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The latest installment of The Traitors has revealed the identity of the “secret traitor,” with Fiona joining Stephen and Rachel within the castle’s strategic turret.
This covert operative, distinguished by a red cloak, had been subtly influencing events since presenter Claudia Winkleman’s initial selection in the BBC One series’ premiere.
Endowed with unique powers, including curating the list of potential “murder” victims for the other traitors, her unveiling follows last week’s banishment of Hugo, who was ousted during the round table deliberation.
Wednesday’s episode also featured a revelation from psychologist Ellie, who disclosed her romantic relationship with Ross, the third player to be banished from the game.
Ellie has yet to share this information with her fellow contestants, expressing to the camera, “What I’ve got to do now is avenge his death.”
During his post-banishment interview, sales assistant Ross admitted to harboring suspicions that his girlfriend might be a traitor.
“Ellie was my safe space in the game,” he stated. “However, I thought she was a traitor because every time we had a moment together she would not speak to me.”
Fiona’s identity was revealed at the episode’s outset as she removed the hood of her red cloak, turning to Stephen and Rachel and proclaiming, “I was wonderful, wasn’t I?”
Her co-conspirators affirmed her successful deception of the other players as she disclosed her role in the turret.
“Hollywood is beckoning. I can feel it,” she remarked.
For the first time since the show’s debut in 2022, viewers were intentionally kept unaware of a fourth traitor’s identity as part of a newly implemented twist.
This anonymity allowed the audience to participate in the game by attempting to identify the traitor, mirroring the challenges faced by the “faithful” contestants.
Flashbacks from previous episodes showed Winkleman appointing Fiona, who responded, “I will do my best to be as treacherous as possible,” adding she was “drunk on power.”
The 62-year-old local government officer expressed her delight at finally meeting her fellow traitors after four episodes.
“If the devil could have cast his net, he couldn’t have picked a better three,” she commented.
However, integrating with the existing traitors may present challenges and potentially jeopardize her position.
Rachel has already voiced concerns that Fiona could “ruffle a few feathers,” particularly given her role in voting out Hugo in Friday’s episode.
“He had to go. I have basically done your job for you these last few nights,” Fiona stated to a surprised Rachel.
At the conclusion of Friday’s episode, the traitors were presented with an opportunity to unmask the secret traitor by completing a clandestine assignment.
Rachel and Stephen were tasked with marking nine contestants on a group portrait with a blood-colored fingerprint, thereby shortlisting them for potential “murder,” all while avoiding detection.
Following Rachel’s successful completion of the task, it was confirmed that the secret traitor’s identity would be revealed in the subsequent episode.
Prior to Wednesday’s uncloaking, Stephen and Rachel had established a pact to refrain from voting for each other during future round table banishments.
After the announcement on Friday that the secret traitor’s identity would be disclosed, some viewers expressed surprise at the relatively early reveal.
Producers had not previously specified the duration of the secret traitor’s anonymity.
However, some viewers have speculated on social media that Hugo’s unexpected banishment might have accelerated the timing of the secret traitor’s reveal.
The existence of the secret traitor was met with resistance from the other traitors, with Hugo famously remarking that he “does not require middle management.”
As the only player privy to every contestant’s true allegiance, the secret traitor altered the game’s dynamics and diminished the control of the other traitors.
The premiere episode of The Traitors garnered an average audience of 6.4 million viewers on New Year’s Day, according to overnight data, with subsequent episodes attracting 5.8 million viewers each.
However, these figures are expected to increase significantly once viewership from platforms like iPlayer is factored in.
A celebrity edition featuring Alan Carr and Sir Stephen Fry achieved considerable success last autumn, amassing over 15 million viewers.
The latest word-of-mouth hit arrives in the UK after setting pulses racing across the Atlantic.
The Warner Bros board said it remained unanimous in recommending the deal with Netflix instead.
The actress came second in the BBC’s 2008 search to find an actress to play Nancy in Oliver Twist.
People are invited to a drop-in event on 14 January to learn more.
The worlds of Hollyoaks and Brookside will collide once again as two familiar faces join the cast.
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