In a stunning twist that sent shockwaves through Ardross Castle, the secret alliance between Traitors Fiona Hughes and Rachel Duffy spectacularly imploded during Thursday's nail-biting episode of BBC One's The Traitors.
The Secret That Sparked the Feud
The dramatic fallout began with a revelation from the recently banished Faithful, Amanda Collier. Before her exit, Amanda confided in her close ally Rachel that she was a former senior detective with the Metropolitan Police. Following Amanda's banishment, Rachel chose to share this secret with the wider group.
This decision did not sit well with fellow Traitor Fiona Hughes, who appeared envious that Rachel had been the sole confidante. Fiona openly accused Rachel of lying about Amanda's former career, launching a brutal and public accusation in front of their fellow players. Fiona directly labelled Rachel a Traitor, a high-risk strategy that threatened to blow both of their covers.
A Dangerous Public Showdown
While Traitors turning on each other is a known tactic, initiating a full-scale war in plain sight of the Faithful is a perilous move. The tension reached its peak in the show's iconic turret, where the two women came face-to-face for a confrontation.
Speaking to the camera, a defiant Rachel stated: '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 equal force, declaring: '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 concluded on a major cliffhanger, with the two women locked in a tense, silent stare-down that left fellow Traitor Stephen Libby visibly uncomfortable.
The Fallout and What Comes Next
Despite their bitter feud, Fiona, Rachel, and Stephen must now collaborate to decide on one player to murder in tonight's episode. This internal conflict puts their entire game in jeopardy.
The rift emerged after the trio successfully murdered civil servant Maz Bana in a chilling face-to-face encounter. Tensions were already high following a gruelling mission and a dramatic roundtable. The group was split on whether to banish Amanda or Reece Ward, leading host Claudia Winkleman to leave the decision to fate.
Both players selected a chest, with the shield ensuring safety. Reece broke down in tears after finding the shield, meaning Amanda was forced to leave the castle. Rachel, despite her role, became emotional, saying: 'I know I'm a Traitor, but that broke my heart. She was my favourite person.'
The series 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 premiere.
The Traitors continues on BBC One and iPlayer on January 9 at 8pm.
