The Traitors Abandons Secret Traitor Twist for Upcoming Series
The smash-hit BBC reality show The Traitors has officially axed a controversial twist from its next series, with the programme's boss openly admitting that it "didn't feel very satisfying." This decision follows the conclusion of the show's fourth series in January, which saw Traitors Rachel Duffy and Stephen Libby successfully claim the prize money.
Why the Secret Traitor Twist is Being Dropped
Speaking at a recent industry event, Stephen Lambert, CEO of production company Studio Lambert, which produces The Traitors, discussed the rationale behind removing the Secret Traitor element. According to reports from IGN, Lambert stated: "We introduced the idea of a secret Traitor as a way of doing something that was different, but it wasn’t something we wanted to keep going with."
He elaborated further, explaining: "A good format is something that’s designed in such a way that people feel a sense of familiarity with it, which is why they want to keep coming back to watch it. But intrinsically it’s designed so that there’s sufficient variation – partly, obviously, through the change of cast, but also you want to make little changes within it."
Lambert concluded by highlighting a key issue: "There have been other shows which have done something similar, where the audience didn’t know who the mole was and the trouble is you’re completely a victim of the edit and that doesn't feel very satisfying."
Recap of the Secret Traitor in Series Four
In the fourth series of The Traitors, host Claudia Winkleman introduced a red-cloaked Secret Traitor, whose identity was initially hidden from both fellow Traitors and viewers. This twist was revealed in episode four to be Fiona Hughes, a 62-year-old government officer, who then joined the other Traitors in the turret for strategic discussions.
Meanwhile, the US version of the show also experimented with the Secret Traitor twist in its latest run, but with mixed results. Donna Kelce, 73, mother of Taylor Swift's fiancé Travis Kelce, was selected by host Alan Cumming for the role. Unlike Fiona Hughes, Donna was banished very early in the competition, with her secret being exposed as early as episode three.
Future of The Traitors on the BBC
This news comes as the BBC has secured a substantial three-year deal for both The Traitors and its celebrity spin-off, Celebrity Traitors. Fans can rejoice as the beloved show is now confirmed to remain on our screens until at least 2030.
The broadcast schedule is as follows:
- The Traitors Series 5 will air on BBC One and iPlayer next year.
- This will be followed by Series 6 in 2028, Series 7 in 2029, and Series 8 in 2030.
- Celebrity Traitors Series 2 is set to return later this year.
- Subsequent celebrity series will follow in 2025, 2028, and 2029.
According to the BBC, these shows "will continue to promise audiences even more twists, turns, secrets, epic missions, deception, banishments and, of course, murders aplenty from the now iconic Ardross Castle." The renewed commitment "reflects the BBC's ongoing investment in original, high-impact entertainment that captivates and brings together audiences."
Record-Breaking Viewership and Celebrity Success
The regular series this year shattered viewing records, with a staggering 6.9 million fans tuning in for the record-breaking launch show. This figure surpassed all previous premieres, including the celebrity version, which attracted 6.5 million viewers, and the last civilian series opener in January, which garnered 5.4 million views.
Furthermore, The Traitors 2026 achieved a 28-day average viewing figure of 12.5 million, a significant increase from last year's 10.3 million. Notably, 6.6 million of the audience watched the programme on BBC iPlayer, highlighting its digital success.
In the celebrity arena, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner of the first-ever celebrity series. He was joined by a star-studded cast including Celia Imrie, Charlotte Church, Joe Marler, Jonathan Ross, Lucy Beaumont, Mark Bonnar, Nick Mohammed, Niko Omilana, Paloma Faith, Ruth Codd, Stephen Fry, Tameka Empson, Tom Daley, Cat Burns, David Olusoga, Joe Wilkinson, and Kate Garraway.
The Traitors, produced by Studio Lambert Scotland, first premiered in 2022 and has since enjoyed four highly successful series. The celebrity version followed earlier this year, building on the triumph of the civilian series and cementing the show's status as a television phenomenon.
