Viewers of BBC's hit reality show The Traitors have uncovered a surprising celebrity connection for one of its remaining contestants, sparking widespread speculation about his future on television.
A Famous Friend in the Audience
Cyber security consultant Stephen Libby, one of the two remaining Traitors in the latest series alongside Rachel Duffy, counts comedian Lou Sanders among his close friends. Eagle-eyed fans spotted the 47-year-old comic watching the first episode alongside Stephen's loved ones in a video shared online.
Lou Sanders is a well-known face on British TV, having won the eighth series of Taskmaster in 2019. Her credits also include appearances on Dancing on Ice, The Weakest Link, and Richard Osman's House of Games. Last year, she featured in the Prime Video series Last One Laughing alongside comedy heavyweights like Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade.
Fan Theories and Clarifications
The discovery quickly led to rumours on social media, with some fans mistakenly believing Sanders was the landlord for Stephen and his actor boyfriend, Daniel Quirke. One viewer suggested this connection could help "launch a career from the show."
Daniel Quirke was quick to set the record straight, stating clearly: "Can confirm she is not our landlord, just a friend of ours." Despite this, many believe the friendship could still open doors in the industry for Stephen after the series concludes.
Fan reactions were mixed:
- One supporter predicted: "Stephen will absolutely do an interview hosting gig."
- Another praised: "Stephen has such a pure soul and ALL of the outfits. Love him."
- A more critical viewer opined: "Stephen is close friends with Lou Sanders and his partner is an actor, raises questions about how ‘normal’ the contestants are."
A Heartbreaking Murder Shakes the Game
The revelation about Stephen's famous pal comes as the show delivered another emotional blow to viewers. In a tense episode, the treacherous duo of Stephen and Rachel were tasked with another murder.
After narrowing their choice down to Matty, Jessie, and Faraaz, they executed a risky double bluff. Despite Jessie voicing her suspicions that Stephen was the Traitor locked in a cage during a task, they chose to murder her, calculating that it would seem "too obvious."
The strategy appeared to work on Jessie herself, who declared during her murder scene that the move had actually removed her suspicion of Stephen. However, fans were devastated by the exit of the outspoken faithful.
Viewers took to social media to express their upset:
- "NOT JESSIE NOT MOTHER,"
- "Game over. Poor Jessie was the only one with a backbone and intuition,"
- "NOOOOOOO JESSIE. There goes the last remaining brain cell."
The full truth was revealed to Jessie on the spin-off show Uncloaked. The 28-year-old was handed an envelope containing the names of the two Traitors. Reading it aloud, she exclaimed: "Ellie, oh my God! I'm not just a daft lass who wears yellow and orange! He had the audacity to murder me!" Her shock compounded when she discovered Rachel was also a Traitor, causing her to gasp and fall off her chair.
The Traitors continues Wednesday from 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
