Claudia Winkleman teases ‘brutal’ new BBC Traitors series as red cloak twist sparks fan speculation

"I can't wait for people to see it. The producers have the greatest minds on Earth," Winkleman told the broadcaster.

Twenty-two fresh contestants will descend upon a Scottish Highlands castle for the psychological game of deception, with a prize pot of up to £120,000 at stake.

The new series follows the hugely successful celebrity edition, which saw comedian Alan Carr triumph as an unlikely Traitor, winning £87,500 for charity in a finale that drew 11.1 million viewers.

Executive producers Mike Cotton and Sarah Fay have warned that this series will push contestants harder than any previous edition.

"What I would say about this season is that we test our Traitors harder than ever, we push them really hard," Ms Cotton explained.

"Also the Faithful as well, it becomes quite brutal. Some of the gameplay, as we go through the series, is brilliant."

Ms Winkleman noted a marked difference from the celebrity version, where famous contestants were notably polite during roundtable discussions.

"After the celebrity one, they were adorable but they were like, at the round table, 'no, no, after you'. That's not how this one goes," she said.

The presenter added that the civilian players approach the game with greater intensity: "It gets very heated. We get some very juicy roundtables."

A festive teaser released on Christmas Day has fuelled intense speculation among fans after revealing a figure wearing a red cloak, a striking departure from the programme's signature green Traitor attire.

Viewers have been theorising about what this new garment might signify, with some suggesting it could represent an entirely new category of Traitor with unique powers.

One fan speculated on social media that the red-cloaked figure might be "a secret traitor role" working against both Traitors and Faithfuls, potentially claiming the entire prize if they survive until the end.

In the preview clip, Ms Winkleman can be heard declaring: "It's a little bit different this year."

The presenter has remained tight-lipped about specifics, admitting: "I'd really love to but I'd get into enormous trouble."

Ms Winkleman has shed light on the nerve-racking process of selecting which contestants will become Traitors at the start of each series.

"I interview all the players and some are absolutely desperate to be faithful. Anyone who convinces me otherwise is in contention," she explained.

The final decision involves retreating to a private room with senior producers. "I then go into a small room with the bosses and an enormous tin of biscuits and we pick," she revealed.

Despite knowing outcomes months in advance, the presenter maintains absolute secrecy with her loved ones.

"Genuinely I'd lose my job. Plus, there's no fun in knowing," she said. "When Alan won my husband and youngest son couldn't stop screaming and crying and shouting, 'but you knew'."

The BBC has pledged that viewers can expect "even more twists, turns, secrets, epic missions, deception, banishments and, of course, murders aplenty" in the forthcoming series.

All 22 contestants will arrive at the castle unscathed in the opening episode, unlike previous series where some players were eliminated before even entering the building.

Ms Cotton noted that this should not be mistaken for a gentler approach: "This is definitely not a kinder series."