The return of The Traitors on BBC has delivered what might be its most tantalizing twist yet: a Secret Traitor whose identity remains hidden from both the contestants and the audience. Since its premiere on January 1, 2026, the fourth season has upended the familiar machinations of the show, adding a new dimension of suspense and intrigue that has fans and players alike scrambling for answers.
Host Claudia Winkleman, famed for her deadpan delivery and iconic fringe, introduced the twist at the very start: "The Secret Traitor will work alone. Each night they will provide you with a murder shortlist. You can only murder one of the people that is on the murder shortlist. You do not know who they are – but they know exactly who you are." According to BBC, this shift means the known Traitors—Hugo, Rachel, and Stephen—are no longer the sole masterminds. Instead, their power is checked by the mysterious fourth player, shrouded in a distinctive red cloak.
This new Secret Traitor knows everyone's true allegiance, yet remains immune from the nightly murders that thin the ranks of the Faithfuls. Their influence is significant: each night, the trio of known Traitors can only select their victim from a shortlist provided by the Secret Traitor. This not only curtails their options but also injects a fresh layer of paranoia into the castle, as the regular Traitors must now contend with an unknown adversary in their midst.
For viewers at home, the game has never been more interactive. As TechRadar points out, for the first time, fans are "playing along with the Faithful, trying to work out who is under the red cloak." The process of elimination is now front and center: anyone who appears on the murder shortlist is automatically ruled out as the Secret Traitor, since the rules forbid the Secret Traitor from being on their own list. Already, Netty, Maz, and James have been struck from the list of suspects after appearing on the first murder shortlist. As of episode two, sixteen contestants remain potential Secret Traitors.
The speculation, both among contestants and the show's passionate online following, has been feverish. According to The Tab, three main suspects have emerged: Sam, Judy, and Jade. Sam raised eyebrows with a slip-of-the-tongue after the first challenge, remarking that he was glad not to be up for murder because he wanted to stay "under the radar." As The Tab notes, "Faithfuls don’t usually have a ‘radar’ to stay under, they’re just trying to survive," suggesting Sam may have inadvertently revealed his role.
Judy, meanwhile, has been a lightning rod for suspicion inside the castle. She was not included on the murder shortlist—a key detail, since the Secret Traitor is immune from murder—and when accused directly by Max during a car ride, she simply responded, "What will be will be." This non-denial, coupled with her earlier wish to "go to the dark side" in a pre-game interview, has put her squarely in the crosshairs. The Independent highlights Judy's own words: "Because I’m so bubbly and jolly in the work I do, I think, let me go to the dark side." Her behavior has only fueled speculation, though as of the latest episode, Judy has been banished, removing her from contention.
Jade is another name on everyone’s lips. Viewers and contestants alike noticed a marked change in her demeanor after the Traitors were chosen—she appeared "absolutely terrified" and avoided eye contact, a sharp contrast to her earlier confidence. The Tab and The Independent both note that Jade did not receive a video testimonial after the roundtable, possibly a deliberate move by producers to keep the Secret Traitor’s identity under wraps.
But the list of suspects doesn’t end there. Amanda, a retired detective, has also caught attention for her calm, collected manner and her statement to Winkleman: "I’ve found baddies all my life. Now it’s time to be one." Ross, who has a secretive past with Netty (one of the first murder shortlist victims), and Fiona, who may be feigning confusion, are also in the mix. As The Independent reports, "Amanda said it would be 'amazing' to be a Traitor," and Ross’s reluctance to discuss his connection with Netty has raised eyebrows.
Of course, the internet has its own theories. Some fans have even floated the outlandish idea that host Claudia Winkleman herself could be the Secret Traitor. As The Independent wryly notes, this would make the regular Traitors’ job "essentially impossible," but it’s a testament to the show’s ability to keep everyone guessing.
One of the most intriguing clues so far is a simple misspelling: the name 'Netty' was written as 'Nettie' on the murder shortlist. As The Tab and BBC both report, eagle-eyed fans have seized on this detail, speculating that handwriting analysis or attention to spelling at the roundtable could unmask the Secret Traitor. The Independent adds, "The neat, cursive style is quite recognisable and could easily lead us to the Secret Traitor at the banishment. Unless they’ve been smart enough to disguise their regular writing, of course."
TechRadar’s Jasmine, after much deliberation, suggests Roxy as a strong candidate. Roxy’s relative lack of screentime, her status as Judy’s adoptive daughter, and her penchant for revealing secrets could make her an ideal Secret Traitor, especially if the producers wanted to throw the regular Traitors off the scent. Jasmine writes, "She’s a woman with secrets. Not only this, but she fits the profile of a Secret Traitor more broadly."
The show’s new dynamic has also raised questions about what happens if the Secret Traitor is banished early. Would the producers appoint a new Secret Traitor, or would the game revert to its previous format? The Independent asks, "Will they simply state 'I’m a Traitor' as they leave the round table, or reveal the extent of their role to the whole group?" These uncertainties only add to the tension, both for those inside the castle and for the millions watching at home.
As of the second episode, the field of suspects remains wide open. Sixteen contestants—Adam, Amanda, Ellie, Faraaz, Fiona, Harriet, Hugo, Jack, Jade, Jessie, Matthew, Reece, Ross, Roxy, Sam, and Stephen—are still in the running, and the clues continue to mount. With each new murder shortlist, the net tightens, but as the BBC points out, "the process of elimination is now front and center." Viewers are encouraged to scrutinize every interaction, every slip of the tongue, and every handwritten note for the smallest hint of betrayal.
One thing is certain: the addition of the Secret Traitor has reinvigorated The Traitors, making this season the most unpredictable yet. With the lines between Faithful and Traitor more blurred than ever, and with even the regular Traitors kept in the dark, the game has become a true battle of wits—one where only the most cunning (and perhaps the most observant) will prevail.
