In an exclusive revelation, Jake Brown, the triumphant Faithful from the third series of BBC's The Traitors, has shared his surprising support for the show's current villains. Despite his own victory alongside Leanne Quigley last year, Jake is convinced that Traitors Rachel Duffy and Stephen Libby could make history by becoming the first duo to win together in the 2026 final.
A Champion's Perspective on the Game
Jake Brown and Leanne Quigley famously clinched the third series of the Claudia Winkleman-hosted game show, splitting a prize pot of £94,600. Now, as a project manager and seasoned player, Jake has analysed the strategic gameplay of this season's remaining contestants. Speaking on behalf of BetWright Casino, he provided a detailed breakdown of why the Traitors might emerge victorious tonight.
Praising Rachel Duffy's Leadership
Jake highlighted Rachel Duffy's exceptional social skills and vocal leadership, which he considers rare for a Traitor. "Rachel's social skills have been amazing," he said. "She seems to be the leader of the group, with everyone looking to her for advice. This is quite unusual as Traitors typically stay in the background, but she has taken the lead, which appears to be a clever play." He noted that her actions and statements have consistently steered the game in her favour.
Stephen Libby's Growth Under Pressure
Stephen Libby's journey has also impressed Jake, particularly his resilience under pressure. "Rachel looked after Stephen in the castle," Jake explained. "He struggled early on, but she took him under her wing, and he has really grown into the role, keeping suspicion off himself." Jake pointed to a key moment when Stephen managed to divert attention from Jessie Roux onto Fiona Hughes, showcasing their effective teamwork in manipulating the Faithfuls.
Why the Traitors Deserve to Win
Jake emphasised that Rachel and Stephen's success is not due to luck but to meticulous strategy. "They've come this far purely through good, strategic gameplay," he stated. While he remains "Team Faithful" at heart, having won as one himself, he believes the Traitors would be fully deserving of victory. "I was really rooting for Harriet Tyce and Jessie, the strongest Faithfuls we've seen, so their loss was significant. But time will tell, and right now, I think the Traitors deserve the win."
Looking Beyond The Traitors
In addition to his insights on the show, Jake, who has cerebral palsy, revealed his enthusiasm for future challenges. "I'd love to do any game show with a competitive edge," he said, expressing particular interest in Strictly Come Dancing. "I like to put myself out of my comfort zone and test myself. Having a disability, I'd want to show people like me at home that you can dance, you can sing, and it'd be great to put that to the test."
The highly anticipated final of The Traitors airs tonight, Friday, January 23, at 8.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, where viewers will discover if Jake's prediction of a historic Traitor victory comes true.
