'the best Traitor to ever exist'. In Thursday's episode, she and fellow Traitor Stephen secretly awarded the ceremonial dagger and two votes to James Baker, successfully orchestrating the elimination of Faithful Matthew Hyndman.
Fans took to social media to applaud her skills. One penned: 'rachel is genuinely the best traitor to ever exist.' Another stated: 'Rachel is one of the best traitors of all time…… #TheTraitors.' A third commented: 'Is it that Rachel and Stephen really good Traitors or the Faithfuls are just so bad at a time when you think the scent should be stronger than before #TheTraitors.' A fourth remarked humorously: 'At this stage Rachel would probably get away with wearing a green cloak at breakfast… and they'd still not suspect her.'
However, Rachel's position in the game may now be at risk. Faithful Faraaz Noor has recently voiced suspicions about her, potentially threatening her continued survival. As the tension mounts, all eyes are on whether Rachel can maintain her deceptive facade and navigate this latest challenge.
The Traitors continues to captivate audiences with its blend of strategy and suspense, airing on BBC One and available for streaming on iPlayer.
