The third series of The Traitors kicked off on Wednesday night in the Scottish Highlands, but a major twist during the premiere left fans feeling that they already knew the outcome of the show, with many calling the change “unfair.”
The competition, which takes place at a castle in the Scottish Highlands, follows 25 strangers as they compete for a £120,000 prize. While most contestants are Faithfuls, some are secretly chosen as Traitors and tasked with eliminating their fellow players without detection. The Faithfuls must then figure out who the Traitors are during tense voting sessions.
However, this year, host Claudia Winkleman revealed a huge shake-up to the show’s ending format, one that left fans divided. Traditionally, eliminated contestants reveal their identities — whether they are Faithfuls or Traitors — once they’ve been voted out. But this time, Winkleman explained, the eliminated contestants will no longer disclose their roles immediately.
Instead, the final group of players will need to rely solely on their instincts to determine if any Traitors remain in the game. Winkleman teased, “At the end, I will thank somebody for taking part, and they can just walk out.” This unexpected change led some fans to believe that the Traitors were at a distinct advantage, with several viewers expressing their dissatisfaction on social media.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “As if the game wasn’t massively stacked towards the #TheTraitors, they have made it easier for them to win now,” while another complained: “The odds are already so heavily stacked against the Faithfuls, this plot twist is going to make it impossible for them to win.”
Others voiced their frustration over what they perceived as an unfair twist: “Why is it literally built for the Traitors to win? This feels kinda unfair,” one fan posted. However, some viewers were more optimistic about the Faithfuls’ chances, with one person writing: “Hmmmmm. Think the Faithfuls are gonna win this series.”
The twist even sparked discussions around the gender dynamics within the game, with one fan pointing out, “All women Traitors?? Oh, we are so back. A woman will win this year.”
As The Traitors progresses, the shake-up has clearly ignited a passionate debate among viewers, with some convinced they already know how the series will play out. The show airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
