Sharp-eyed fans of BBC One's hit competition The Traitors are convinced they have deciphered a chilling pattern that reveals the next contestant destined to be murdered. As the series hurtles towards its final next Friday, viewers are pointing the finger at Faithful Matthew, following a seemingly innocuous scene of him showering.
The Deadly Shower Scene Pattern
During Thursday night's episode, a cut-scene showed Matthew lathering up in his bedroom shower. For avid followers of the show, this was not just a moment of hygiene but a potential death knell. Fans have noted a recurring trend where a hunky male contestant shown showering is subsequently eliminated.
This pattern was first established in the Celebrity Traitors spin-off last November. Olympic diver Tom Daley was filmed in a steamy shower scene, displaying his chiselled physique and iconic tattoos, only to become the second person murdered. Traitor Jonathan Ross had argued for his elimination, citing Daley's intelligence as a threat. The athlete's fate was sealed shortly after.
The trend continued in the main show's third season with Freddie Fraser. After being recruited as a Traitor and featured in a shower scene, he was swiftly banished from the castle. This history has led viewers to believe Matthew's on-screen wash has ominous implications.
Viewer Speculation and Social Media Reaction
Taking to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, fans were quick to connect the dots and predict Matthew's doom. One viewer stated definitively: 'We’ve been given the shower scene in for Matthew. He’s being murdered tonight and I won’t be convinced otherwise.'
Another agreed, writing: 'Uh oh, the doomed shower shot. I fear Matty is going to die before becoming a Traitor.' A third added succinctly: 'Matthew so desperate to become a Traitor has no chance now.' Other comments focused on the unexpected fan service, with one noting: 'Showing Matthew in the shower was absolutely unnecessary … but absolutely welcome.'
Matthew's Risky Gamble and the Traitors' Response
This speculation comes hot on the heels of Matthew's audacious play in the previous episode, which left many viewers cringing. He directly approached the Traitors—Stephen and Rachel—after winning a question opportunity and attempted to strike a deal.
Matthew proposed that the Traitors reject an upcoming 'seduction' (recruitment) offer from host Claudia Winkleman, murder fellow Faithful Jessie Roux instead, and then recruit him next time. He boldly asked, 'So my question is, do we have a deal?' The Traitors, after discussing the merits of recruiting him only to later betray him, replied via note: 'You have a deal.'
Matthew's confident response—'I've wanted to be a Traitor since the beginning. Keep my cloak warm'—did not sit well with many watching at home. Fans believed he had overplayed his hand, with comments ranging from 'Matthew thinking he has it all sewn up' to 'Little does Matthew know he just signed his death warrant.' Some even admitted getting 'the ick' from his overconfidence.
Despite his on-screen deal-making, Matthew insisted to the camera: 'I'm not a monster; I don't want Jessie to die. But I came here to play the game, and that is what I'm going to do.' The intended target, Jessie, appeared unbothered on Instagram, sharing a dancing clip captioned, 'When people are worried about Matt's deal but you're just enjoying the missions.'
The game is now at a critical juncture. With seven contestants already banished and five murdered, the remaining players are navigating a web of deception. Whether the fans' shower scene theory proves correct, or Matthew's risky pact with the Traitors pays off, will be revealed as The Traitors continues. The show airs Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
