Traitors Duo Rachel and Stephen Make Series History as First Dual Winners
The fourth series of the BBC's hit reality gameshow The Traitors concluded with an unprecedented victory on Friday night, as Rachel and Stephen became the first pair of traitors to win the game together. This historic moment unfolded during a nail-biting finale that saw them successfully vote out every faithful contestant, securing their place in the show's annals.
A Pact of Loyalty That Paid Off
Selected as traitors by host Claudia Winkleman from the very beginning of the series, Rachel and Stephen formed an early pact to never vote against each other. Remarkably, they stuck to this agreement throughout the entire competition, demonstrating unwavering loyalty in a game built on deception. Their alliance proved unbreakable, culminating in a shared victory that defied the show's typical dynamics of betrayal.
Rachel, a director of communications from Newry in Northern Ireland, and Stephen, a cyber security consultant originally from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides but now living in London, split the prize pot of £95,750, taking home £47,875 each. Their triumph was not just financial but symbolic, showcasing a rare bond of trust in a high-stakes environment.
Emotional Reactions and Celebrations
As they celebrated their win, Stephen expressed his initial doubts, telling Rachel, "I'll be honest, I had moments where I was doubting what I was going to do tonight, but I couldn't go back on my word to you." He later reflected on the life-changing impact of the prize, saying, "I'm just a wee boy from the Isle of Lewis, this kind of stuff doesn't really happen to me. This isn't the kind of money that me and my family deal with. It's going to make such a difference. And I just know they're going to be so proud."
Rachel, equally elated, shared her joy, stating, "It's the best feeling in the world. I really thought it was such a big achievement to be the first female traitor to make it to the final. And then to win. I think it will be a very long time until you get the smile off my face. I'm really looking forward to not having to lie."
Host Claudia Winkleman's Praise
Claudia Winkleman, appearing emotional, commended the pair for their unique achievement. She told them, "Two traitors but totally faithful to each other. You did it. You absolutely did it." On the spin-off series The Traitors: Uncloaked, she further praised their alliance, noting, "We've never seen that before. Lots of people make alliances and they last, you know, an episode or five minutes, but they decided, and not Romeo and Juliet, because that ended badly, but Bonnie and Clyde."
Discussing their pact on the spin-off show, Rachel affirmed her commitment, saying, "I knew from the minute it came out of my mouth I wouldn't break it." Stephen added, "It's so hard to trust someone in there whose job it is to lie. I was really struggling to see how Rachel could hold onto that pact for the whole game, which is why at the end I was wobbling big time. I'm just so glad she's a woman of her word."
Finale Highlights and Eliminations
The finale began with a tense roundtable deadlock between gardener James and Rachel. Leaving their fate to chance, both were given a chest, with Rachel narrowly escaping banishment after winning a shield, leading to James's exit from the castle. The final five contestants—Rachel, Stephen, Faraaz, James, and Jade—then embarked on a dramatic final mission, which included scaling down the side of a dam and a helicopter ride over the Scottish highlands.
Upon returning to the castle, the final roundtables saw PhD student Jade eliminated after being betrayed by her friend Stephen. She left in tears without revealing she was a faithful. Auditor Faraaz was banished next around the firepit in the endgame, followed by personal trainer Jack, whose elimination by both Rachel and Stephen secured their historic victory.
This series of The Traitors has set a new benchmark, proving that loyalty can triumph even in a game designed for deceit, with Rachel and Stephen's dual win marking a memorable chapter in British television history.
