The Traitors has returned with a monumental bang – and the surprises are coming in thick and fast as Fiona threw Rachel royally under the bus.
The wily Welsh contestant, who successfully worked as a secret Traitor for the initial episodes of the series, left us all flabbergasted for a second time after she called a contestant meeting in the kitchen and declared, “I think Rachel is a Traitor,” despite being one herself.
The hullabaloo began when Amanda was banished after a dramatic tie-break roundtable, having confided in Rachel earlier that day that she was, in fact, a police officer. When Rachel shared this news with the rest of the castle, Fiona immediately accused her of lying.
Seemingly, the 62-year-old resented how much power Rachel was wielding among the Faithfuls, telling the cameras she didn’t feel her nemesis was a “team player” and had never defended her or Stephen. So, naturally, she got her revenge in a monumental public showdown.
“You’ve got a fight on your hands,” Fiona warned Rachel as she sashayed towards the turret ready to deliberate over who to take down next. Could this be the first time Claudia Winkleman has to break up a scrap?
The Traitors continues on BBC One at 8pm on Friday (9 January).
The Traitors
- Fiona wages war on fellow Traitor Rachel: 'I feel like I've been played'
- Amanda becomes latest Faithful banished from the castle
- Reece breaks down in tears during dramatic roundtable tie-break
- Maz is murdered by Traitors in face-to-face killing
And there's plenty more drama to come...
06:00 , Lydia Spencer-Elliott
All the theories about secret links between the Traitors players
Was that one of the best episodes of Traitors ever?
05:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThe recklessness. The gall. The mutiny.
Go on, just one more re-watch:
With all of the other drama, we’ve barely mourned Maz. So, here’s his final scene, where he too realised he’d been betrayed by Fiona...
Hang it in the Louvre
03:00 , Lydia Spencer-Elliott
So, Stephen is safe...for now
02:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottAt one point today it really looked like Stephen was about to bite the dust after seriously putting his foot in it at breakfast.
But thanks to Fiona’s cataclysmic curveball he lives to fight another day... and viewers on social media are buzzing.
Stephen safe for a little longer because of the other two’s random beef #thetraitors pic.twitter.com/z0udwAx98n
— ۟ (@lesbiunny) January 8, 2026
Oh and in case you missed Stephen’s reaction to the verbal fisticuffs before he fled the room...
His entire life just flashed before his eyes fr 😂 get us to the turret #TheTraitors pic.twitter.com/X5Pv8fRzWa
— Bon 🧚♀️ (@BurningSunBon) January 8, 2026
Someone ring the Academy Awards
00:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottShould win every Oscar, BAFTA and Nobel Prize.
— SHANE REACTION (@imshanereaction) January 8, 2026
Possibly the best moment I've ever seen on television.
Haven't breathed since.#thetraitors pic.twitter.com/aXUNR0Du5c
Maz says Fiona's play was 'fantastic'
23:00 , Lydia Spencer-Elliott“I think she took is personally,” our rational king reflects. “She thought ‘how dare Amanda tell Rachel and not me’.
“Under all that show she wants control. Letting Rachel know, took some control away from her. I would have loved it.”
Let's take a look back at the pandemonium
22:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottSo, just to recap
21:29 , Lydia Spencer-Elliott(In case your head is spinning)
- Maz was murdered
- Amanda confessed she was a detective to Rachel
- There was a roundtable tie-break between Amanda and Reece
- Chests of chance decided Amanda was banished
- Reece burst into tears
- Rachel told everyone Amanda was actually a detective
- Fiona fumed and declared Rachel was a Traitor
- All hell broke loose
Just a light episode!
What an episode
21:06 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottAnd we’ve only got 24 hours to recover. The next episode of Traitors airs tomorrow at 8pm. Brace for impact.
Fiona after accusing Rachel of lying: #TheTraitors pic.twitter.com/DLfavlVz3G
— Dominic Beesley (@Dommeister) January 8, 2026
Oh my god
21:02 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottFiona has just brought everyone into the kitchen and said she believes Rachel is a Traitor. Stephen is shaking and so am I.
'I feel I've been played. I don't like that'
20:58 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottHandbags and cloaks at dawn !! What is going to go down in the turret tonight !!
Rachel is telling everyone Amanda was a detective
20:57 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThis is (evil) genius. Now everyone is going to believe Jade is a Traitor.
Fiona is seeing right through it. “I’m not sure what narrative Rachel is peddling,” the Welsh queen tells the cameras.
“I think Rachel is lying.” Here we go.
Amanda is going home !
20:53 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottReece got the shield in his chest so the DI is banished from the castle.
“My house is your house,” she told the other contestants. “Take care of yourselves.” Apart from Jade, probs.
Reece has burst into tears
20:51 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottBless him. It’s all getting too much.
Another draw, here we go again...
20:50 , Lydia Spencer-Elliott7-7 between Reece and Amanda. So, it’s down to fate. Meaning the chests are coming out...
Stephen off the hook is a SHOCK
20:46 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottHOW IS STEPHEN GETTING AWAY WITH THIS #TheTraitors pic.twitter.com/Rj9U03aaA4
— Max Branning apologist (@shxda_) January 8, 2026
We have a draw!
20:45 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottAmanda and Reece have five votes each. They’re making one final plea each. Then we’ll have another vote.
After that, it’s down to chance. It’s like the celeb series all over again.
Queen Fiona is deflecting attention onto Reece
20:41 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottShe’s also putting it out there that Amanda accusing Sam and Jade at once could mean she’s up to something.
This woman’s a genius. Voting time.
Sam is also catching strays from Amanda
20:39 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottTbf, he isn’t a Traitor but he’s got the evil grin of one.
Amanda is pointing the finger at Jade (again)
20:38 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottShe’s fuming, obv. These two need their own spin off show.
AMANDA HAS CONFESSED SHE'S A POLICE DETECTIVE
20:32 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottTHIS IS NOT A DRILL. RACHEL IS FREAKING THE HELL OUT.
Harriet was not enjoying that rain
20:31 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottMe when the forced me to play tag rugby in the rain during PE #TheTraitors pic.twitter.com/FFP3pnnIie
— Liz¹² 💜SEEING EVandPOPPY💜 (@eloonabeth) January 8, 2026
Nine beasts are ablaze
20:29 , Lydia Spencer-Elliott£9,000 has now been added into the prize pot. Traitors left without protection are that mission are:
- Sam
- Reece
- Jade
- Amanda
- Faraaz
- Fiona
- Ellie
- Stephen
- Matthew
Paranoia is FLYING in the cars back to the castle.
Matthew has sacrificed Sam
20:25 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThis is BRUTAL. “£1,000 added to the pot. And Sam might die,” Claudia yelled (with glee).
Jade has now set Amanda on fire. (Called it). Reece and Jade also up in flames.
Betrayal is imminent
20:22 , Lydia Spencer-Elliott£10,000 is up for grabs in this challenge by setting a series of creepy effigies on fire.
Problem is, every time one goes up, contestants have to pick someone’s name to yell out and they’ll no longer be protected from murder.
Why do I feel like Amanda is sacrificing Jade...
Sheep chic
20:20 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottClaudia’s outfit is a 10/10, as always.
It's time for another mission
20:19 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottAll the contestants are dressed in black tracksuits and heading into the countryside to win more money for the prize pot.
Suspicions are lingering over Stephen and Reece. So, all eyes will be on them while they attempt to stash some cash...
Maz has been murdered!
20:11 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottCouldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. RIP.
Fiona and Rachel's feud continues
20:10 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottFiona has just accused Rachel of not being a team player AGAIN. These guys are so betraying each other at the earliest opportunity.
Uh oh
20:09 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottAmanda is putting all her attention on Stephen’s every word and he is crumbling under the pressure.
He just implied Reece was let out of the cage last. If Reece returns, Stephen is going to have a tough time at the round table.
Icon alert
20:07 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottFiona has told cameras that killing either Reece or Maz last night was “wicked” and is now offering everyone an innocent cup of tea.
She’s giving Alan Carr.
Here we go...
20:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottTime to find out whether Sam, Rhys or Maz got the chop in the dead of night.
My money is on Sam...
A reminder of this year's Traitors contestants
19:30 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThere are SO many of them. 17 remaining, to be exact. Here’s a handy guide to help you brush up on who’s who before it all kicks off again for another episode in thirty minute’s time...
Meet the Traitors 2026 contestants, from a former detective to a crime writer
The Traitors's troubling cliché
19:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottYet again, minority ethnic players are being booted off in the early stages of the show.
Micha Frazer-Carroll looks at why this is becoming a bleakly predictable pattern:
Even reality TV as brilliant as The Traitors can’t escape this troubling cliche
Where is the Traitors filmed?
18:30 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottAll you need to know about the gothic castle...
Inside the Traitors castle: A wedding venue once owned by an opium trader
Let's take a look back at Claudia Winkleman’s best outfits
17:30 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThe best dressed woman on prime time. End of.
A look back at Claudia Winkleman’s best outfits on The Traitors
Stephen could be the next Traitor to be banished
16:30 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottStephen knew he cocked up the moment he was placed in that cage last night. The Faithfuls immediately clocked that a Traitor was among the contestants at risk of murder and all the clues seem to lead back to him.
Let’s be honest, he hasn’t exactly been subtle...
Who has left The Traitors so far?
16:01 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottSo much has happened on the show’s first few episode that you’d be forgiven if your head is still spinning and struggling to keep up.
In the first four episodes, here’s who we’ve lost:
- Netty, Faithful, murdered, episode 2
- Judy, Faithful, banished, episode 2
- Ben, Faithful, murdered, episode 3
- Hugo, Traitor, banished, episode 3
- Ross, Faithful, banished, episode 4
And one more Faithful will be murdered tonight...
Fancy heading to the Traitors castle yourself?
15:30 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottSadly, Ardross Castle isn’t available for getaways but these regal hotels offer a Traitors-esque experience — complete with turret rooms and four-poster beds:
Traitors icon backs shock contestant for victory
15:10 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThe Traitors star Amanda Lovett has given her verdict on this year’s series, revealing her unexpected pick for victory...Stephen.
Considering how clumsily he’s been playing the game in recent episodes this come as somewhat of a shock.
Read the reason for Amanda’s rationale here:
Traitors icon backs shock contestant for victory: ‘Don’t underestimate them’
Why Claudia Winkleman is at the riskiest point in her career
15:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottClaudia might have us all eating out of the palm of her knitted glove-clad hand right now, but The Independent’s Helen Coffey thinks The Traitors presenter is at the most precarious point of her professional life. Here’s why...
Why Claudia Winkleman is at the riskiest point of her career
Has another secret connection been revealed?
14:30 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThe Traitors fans have come up with a new theory regarding contestants Maz and Amanda.
Maz, formerly referenced to as a “civil servant” revealed he used to have a job in the police...just like former detective Amanda. Hmmm.
Read the full story below:
The Traitors viewers think another contestant just revealed a surprise connection
Who's at risk of being murdered tonight?
14:00 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottSam, Rhys and Maz are currently at risk of being murdered by the Traitors as they’re sat in the woods in cages waiting to find out if they’ve been killed. Bleak.
Stephen isn’t up for murder as he’s a Traitor but he has dealt himself a dicey hand as he can’t confer with Rachel and Fiona and will have a suspicious survival.
My gut tells me Sam is on the chopping block...
Tensions are brewing between Rachel and Fiona
13:30 , Lydia Spencer-ElliottThings appear a little taut between Traitor Rachel and former Secret Traitor Fiona. The former has already accused the latter of “stirring the pot” and predicted she’s going to “ruffle some feathers”.
“She’s so unpredictable and I’m watching her,” Rachel told the cameras. “I think she is very dangerous for my game.”
It’s hinting towards some more Traitor on Traitor violence. But why do I feel like Fiona is going to have the last laugh?...
The Traitors breakfast room – uncloaked!
Wednesday 7 January 2026 17:45 , Jacob StolworthyGuests at Ardross castle, where The Traitors is filmed, have shared photos of the breakfast room º and this is what it looks like without its giant L table setup.
The Traitors castle guests reveal what the breakfast room really looks like! pic.twitter.com/gWHBKeHnxE
— The Traitors HQ (@the_traitors_) January 4, 2026
