Viewers of BBC's The Traitors have sparked fresh speculation about a potential secret sibling link between two contestants following Thursday evening's episode.
Fan theories emerged on social media suggesting that players Jessie and James may be brother and sister, after scenes showed Jessie leaping to defend her fellow contestant during a tense breakfast confrontation.
The latest series of the hit show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, returned to the Scottish Highlands earlier this month with 22 new participants competing for the £100,000 prize.
Audiences have been watching closely for hidden connections between players, with some believing there are undisclosed family ties yet to surface among the remaining group at the castle.
BBC The Traitors fans have theorised James and Jessie are brother and sister
|BBC
Thursday's episode opened with the remaining contestants gathering for breakfast, where they learned that Adam had fallen victim to the Traitors overnight.
Attention swiftly turned to James after it emerged he had been dishonest about acquiring a shield during a previous challenge.
As fellow players began questioning his actions, Jessie quickly intervened on his behalf.
"Can I just add please, because I don't want James to get a lot of heat. If he was a Traitor, he wouldn't be desperate to get one," she told the group.
BBC The Traitors star Jessie jumped to James' defence
|BBC
In her confessional, Jessie acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, describing James as her "best mate" whilst admitting he had "messed up really."
She added: "I am an empathetic person. I do get why he took it, but it's just caused a bit of tension that we don't need really."
Jessie's intervention prompted immediate speculation among viewers watching at home.
"Jessie knows James because he's her brother," one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
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Another viewer commented: "Not me thinking Jessie was about to reveal that James was her boyfriend or brother."
Others noted how her defence appeared to go beyond ordinary friendship, with one fan posting: "Jessie talking sense about James - glad she defended him because it was all a bit awkward."
A fellow viewer observed: "Jessie defending James is giving related."
The protective display led another to question: "Bless Jessie going in to bat for James. Think she might have ruined her game plan defending him, surely they're brother and sister?" (sic)
BBC The Traitors: Rachel and Stephen continue to deceive the group
|BBC
The series has already confirmed several connections among the castle's inhabitants this year.
Judy and Roxy were revealed to be mother and daughter, whilst Ross and Ellie disclosed they are in a romantic relationship.
Ross was additionally linked to fellow contestant Netty, though the pair had not seen one another for years prior to entering the competition.
The programme has introduced a family tree feature in the castle hallway, which has only served to heighten viewer suspicions that further secret relationships remain concealed.