The popular TV series The Traitors has made a return with an exciting new twist featuring a secret fourth traitor, whose identity is concealed even from the viewers. This secretive character is set apart by wearing a red cloak instead of the distinctive green attire typically worn by the other traitors. This unique addition brings a fresh dynamic to the game, providing the secret traitor with special powers, including the ability to decide which players the other traitors can target.
The fourth season’s launch was a hit, attracting an impressive average of 6.4 million viewers, an increase of more than a million compared to the same episode from the previous year. Following the immense success of the celebrity version, which gathered a total of 15 million viewers, the show continues to captivate audiences.
This season features a diverse group of 22 contestants, including a former police detective, a crime novelist, and a mother-daughter duo trying to keep their relationship a secret. Some players have already formed connections unknown to the producers, sparking intrigue from the beginning.
The secret traitor’s role involves several key functions: their identity is kept hidden from everyone, including the other traitors, and host Claudia Winkleman personally tapped the designated traitor during a round-table selection, an act not visible to the audience. Every evening, this secret participant creates a shortlist of three players for the other traitors to potentially eliminate, while knowing the true status of every other contestant.
Winkleman noted that the identity of the secret traitor will remain undisclosed until the other traitors “earn their power back,” leaving fans curious about how this will unfold. This unprecedented twist has stirred dissatisfaction among the existing traitors, with one, named Hugo, humorously expressing their frustration about this new arrangement.
For dedicated viewers who often question the faithful’s inability to identify traitors, this fresh angle offers a chance to engage more actively with the show. Celebrity contestant Lucy Beaumont expressed relief at the change, stating it allows viewers to better understand the dynamics at play.
At the series’ launch, Winkleman shared that discovering the hidden traitor was met with disbelief from the existing traitors, while also emphasizing the enjoyment this role brings to the secret player. The new format change was inspired by viewer suggestions on social media, with creative director Mike Cotton reflecting on feedback from the first series. While he enjoyed the idea of keeping one traitor’s identity a secret, he also noted that knowing the others’ duplicity is what adds to the show’s excitement.
As the series progresses, audiences will be eager to see how this intriguing twist affects the gameplay and whether it will elevate the suspense and strategy of The Traitors to new heights.
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