Fiona Unmasked as the Secret Traitor on BBC’s “The Traitors”
Spoiler alert: This article reveals the identity of the secret traitor and contains details of the latest series of The Traitors.
The latest episode of the hit BBC One series, The Traitors, delivered a shocking twist as Fiona was revealed to be the “secret traitor,” joining Stephen and Rachel in the castle turret. The uncloaking of the secret traitor, distinguished by a striking red cloak – a departure from the traditional green worn by confirmed traitors – dramatically shifted the power dynamics of the game.
Fiona had been operating undetected since being selected by presenter Claudia Winkleman at the start of the series. She was granted unique powers, including the ability to influence the shortlist of players targeted for elimination by the other traitors. Her reveal follows the banishment of Hugo last week, voted out at the round table.
The episode also saw a personal drama unfold as psychologist Ellie revealed her romantic relationship with recently banished contestant Ross. Ellie, who has yet to disclose the relationship to her fellow players, told the camera she intends to “avenge his death.” Ross, a sales assistant, admitted during his exit interview that he had suspected Ellie of being a traitor. “Ellie was my safe space in the game,” he said, “However, I thought she was a traitor because every time we had a moment together she would not speak to me.”
The dramatic reveal occurred at the beginning of Wednesday’s episode, with Fiona dramatically lifting the hood of her red cloak and declaring to Stephen and Rachel, “I was wonderful, wasn’t I?” Her co-conspirators readily agreed, acknowledging her successful deception. “Hollywood is beckoning. I can feel it,” Fiona quipped, clearly relishing her role.
This season introduced a new twist to the format: the inclusion of a secret fourth traitor whose identity was initially concealed from both the contestants and the viewing audience. This anonymity allowed viewers at home to actively participate in the game, attempting to identify the traitor themselves. Flashbacks revealed Winkleman appointing Fiona, to which she responded, “I will do my best to be as treacherous as possible,” adding that she felt “drunk on power.”
The 62-year-old local government officer expressed delight at finally joining her fellow traitors, stating, “If the devil could have cast his net, he couldn’t have picked a better three.” However, analysts suggest that integrating Fiona into the existing traitor alliance may prove challenging, potentially increasing their vulnerability.
Rachel has already voiced concerns that Fiona might “ruffle a few feathers,” particularly given her role in voting out Hugo. Fiona, seemingly unfazed, retorted to a shocked Rachel, “He had to go. I have basically done your job for you these last few nights.”
Prior to Fiona’s uncloaking, the traitors were presented with a clandestine task: to shortlist potential “murder” targets by applying a blood-colored fingerprint to nine contestants on a group portrait, without being detected. After Rachel successfully completed the task, the reveal of the secret traitor was confirmed for the subsequent episode. Stephen and Rachel had previously agreed to a pact not to betray each other at the round table.
Former traitor Hugo expressed his dissatisfaction with the secret traitor twist, jokingly stating, “I do not require middle management.” He highlighted that the secret traitor, possessing knowledge of all players’ allegiances, disrupted the established dynamic and diminished the control of the other traitors.
The launch episode of The Traitors captivated audiences, drawing an average of 6.4 million viewers on New Year’s Day, with subsequent episodes averaging 5.8 million. These figures are expected to rise as viewers catch up on the series via streaming platforms like iPlayer. The celebrity spin-off, featuring Alan Carr and Sir Stephen Fry, proved immensely popular last autumn, attracting over 15 million viewers. .
