Sharp-eyed viewers of the hit BBC reality show The Traitors are convinced they have uncovered the identity of the mysterious 'Secret Traitor' after spotting what they believe is a glaring production error on the companion show, The Traitors: Uncloaked.
The Uncloaked Background Blunder
The controversy erupted after the latest series launched on New Year's Day, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. This season introduced a major twist: a fourth, secret traitor who operates independently, unknown even to the other traitors and the audience. However, fans watching the post-episode discussion show Uncloaked on January 4th noticed something peculiar in the set's background.
On the wall behind the presenters were framed photos of the contestants. Social media users quickly pointed out that the three known traitors – Hugo, Stephen, and Rachel – were pictured together with fellow contestant Harriet. "Why are the 3 traitors pictured on the wall…..with Harriet," questioned one user on X, formerly Twitter. Another stated bluntly: "Spoiler: The portraits of the traitors are in the background... Plus an additional one. Harriet the secret traitor!"
Suspicious Wording Fuels Further Theories
The speculation didn't stop with the visual clue. Fans have also become hyper-vigilant about the contestants' language. During a confessional, a faithful named Ellie expressed hesitation, saying she didn't want people to think she was the "Secret Traitor". This raised immediate red flags for viewers, as the faithful contestants are supposedly unaware of this season's new twist.
"Ellie saying 'don’t want to look like a secret traitor' as a faithful who don’t know about a secret traitor??? Suspicious wording," commented one fan. This linguistic slip has led many to believe Ellie might be in on the secret, or that the twist's mechanics are more complex than shown.
The Secret Traitor's Power and Last Night's Drama
Claudia Winkleman revealed the secret traitor twist in the January 1st episode, explaining this hidden player would wield significant power, including selecting a shortlist for the other traitors to murder. The hunt intensified in the January 3rd episode after the banishment of traitor Hugo.
The remaining traitors, Stephen and Rachel, were given a secret mission: to correctly mark nine names on a family tree with red ink. Success would grant them a murder and a meeting with the secret traitor. They accomplished their task, albeit nearly revealing themselves to faithful Reece. The episode concluded with the secret traitor entering the turret, but their identity was withheld, leaving the reveal for a future episode, potentially on Wednesday, January 7th.
While it seems unlikely the BBC would make such an obvious mistake, the fervent detective work from The Traitors UK fanbase shows no sign of slowing down. Whether the background photos were a deliberate misdirection or a genuine spoiler, viewers will be watching every frame until the secret is finally uncloaked.
