Claudia Winkleman has revealed she was reduced to tears during a recent banishment on the BBC's The Traitors, as a new twist left her and the crew visibly emotional. The host, who describes the contestants as her 'children' by the end of filming, admitted she cried when one player was voted off.
The Traitors, which originated from Dutch TV, has seen a surge in popularity, with applications for the second series jumping from 1,500 to 40,000, and a staggering 300,000 for the upcoming series. A celebrity edition is also in the works.
Winkleman told HELLO! Magazine: 'There is somebody this year, and you can't see it, but I really cried when they were banished.' She added that camera operators, hidden during the round table discussions, also came out in tears, saying: 'The three of us cried together. We go in deep.'
The new series, which began on New Year's Day, introduces a key twist: ousted contestants who reach the final no longer have to reveal whether they were Traitors or Faithfuls, fuelling doubt and second-guessing among remaining players. This change contributed to the heightened emotions during the banishment.
The show's ruthless gameplay includes banishments and 'murders' by Traitors, keeping viewers on edge. A fourth series has already been commissioned, with producers promising fresh tweaks to maintain the suspense.
