The latest episode of BBC's hit psychological game show, The Traitors, delivered high-stakes drama as two more contestants were sent packing, including a secretly scheming barrister who finally saw his game unravel.
Double Departure Shakes the Game
In a tense instalment that aired on BBC1 on Friday, 3rd January 2026, the competition said goodbye to two players. First, Ben, a 66-year-old Royal Navy veteran and Faithful, was brutally 'murdered' by the hidden Traitors, forcing his early exit. The night's climax, however, came at the round table, where suspicions reached a boiling point.
After a heated debate, the contestants voted to banish 51-year-old barrister Hugo Lodge. His removal was met with jubilant celebration when host Claudia Winkleman revealed he had been a Traitor all along, successfully deceiving the group until his final moments.
"I Forgot My Plan," Admits Ousted Traitor
In his first interview since leaving the Scottish castle, Hugo Lodge reflected candidly on the mistakes that led to his downfall. He confessed that the pressure of the game caused his strategy to completely collapse.
"I think it was Mike Tyson who said, 'everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face'," Hugo stated. "I did have a plan, but I didn't really stick to it, and I kept forgetting to pretend to be a Faithful which is ultimately what you must do as a Traitor."
He pinpointed a critical error: paying excessive sympathy to the murdered Ben at breakfast and urging others to recall Ben's mission efforts, a move that raised eyebrows among the Faithful. He failed to redirect suspicion, sealing his fate.
No Hard Feelings and Castle Secrets
Despite fellow Traitor Stephen voting to banish him—a betrayal within the secret alliance—Hugo insisted there were no grudges. "I would have done the same thing to Stephen. It's only a game... I do hope the Traitors go on to win, notwithstanding that Stephen stabbed me in the front!"
He also shared behind-the-scenes insights, describing the thrill of swapping his barrister's gown for the iconic green Traitors' cloak. "Walking into the turret for the first time was like being a star in my own production of Phantom of the Opera," he revealed.
Faithful Ben's Traitor Ambition
The other departing player, Faithful Ben, expressed his disappointment at being murdered so early, revealing he had secretly hoped to be recruited by the dark side. "I wanted to be a Traitor from minute one," he admitted. "I embraced my role as a Faithful, but I tried to give out a clue for the Traitors to recruit me, because I wanted to be a Traitor so bad."
He believed his tactic of playing the "dithery old guy" had kept him under the radar, making his murder a surprising blow.
The game continues with a major twist hinted for the next episode: a secret Traitor working alone could be unmasked on Wednesday's show. The Traitors airs on BBC1 and is available on BBC iPlayer.
