In a stunning betrayal that sent shockwaves through Ardross Castle, Traitors Fiona Hughes and Rachel Duffy turned on each other during Thursday's explosive episode of BBC One's hit show, The Traitors. The dramatic fallout has thrown their secret alliance into chaos and put both players in grave danger.
A Secret Revealed Sparks a Feud
The tension ignited after the banishment of Faithful player Amanda Collier. Before her exit, Amanda confided a major secret to her close ally Rachel: she was a former senior police detective with the Metropolitan Police. Following Amanda's departure, Rachel shared this revelation with the group.
The news did not sit well with fellow Traitor Fiona Hughes, who appeared envious that Rachel had been trusted with the information first. Fiona publicly accused Rachel of lying about Amanda's past career and, in a brutal move, outed her as a Traitor in front of the entire group. This high-risk strategy marked a dramatic escalation in the game's internal politics.
Face-to-Face in the Turret
The pair then confronted each other in the show's iconic turret, with their hostility palpable. Speaking to the camera, Rachel stated defiantly, 'I have done nothing wrong. I want to see what she has to say for herself, but the fact that she came for me means I'm coming right for her.'
Fiona responded with a stark warning: 'I've thrown a grenade in. It is up to you, Rachel, how you want this, but I promise you this, you've got a fight on your hands, girl.' The episode ended on a cliffhanger, with the two women locked in a silent, tense stare-down that left fellow Traitor Stephen Libby visibly uncomfortable.
Fallout and Rising Tensions
This internal war comes after the Traitors, including Stephen, murdered civil servant Maz Bana face-to-face. The group's dynamics were further strained at a dramatic roundtable where the vote was split between banishing Amanda and Reece Ward.
Host Claudia Winkleman left the decision to fate, with each player choosing a chest. Reece broke down in tears after finding a shield, meaning Amanda was banished. Rachel, despite being a Traitor, became emotional, saying, 'I know I'm a Traitor, but that broke my heart. She was my favourite person.'
Despite their feud, Fiona, Rachel, and Stephen must now decide on one player to murder in tonight's episode. The show continues to captivate audiences, with the fourth episode pulling in an impressive average of 7.3 million viewers, a significant increase from the 6.4 million who watched the season four premiere.
The Traitors continues on BBC One and iPlayer at 8pm on January 9.
