Traitors Champions Break Silence After Historic BBC Victory
The triumphant winners of The Traitors, Stephen Libby and Rachel Duffy, have finally opened up about their dramatic victory on the hit BBC reality series. The duo each secured a substantial prize of £47,875, marking a significant moment in the show's history as the first pair of Traitors to emerge victorious together.
Emotional Reunion on The Traitors: Uncloaked
During Friday evening's special instalment of the spin-off programme, The Traitors: Uncloaked, the winning pair reunited with their fellow contestants to relive the nail-biting finale. The experience proved to be particularly emotional for both champions as they watched the climactic episode back for the first time.
Rachel Duffy admitted the viewing left her visibly moved, stating: 'I was so nervous for Stephen, so watching it back, it made me cry.' Her co-winner Stephen Libby echoed these sentiments, revealing: 'I didn't know what I was going to do, watching it back, I can see in my face. I'm just so proud of the decision that I made, proud of myself and Rachel.'
The Loyalty Pact That Defined Their Victory
Throughout the series, Stephen had expressed genuine doubts about whether Rachel would honour their pact to never write each other's names on their slates during the crucial roundtable discussions. This uncertainty created significant tension, particularly as fans became convinced Rachel might betray her fellow Traitor to secure the entire prize pot for herself.
However, speaking after their historic win, both contestants explained why they remained steadfastly loyal to their agreement despite moments of profound uncertainty. Rachel emphasised her commitment, saying: 'I knew from the minute it came out of my mouth I wouldn't break the pact and I thought this is a new game for me I'm not breaking it.'
Stephen added revealing context about the psychological challenge: 'It's so hard to trust someone in there whose job it is to lie and so I was really struggling to see how Rachel could hold onto that pact for the whole game which is why to the end I was wobbling.'
A Tense Finale and Historic Achievement
The fourth season culminated in what many are calling one of the most tense finales the programme has ever produced. Against considerable odds and widespread fan speculation about potential betrayal, Stephen and Rachel maintained their loyalty from the very beginning of their partnership.
In a particularly selfless moment at the final hurdle, Stephen made a crucial decision despite knowing that fellow contestant Jack Butler intended to vote Rachel out. Both contestants instead adhered to the pact they had established at the family tree, refusing to turn against one another.
Reflecting on their extraordinary achievement, Rachel expressed: 'It is the best feeling in the world. I really thought it was such a big achievement to be the first female Traitor to make it to the final, then win.'
Personal Reflections and Future Developments
Stephen shared his personal astonishment at the victory, stating: 'I can't believe I've just won The Traitors. I'm just a wee boy from the Isle of Lewis. This kind of stuff doesn't really happen to me.'
While the fourth series has now concluded, fans of the franchise will not have to wait long for more content. The BBC confirmed that Celebrity Traitors will return later this year, following its successful debut. This announcement came in November when the corporation confirmed the popular spin-off format would be back on BBC One in 2026.
Interestingly, betting patterns before the finale revealed divided opinions. Several betting sites including MyBettingSites, Sports Casting Bets and OLGB all named Stephen as the favourite to win just hours before the final episode aired. Conversely, Ladbroke maintained that the Faithfuls would ultimately secure the prize.
The complete fourth season finale of The Traitors is now available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, allowing viewers to experience the dramatic conclusion that crowned these unlikely champions.
