Get ready for an extraordinary twist in the upcoming series of The Traitors! Host Claudia Winkleman has promised some mind-blowing surprises, and we can't wait to uncover them.
A recent trailer has sparked curiosity with a mysterious figure donning a red cloak, a departure from the usual green worn by traitors. This has fans buzzing with theories and speculations.
Winkleman teases, "There's something new, and what happens in this series is truly extraordinary. I gasped at some moments!" But here's where it gets controversial... the details of this twist will remain a secret until the show's fourth regular series premiere on New Year's Day at 20:00 GMT.
"I can't wait for people to see it!" Winkleman exclaimed, praising the producers for their brilliant minds.
The red cloak has never been seen before, leading fans to speculate about a potential new role for one of this year's contestants. Could it be a game-changer?
In previous series, Winkleman chose three traitors from a group of over 20 contestants, with the potential for more traitors to be recruited later. The other players are known as the faithful.
Winkleman hints that this series "gets pretty twisty." She explains, "The show creators have to keep changing it, and when they tell me their ideas, I'm like, 'Are you joking?' But I love it!"
She also reveals that the confrontations between contestants are intense, with "hardcore" roundtables. "It gets very heated, and sometimes ugly," she says.
The new series follows the massive success of the first celebrity spin-off, which was a huge TV hit in 2025. With over 15 million viewers, including catch-up viewing, the show's popularity has put pressure on the upcoming fourth civilian series.
Mike Cotton, creative director of Studio Lambert, said, "We were blown away by The Celebrity Traitors' success. It became a family viewing event, which you don't expect for a show about murder, lies, and betrayal."
However, despite the success of the celebrity spin-off, Cotton rejects the idea of mixing celebrities and civilians in future series, as seen in some international versions. He believes the show's dynamic is already strong with traitors vs. faithful, and adding a celebrity vs. non-celebrity divide would be unnecessary.
Winkleman jokes about the attention her outfits receive, especially the boots she wears during the ominous walk at the roundtable. "The walk is tense, and I try to build the tension with my clompy footwear. I get a bit flamenco! It needs to be loud. Maybe I'll go tap next time!"
Unlike previous series, this year's contestants all make it through the door of Ardross Castle near Inverness without any initial twists or missions. The opening episode will see the contestants get to know each other before embarking on a massive first mission.
Winkleman gushes about filming in the Scottish Highlands, calling it "the most beautiful place on the planet." Her favorite part, though, is working with the owl, Sage (renamed Barry after her dad), who delivers the invitations. "He's so sweet! And recently, he became a father to a baby owl named Onion. So, keep an eye out for Onion in future series!"
The Traitors airs on BBC One and iPlayer at 20:00 GMT on January 1st. Get ready for an extraordinary journey!
