The fourth series of BBC One's acclaimed reality competition The Traitors launched last night with a dramatic format shake-up that has left audiences guessing.
For the first time since the programme began in 2022, host Claudia Winkleman has introduced a fourth player operating in the shadows: a Secret Traitor whose identity remains concealed from both the three regular Traitors and viewers at home.
This mysterious figure, distinguished by a red hooded cloak rather than the traditional green, represents the most significant change to the show's structure since its debut.
Unlike previous series where the three Traitors operated as a unit, this fourth player works entirely independently whilst wielding considerable influence over the game.
BBC The Traitors: Claudia Winkleman introduced the twist at the start of the premiere
|BBC
Each evening, the Secret Traitor compiles a shortlist of potential victims from which the regular Traitors must select their murder target.
"You are my secret Traitor, you will not be joining your fellow Traitors tonight. Instead, you will be controlling them," Ms Winkleman informed the anonymous contestant during the opening episode.
Crucially, while the Secret Traitor knows precisely who the other three deceivers are, they remain completely unaware of this hidden puppet master's identity.
Throughout Thursday's premiere, Hugo, Rachel, and Stephen - the three known Traitors - rued the fact that there was someone else calling the shots while they desperately tried to conceal their own roles.
BBC The Traitors: The Secret Traitor provided the shortlist of who should be murdered
|BBC
By the end of the episode, the Traitor trio determined the Secret Traitor was working against them rather than as part of a unit, prompting frustration from Hugo and Stephen, in particular.
Their annoyance was exacerbated further when they received the shortlist of Faithfuls they'd have to murder, with none of the three names being Hugo, Stephen, or Rachel's preferred choice.
Inevitably, social media has been flooded with theories as to who the Secret Traitor could be, but there's one name that has emerged more frequently than others - and for arguably good reason.
Amanda, a retired police detective from Brighton, quickly became the fandom's number one suspect for the Secret Traitor role, and one X user has pointed out a rather cunning way the BBC show's producers may be hiding in plain sight.
BBC The Traitors: Amanda has emerged as a possible Secret Traitor candidate
|BBC
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Normally, when a contestant is speaking to the camera away from the group, their name, age, job title, and "Faithful" or "Traitor" status appear.
For Amanda, this wasn't the case, with "Retired Police Detective" taking up much of the graphic as she spoke to viewers.
Pointing this out, one social media user shared a snap of Amanda from the show and argued: "Notice the name strap (Aston/lower third) doesn’t say 'faithful' in this series, unlike previous. Clever change if they’re the Secret Traitor #Traitors #Traitorsuk."
Elsewhere, other X users put forward other clues to suggest Amanda is the one beneath the red cloak.
BBC The Traitors: Viewers are convinced it could be Amanda
|BBC
"Hear me out: Amanda said to Stephen, 'I don’t have the weight of being a traitor on my shoulders!' Suggesting she knows that he does!!! She’s my early prediction for Secret Traitor. @the_traitors_," a second commented.
Meanwhile, a third suggested alongside a photo of the Secret Traitor's shortlist: "This is unlikely to be a young person’s penmanship AND I doubt Claudia would pick 3/4 male traitors. The murder shortlist suggests a white contestant. Convinced the #secrettraitor is Fiona or Amanda #TheTraitors #TraitorsUK."
Another weighed in: "'I found baddies all my life now it's time to be one' there is NO WAY the secret traitor isn’t Amanda after she ate that line up and left no crumbs #TheTraitors."
A fifth concurred: "Here is who remains as a secret traitor, it's so obviously amanda or judy let's be honest #TheTraitors." (sic)
And a sixth added: "It’d be a crime, pun intended, if Amanda isn’t the secret Traitor. #TheTraitors."
However, there were some who weren't entirely convinced by the Amanda theory. "I think they are editing it like it’s Amanda but I deffo think the secret traitor is our queen Fiona #TheTraitors," one X user argued. (sic)
Ms Winkleman had built anticipation for the premiere by hinting at the dramatic changes ahead. "There's something new and what happens in this series is truly extraordinary, with moments that made me gasp," she revealed.
"I can't wait for people to see it. The producers have the greatest minds on Earth."
Mike Cotton, creative director at Studio Lambert, explained the thinking behind the bold addition. "Each series is like a murder mystery, we never change the core game, but we always play with the twists around it," he said.
"I think it'll be interesting to try and change the conversation slightly this season."