In a dramatic double exit, the latest episode of BBC One's hit show The Traitors saw two more contestants banished from the Scottish castle, with one of the secret schemers finally unmasked.
The Roundtable Row That Sealed a Traitor's Fate
The tense third episode, which aired on 3rd January 2026, reached its climax with a fiery roundtable debate. This led to barrister Hugo Lodge, 51, being voted off and revealed as one of the deceptive Traitors, much to the delight of the remaining Faithful contestants.
His downfall came after he raised suspicions by trying too hard to evoke sympathy for fellow contestant Ben, a murdered Faithful, and urging others to recall Ben's efforts in a previous mission. "I failed to move the suspicion elsewhere," Lodge admitted in his first interview since leaving.
"I Forgot to Pretend to be a Faithful": Hugo's Confession
Reflecting on his short-lived game, Hugo Lodge confessed his strategy crumbled under pressure. "I did have a plan, but I didn't really stick to it," he said. "I kept forgetting to pretend to be a Faithful which is ultimately what you must do as a Traitor. I forgot that I had a shield... and I just forgot to act like a Faithful would."
Despite his elimination being sealed by a vote from fellow Traitor Stephen, Lodge insisted he bore 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 stated, offering his "unqualified support" to the remaining conspirators.
A Faithful's Regret and a Secret Solo Traitor
The episode's first departure was Ben, a 66-year-old Royal Navy veteran, who was murdered by the Traitors. As a Faithful, Ben expressed his disappointment at leaving early, revealing he had desperately wanted to be recruited as a Traitor. "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 explained.
With Hugo gone, the game continues with a major twist: a secret Traitor has been working alone and could be unmasked in the next episode on Wednesday. The Traitors airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
