The fourth series of the hit BBC reality show The Traitors, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, is reaching its dramatic conclusion, with the final episode scheduled to air tonight, January 23rd. However, the penultimate instalment has sparked a significant backlash from dedicated fans, who are levelling accusations of 'sloppy editing' at the broadcaster.
Cliffhanger Controversy Erupts Online
Thursday night's episode concluded on a nail-biting cliffhanger, leaving the fates of two contestants hanging in the balance. After a tense roundtable vote ended in a tie, Traitor Rachel Duffy and Faithful James Baker were forced to rely on the rare Chests of Chance to determine their survival. The game of chance involved selecting a box, with only one containing a shield that would save its chooser from immediate banishment.
The episode deliberately withheld the result, but eagle-eyed viewers quickly took to social media platform X, convinced they had spotted crucial editing details that revealed the outcome. One fan pointedly wrote: 'Rachel’s eyes are looking at an object in a box, James’ are looking at the box in its entirety. Sloppy editing… #TheTraitors.'
Fans Claim to Have Cracked the Code
This sentiment was echoed by others who analysed previous uses of the game mechanic. Another viewer commented: '#TheTraitors the last time they used the box of chance. The shield was at the back. Surely they can’t have put the shield in the same box this time. The producers should have moved it.' This led to speculation that Rachel cleverly chose the rear box, anticipating the shield's placement.
A third fan stated with certainty: 'Rachel got the shield btw, you can see her split reaction where her eyes raise.. you heard it here first #TheTraitorsUK #TheTraitors.' However, not all viewers were convinced by this detective work, with one dissenting voice simply writing: 'Nah don't think you can tell.' The true answer will be revealed at the start of Friday's highly anticipated final episode.
Earlier Drama: A Secret Revealed and a Strategic Murder
The cliffhanger was not the only dramatic moment in the penultimate episode. Earlier, contestant Roxy was 'murdered' by the Traitors, marking her exit from the game. Her departure was compounded by a shocking revelation from host Claudia Winkleman at the breakfast table: Roxy had been hiding the secret that her mother was fellow contestant Judy, aged 60.
In her exit speech, Roxy, a 32-year-old recruiter who had entertained viewers with her often misguided gameplay, expressed her hope that either Rachel Duffy or Stephen Libby would win, mistakenly believing them both to be Faithfuls. This highlighted her continued misreading of the game's dynamics.
Traitors' Strategy Comes to Light
In the turret, the Traitors' strategy was laid bare. Rachel explained the reasoning behind Roxy's murder: 'We need to murder Roxy. Murdering her will implicate James very, very nicely... She's not going to be banished. We're not going to string her along to the end. We knew we needed to murder her and tonight's the night.'
After receiving her murder letter, Roxy reflected: 'I kind of knew it today because I went so hard at the table... But, honestly, I'm so proud of myself for getting this far. I would [like] for Stephen or Rachel to win.' Her departure left Faithful James reeling at the breakfast table, questioning his judgement: 'How am I so wrong. I've been shouting [Roxy and Matt] from the hilltops the whole game.'
The BBC has been contacted for comment regarding the viewers' editing criticisms. The Traitors continues to air on BBC One and iPlayer, with all eyes on tonight's final to resolve the cliffhanger and crown a winner.
