The Secret Traitor twist in the latest series of The Traitors has divided viewers, with the reveal of Fiona as the red-cloaked mole landing with something of a thud. The much-hyped format change, which saw a hidden Traitor operating alongside the main group, came to an abrupt end just four episodes into the season.
The twist was introduced to shake up the format for long-time viewers, but in practice it proved more exciting in theory than in reality. The early exit of barrister Hugo left a vacancy in the turret that only the Secret Traitor could fill, but with the mystery resolved so soon, the payoff lacked the weight it might have carried had the secret endured longer.
Internet sleuths had been captivated by the puzzle, dissecting every smirk and raised eyebrow in search of clues, with some going so far as to build spreadsheets of potential suspects. The early reveal felt like a disservice to that enthusiastic amateur investigation, though it remains unclear whether the intrigue could have been sustained.
One issue, according to some observers, was that viewers were placed in the same position as the Faithfuls – blind and subject to manipulation – rather than being let in on the conspiracy. The edit also cast suspicion on multiple players, making the producers, in a sense, the true secret traitors, and the game became somewhat too meta for its own good.
However, the choice of Fiona as the Secret Traitor has been widely praised. The Welsh contestant, who had been seen as an unlikely schemer, is now revealed to have been running rings around her fellow players. Her dynamic with Rachel is already electric, and a power struggle appears to be brewing in the turret, promising the usual Traitor-on-Traitor betrayals that fans have come to enjoy.
While the reveal itself may have been an anticlimax, the real drama is only beginning. The Traitors returns on Thursday 8th January 2026 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with seasons 1-3 available to stream now.
