Traitors UK Finale Reveals Secrets Behind Strategy And Style

The fourth season of The Traitors UK wrapped up last week, but the drama and intrigue haven’t faded from public conversation. Instead, the show’s dazzling blend of strategy, suspicion, and style has kept fans buzzing—especially about the contestants’ eye-catching wardrobes and the clever tactics woven into their gameplay. With the finale still fresh, new revelations from the cast have offered a rare peek behind the curtain, exposing the calculated moves and personal stories that shaped one of reality TV’s most memorable seasons.

Stephen, who ultimately walked away with half of the £95,750 prize fund, became an instant fan favorite—not just for his knack for deception, but for his flamboyant and ever-changing outfits. According to a candid interview on the companion show Uncloaked, Stephen’s bold fashion wasn’t just a matter of personal taste. “Before going into the castle I knew I’ve got a very red face,” he admitted, referencing a tendency to become flushed during tense moments. His partner had bluntly asked, “what the hell are you doing to do about your face in there?” The solution? Outfits so attention-grabbing that, as Stephen put it, “maybe they won’t notice the neck up.” His hope was that fellow contestants would be so dazzled by his clothes that they’d overlook the telltale signs of stress or guilt on his face. “I just thought if I wear clothes that are a bit flamboyant and loud then maybe they will just be going, ‘Oh Stephen, you look really great today’ rather than looking [at my face] going, ‘You’re a traitor’.”

It was a gamble that paid off. As BBC reports, Stephen’s strategy helped him blend in and deflect suspicion, ultimately allowing him to outwit the Faithfuls and secure his share of the winnings alongside fellow Traitor Rachel. “It was all tactics, and I love that kind of fashion as well, but I think it did help distract a bit,” Stephen concluded. Since the finale aired, he’s even shared his thoughts on some of his most memorable outfits in a social video for the broadcaster.

But Stephen wasn’t the only contestant making a statement with their wardrobe. On January 27, 2026, The Tab published an in-depth ranking of the season’s priciest and most outrageous outfits, revealing that the regular players gave host Claudia Winkleman a run for her money in the style stakes. Jade, another standout cast member, wore a House of Sunny Cherry Tripper Knit Cardigan worth £146 in episode nine, while Matthew sported a Lupetto Neck Jumper from Shetland Woollen Company costing £195. Rachel, who shared the winner’s circle with Stephen, donned a pink cardigan from Hope Macaulay valued at £340 during the tense morning of the final. Harriet made her mark with a dramatic “phoenix” Hokusai silk scarf priced at €159 (about £138.05) and an Essentiel Antwerp Hecks Oversized Jacket at £340, both turning heads in the castle and in promotional photos.

Yet, the real showstoppers were Stephen’s designer jumpsuits from Palomo Spain’s Tiburón autumn and winter 2022 collection. He wore a striking blue version mid-series and a black-and-white number for the finale—pieces so coveted that even Harry Styles had donned a custom variant at a major music event. The price? A comparable Palomo Spain ensemble once retailed for €990 (£858), though Stephen’s black jumpsuit was spotted on sale in February 2023 for €490 (£426.50). The crown for most expensive outfit, however, went to Jade’s Blackwatch Wallace Kilt by Siobhan Mackenzie, which cost a staggering £565. According to The Tab, this kilt—sent over by the designer herself—epitomized the season’s blend of theatricality and luxury.

Beyond the glitz, the season’s gameplay proved just as compelling, especially through the lens of Jade Scott’s journey. As recounted in The Guardian, Jade stood out for her quiet resolve amid relentless suspicion. A lifelong gamer, Jade’s background in strategy and social deduction titles—from Minecraft and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to Project Winter and Dale & Dawson Stationery Supplies—gave her an edge in navigating the show’s intricate mind games. “Minecraft was my way in, when I was 15,” she shared, before explaining how her interest in more complex, adversarial games honed her ability to read others and defend herself under pressure.

Jade approached The Traitors with a deliberate plan: play as a Faithful, the role she believed offered the toughest challenge. “My opinion has changed on this since leaving the castle, but I always thought the game was way harder for the faithfuls and I like playing games on a harder setting,” she said. Her strategy? To immediately attract suspicion, reasoning that being on the radar would make her less likely to be ‘murdered’ by the Traitors. The result, however, was more suspicion than she bargained for. “With gaming, you sit behind a screen, and communicating via Discord, so you just start talking and build friendly relationships with people, but with The Traitors, you have nothing to hide behind.”

To keep track of the shifting alliances and accusations, Jade relied on a meticulous note-taking system. She used a traffic light method—green for likely Faithfuls, red for suspected Traitors—and even mapped out relationships between contestants, detective-style. “I’ve alluded to this previously, but I’d stare and stare at that page and the only contestants I hadn’t drawn lines between were Rachel and Stephen,” she recalled. Despite her efforts, the pressure of live interaction proved a different beast compared to online gaming. “I was quite good at defending myself at the roundtable… a lot of that came out of the practice I got with social deception games.”

Since leaving the castle, Jade has stepped away from social deduction games, opting instead for puzzle adventures like Outer Wilds and Blue Prince. She’s also found that her time on the show helped prepare her for academic challenges—currently pursuing a PhD, Jade credits The Traitors with helping her face the daunting viva (thesis defense) with newfound confidence. “Well, I’ve really learned how to defend myself and argue a point!” she said.

Meanwhile, the afterglow of victory hasn’t yet translated into cold, hard cash for Stephen. As of January 27, 2026, he revealed he hadn’t received any of his winnings, while Rachel, his co-winner, has shared plans for the prize money she kept under wraps during filming. Fans eager for more deception and drama won’t have to wait long: the celebrity edition of The Traitors returns later this year, and applications are already open for the show’s fifth regular season.

With its blend of sharp strategy, personal stories, and sartorial spectacle, The Traitors UK continues to captivate audiences—and if this season’s revelations are any indication, the game is only getting richer, both in intrigue and in style.