The Traitors 2026 live: Claudia Winkleman announces shock Secret Traitor rule change as she names this year’s Traitors

The Traitors hints at big switch with cryptic red cloak teaser

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The Traitors returns to BBC One on New Year’s Day, with 22 new contestants vying to win the game of deception and behavioural scrutiny.

Less than two months after Alan Carr emerged victorious from the inaugural celebrity edition, The Traitors kicks off in its fourth season with a 65-minute long premiere.

Among the contestants this year are a bestselling crime writer and a retired police detective.

In the first episode, host Claudia Winkleman selects three contestants to become Traitors, with the others being Faithfuls.

The Faithfuls must attempt to work out the identity of the Traitors, and evict them through a succession of roundtable votes. The Traitors, meanwhile, must try to conceal their identities, while periodically “killing” Faithfuls.

The prize money, accumulated over various “challenges”, is awarded to the surviving Traitors at the end of the game, or the remaining Faithfuls, if all Traitors are unearthed.

Winkelman has also teased a twist for this forthcoming series, with “something new” set to be revealed in episode one.

“I’m so glad you’re not [a Traitor].”

Some primo discernment that.

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:27

And finally, we have Hugo. Not counting the Secret Traitor, of course. (ST? Or does Stranger Things already have dibs on that initialism?)

(BBC)

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:23

Traitor the second: Rachel

(BBC)

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:22

(BBC)

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:21

Her reactions here are just priceless.

Claudia Winkleman in ‘The Traitors’ (BBC)

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:19

There you go then! A secret traitor is a fourth contestant who no one – not the Faithfuls, the Traitors, the viewers, or Bruce Springsteen – knows the identity of

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:17

Maybe this is just confirmation bias or whatever, but Amanda really does talk like an ex-copper. It’s all in the cadence.

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:15

“Can’t believe we’re here in real life.”

The most iconic castle since, what? Dracula’s?

(BBC)

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:13

“Just when they think they know how to play…”

Claudia remaining cryptic.

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:10

Seeming like an affable bunch so far. Just wait til the scheming and suspicion sets in…

Jessie in ‘Traitors’ (BBC)

Louis Chilton1 January 2026 20:10

The Traitors 2026 live: Claudia Winkleman announces shock Secret Traitor rule change as she names this year’s Traitors

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“I’m so glad you’re not [a Traitor].”

Some primo discernment that.

And finally, we have Hugo. Not counting the Secret Traitor, of course. (ST? Or does Stranger Things already have dibs on that initialism?)

(BBC)

Traitor the second: Rachel

(BBC)

(BBC)

Her reactions here are just priceless.

Claudia Winkleman in ‘The Traitors’ (BBC)

There you go then! A secret traitor is a fourth contestant who no one – not the Faithfuls, the Traitors, the viewers, or Bruce Springsteen – knows the identity of

Maybe this is just confirmation bias or whatever, but Amanda really does talk like an ex-copper. It’s all in the cadence.

“Can’t believe we’re here in real life.”

The most iconic castle since, what? Dracula’s?

(BBC)

“Just when they think they know how to play…”

Claudia remaining cryptic.

Seeming like an affable bunch so far. Just wait til the scheming and suspicion sets in…

Jessie in ‘Traitors’ (BBC)

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The Traitors 2026 live: Claudia Winkleman announces shock Secret Traitor rule change as she names this year’s Traitors

Up next

Author

CitiGist

“I’m so glad you’re not [a Traitor].” Some primo discernment that. atOptions = { 'key' : 'a418b297d007e66ea52cbd08568660a4', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 250, 'width' : 300, 'params' : {} };

Traitor the second: Rachel atOptions = { 'key' : 'a418b297d007e66ea52cbd08568660a4', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 250, 'width' : 300, 'params' : {} }; (BBC)

(BBC)

Her reactions here are just priceless. Claudia Winkleman in ‘The Traitors’ (BBC)

There you go then! A secret traitor is a fourth contestant who no one – not the Faithfuls, the Traitors, the viewers, or Bruce Springsteen – knows the identity of

Maybe this is just confirmation bias or whatever, but Amanda really does talk like an ex-copper. It’s all in the cadence.

“Just when they think they know how to play…” atOptions = { 'key' : 'a418b297d007e66ea52cbd08568660a4', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 250, 'width' : 300, 'params' : {} }; Claudia remaining cryptic.

Seeming like an affable bunch so far. Just wait til the scheming and suspicion sets in… Jessie in ‘Traitors’ (BBC)

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“I’m so glad you’re not [a Traitor].”

Some primo discernment that.

Traitor the second: Rachel

(BBC)

Her reactions here are just priceless.

Claudia Winkleman in ‘The Traitors’ (BBC)

“Just when they think they know how to play…”

Claudia remaining cryptic.

Seeming like an affable bunch so far. Just wait til the scheming and suspicion sets in…

Jessie in ‘Traitors’ (BBC)