The Traitors cliffhanger leaves Rachel's fate hanging as Stephen secures final spot
Viewers of The Traitors were left in a state of high drama and frustration as the BBC show concluded with a monumental cliffhanger, casting Rachel Duffy's future in the competition into serious doubt. Stephen Libby has successfully navigated his way to the end-game, but the burning question remains: will his fellow traitor Rachel join him, or will faithful contestant James Baker seize the final spot?
A tense round table leads to fateful decision
The episode delivered edge-of-the-seat tension as the round table first resulted in a tie, followed by another deadlock. This forced host Claudia Winkleman to introduce the dreaded Chests of Chance, leaving the outcome entirely to fate. Claudia's declaration, "We will now leave this banishment in the hands of fate," set the stage for a suspenseful pause, with the resolution delayed until tonight's final episode.
This banishment holds particular weight as it marks the final time the remaining players will be informed whether an ousted contestant is a traitor or a faithful. The winner of this showdown will join Stephen in the final alongside faithful players Jack Butler, Faraaz Noor, and Jade Scott. Notably, Jack has maintained a clean slate throughout the series, not receiving a single vote at the round table.
Stephen's loyalty tested amidst betrayal fears
Cyber security consultant Stephen, aged 32, faced a critical test of loyalty during the episode. Presented with a golden opportunity to double-cross Rachel and secure a clearer path to the prize money for himself, he instead chose to uphold their alliance. Despite sowing seeds of suspicion about Rachel in the preceding day—primarily due to fears she might betray him—Stephen wrote James's name on his slate both times.
The pair had previously agreed never to write each other's names down, a promise that could theoretically be broken at any moment. Stephen, who has appeared visibly anxious since entering the castle, vowed to "put my big boy pants on" and fight to avoid being usurped at the last minute. He immediately began campaigning, reminding other players at breakfast that banished author Harriet Tyce had targeted Rachel before her exit.
High stakes and strategic manoeuvres
If Rachel, a 42-year-old mother-of-three, manages to defeat 38-year-old gardener James by finding the shield in her chest, she and Stephen could potentially share the prize fund, which stood at £76,750. However, to achieve this, she must convincingly portray herself as a faithful to the remaining players—a task growing increasingly difficult.
At breakfast, Rachel attempted to cast doubt on James, suggesting he might be "an evil genius" traitor rather than a faithful. James, still processing the revelation that Matthew Hyndman was a fellow faithful, responded wearily, "I could be. But, unfortunately, I'm not." Jack later encapsulated the group's confusion about James, remarking, "He's either the world's best traitor or the world's worst faithful."
Physical challenge and emotional strain
The mission segment saw contestants racing up a steep hill to earn £10,000 and exemption from that night's murder. James pushed himself to the limit, even vomiting from the exertion, but the team ultimately succeeded. Rachel described the ordeal as "harder than childbirth," highlighting the physical and emotional toll of the competition.
Prior to the round table, Stephen confided in viewers, expressing dwindling hopes of sharing the prize with Rachel and admitting to feeling shaky and cautious about a potential betrayal. Rachel, aware she faced scrutiny, maintained a facade of confidence, though her past conflicts with Harriet and Fiona Hughes undermined her position, prompting the group to question the dynamics between the women.
Trust and survival hang in the balance
Speaking just before the round table, Rachel acknowledged that her survival might hinge entirely on Stephen's loyalty. She stated, "Stephen knows he has every opportunity to just throw me under the bus and sail his way to victory. I just hope I can trust him." This moment underscored the fragile trust and high-stakes strategy defining the end-game.
The extended-length final of The Traitors airs tonight on BBC One from 8:30 PM, followed by Uncloaked at 9:45 PM. With the UK series historically favouring solo traitor winners—such as Harry Clark in 2024 and Alan Carr in the celebrity version—the outcome remains tantalisingly uncertain, leaving audiences eagerly awaiting the resolution of this gripping cliffhanger.
