Former TV producer and bestselling author Richard Osman has exposed a significant editing technique used on the hit BBC show The Traitors, a revelation that sheds light on a recent dramatic twist involving contestant Matthew Hyndman.
The Under-the-Radar Contestant
On his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, Osman, 55, drew attention to 35-year-old creative director Matthew Hyndman, a Faithful in the current series. Hyndman, from Northern Ireland, made his debut on the BBC One show on New Year's Day but had been featured so minimally that many viewers claimed they had never seen him before.
This all changed dramatically in the episode aired on Friday, January 9. After winning a privilege, Hyndman entered a clandestine meeting with the Traitors, unseen, and boldly offered himself up for recruitment. He simultaneously suggested they murder fellow Faithful, 28-year-old Jessie Stride, who the Traitors had just named as their next target.
Osman's Behind-the-Scenes Insight
Osman's co-host, Marina Hyde, noted how Hyndman's previously low-profile status made his dramatic proposition more impactful. Osman, drawing on his years in TV production, then revealed a key industry tactic. "So, oftentimes you will go light on someone in the edit because you know that they’re a big player later on," he explained.
This insight confirmed to fans that the show's editors had deliberately kept Matthew Hyndman in the background, anticipating his pivotal role in the game's narrative. Marina Hyde agreed, adding, "There’ll be more coming."
The Twist Unfolds and Backfires
The cliffhanger was resolved in the Wednesday, January 14 episode. The two remaining Traitors, Rachel and Stephen, appeared to agree to Hyndman's deal while secretly plotting to betray him later. They decided against recruiting him that night and instead moved to carry out a murder.
However, a critical piece of information unknown to the Traitors was that Jessie Stride possessed a shield from the latest mission. This meant their plan to honour the 'agreement' with Hyndman by targeting Jessie could spectacularly backfire. The episode ended with Jessie, Adam, and James as the three potential murder targets.
Following the banishment of Harriet Tyce from the castle, the remaining Faithful have now begun to view the newly prominent Matthew Hyndman and fellow contestant Roxy, 32, with fresh suspicion.
Social media reaction prior to Hyndman's spotlight moment was filled with confusion, with viewers on X asking questions like "Genuinely who the f*** is Matthew?" and "I didn’t know Matthew existed until now."
On applying for the show, Matthew Hyndman had said his New Year's resolution was "to have more adventures," though he initially meant hiking and camping. "I've watched The Traitors and absolutely loved it, so I just thought why not give it a go," he explained.
The Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
