The Traitors finale has been hailed as the best ever episode of the BBC series, with viewers praising the nail-biting endgame. Despite a series that critics said was uneven, the final episode delivered a tense conclusion that kept audiences on the edge of their seats until the last second.
The final episode saw traitors Rachel and Stephen outmanoeuvre their fellow contestants, Jade, Faraaz and Jack, to secure victory and split the £95,750 prize. Rachel was described as "terrifyingly ruthless" throughout the series, and her relentless plotting continued in the final, as she worked to convince the others that Jade was untrustworthy.
The series was not without its critics, with some pointing to mid-episode challenges as filler and the secret traitor reveal coming too early. There were also complaints that the show rewarded dull contestants, as more colourful characters like James, Harriet and Fiona were banished early. However, the finale itself was widely praised for its stress-inducing tension.
Rachel's machinations led to the banishment of Jade, who fled the room in tears, followed by Faraaz, who only realised what had happened in his post-banishment interview, and finally Jack. The other finalists notably did not join the traitors in celebration, reflecting the betrayal they felt.
The moral, as some noted, was that it is easy to cheat your way to the top – a very 2026 lesson. Despite the show's flaws, the finale was a "properly sweaty watch" and left many wanting to see more of the eliminated contestants in future series.
