The Traitors: some of the most addictive, electrifying TV in years

‘The players’ emotional investment, relative to that, say, on Love Island, is striking’ … Harry in The Traitors series two. Photograph: Mark Mainz/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA

Last year, having received a series of notices telling me to renew my TV licence or face dire consequences (so dire the letter used bold and red lettering), I decided to save myself the £159: I formally declared that I wouldn’t watch any free-to-air television.

This did not seem like much of a sacrifice. I’ve never been one to channel surf or plonk myself down and “see what’s on”, and I don’t own a television.