The BBC's hit reality competition series The Traitors has returned with a major new twist: the Secret Traitor. Host Claudia Winkleman revealed the change during the first episode of the fourth series, explaining that she selected a fourth Traitor whose identity is hidden from both the other players and the viewers at home.
Unlike the three regular Traitors, who were revealed to the audience, the Secret Traitor was chosen by Claudia while all contestants were blindfolded. Viewers were not shown who she tapped. The Secret Traitor wears a red cloak instead of the usual green, but their identity remains unknown.
The Secret Traitor's role is to provide a shortlist of potential murder victims to the other Traitors each night. The Traitors can only murder one player from that list, and the Secret Traitor cannot include themselves. This means that even if more players are vulnerable, the murder options are limited.
The Secret Traitor knows the identities of all three other Traitors, making them the only player who knows everyone's true status. The regular Traitors—Hugo, Rachel, and Stephen—are also in the dark about the Secret Traitor's identity.
Claudia hinted that the Traitors will need to win back their power to uncover the Secret Traitor, but further details are yet to be revealed. The first episode narrowed down the suspects, as James, Netty, and Maz were on the initial murder shortlist, meaning they cannot be the Secret Traitor.
The Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
