Claudia Winkleman has sent anticipation soaring by declaring the upcoming fourth series of the BBC's smash-hit reality show The Traitors to be "truly extraordinary," promising viewers "something new" when it launches on New Year's Day.
A Fresh Cast Descends on the Highlands
Following swiftly on from the wildly popular celebrity edition, which saw comedian Alan Carr triumph, the new series returns to its core format. Twenty-two new contestants from across the UK will gather at a remote Scottish castle in the Highlands. There, they will engage in the high-stakes psychological battle of "deceit and betrayal," all vying for a potential prize fund of up to £120,000.
Winkleman, who returns as the show's enigmatic host, has been effusive in her praise for the forthcoming instalment. "There’s something new and what happens in this series is truly extraordinary with moments that made me gasp," she revealed. "I can’t wait for people to see it. The producers have the greatest minds on Earth."
Winkleman's Role and the Beauty of the Setting
The presenter also shed light on her crucial role in the game's mechanics. She oversees challenges and, most importantly, helps select the Traitors—the secret saboteurs who "murder" Faithful contestants to claim the prize for themselves. "It’s nerve-racking but I don’t choose them alone," Winkleman explained. "I interview all the players... I then go into a small room with the bosses and an enormous tin of biscuits and we pick."
She reserved special praise for the stunning location, describing the Scottish Highlands as potentially "the most beautiful place on the planet." Winkleman added, "It’s a privilege to spend so much time surrounded by the jaw-dropping landscape. I’ve never been anywhere like it."
Building on a Phenomenal Success
The new series aims to build on the show's status as a major cultural and ratings phenomenon for the BBC. The celebrity edition, which aired recently, proved a massive hit, with former rugby player Joe Marler also becoming a fan favourite for his sharp gameplay analysis.
Winkleman emphasised the importance of secrecy, even within her own family. Asked if she ever reveals spoilers, she stated, "Genuinely I’d lose my job. Plus, there’s no fun in knowing. When Alan won my husband and youngest son couldn’t stop screaming and crying and shouting, ‘but you knew’."
The BBC has pledged "even more twists, turns, secrets, epic missions, deception, banishments and, of course, murders aplenty" for this series. To win, players must survive to the end, avoiding being either "murdered" by the Traitors or "banished" by their fellow contestants at the daily roundtable.
The Traitors Series 4 begins on Wednesday, 1 January at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer. It will be followed immediately by the companion show, The Traitors: Uncloaked, on BBC Two at 9.05pm.
