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As it happenedended

The Traitors LIVE: Claudia Winkleman chooses initial Traitors as players taken on first mission

The BBC’s hit show is back on our screens tonight

Isobel Lewis
Thursday 04 January 2024 15:27 EST
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First look at The Traitors contestants ahead of series two

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The Traitors, the BBC’s hit reality show where deception and lying could win you big money, is back on our screens.

The Bafta-winning show returns tonight (3 January), with 22 new contestants setting up camp in a Scottish castle, where they’re secretly split into “Traitors” and “Faithfuls”.

The “Traitors” are aiming to get to the end of the game undetected, while the “Faithfuls” are trying to catch them. For those left standing at the end, there is their share of the up to £120,000 prize pot.

You can meet the class of 2024 – including an insurance broker, a photographer, and a clairvoyant – here.

Claudia Winkleman is back at the show’s helm, with the series two trailer promising an even more explosive second series.

Follow along for updates from tonight’s first episode...

TWIST KLAXON! This year, during the missions, there will be shields up for grab which will protect the holder from being murdered (although not from being banished).

“What’s more important? Your money or your life?” Claudia asks. Good question – a shield might save you, but it doesn’t exactly scream team player...

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 21:46

Claudia’s getting mad, and screaming: “You need to get the pieces faster” as the teams struggle to row to get the pieces.

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 21:50

Kyra, Jaz and Harry have gone for the shields, meaning they can’t be murdered tonight.

Interesting move from Harry; in theory it suggests he’s a Faithful (which he isn’t), but will it pay off?

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 21:53

“Shambles” seems to be the right word for this mission.

Or, as Claudia puts it: “I shouldn’t get this angry.”

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 21:54

But they made it! If only with 11 seconds to spare.

“If you can’t work as a team, how on Earth are you going to catch a Traitor?” Clauds says. Fair point.

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 21:55

And we still don’t know who the final Traitor is!

Based on the Traitors’ chat earlier, its either Andrew, Diane, Miles or Sonja.

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 21:58

Everyone seems to be fixating on an ill thought-out comment by Zack that he’s going to be sleeping well tonight.

Oops Zack – that might just get you murdered...

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 22:01

The clock chimes. “The murdering hour is upon us,” Claudia says.

The fourth Traitor is about to be revealed, and the group will work together to kill their first victim.

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 22:02

The last Traitor is being inducted by Claudia. What’s the chance we don’t find out who it is this episode? The Traitors does love a cliffhanger...

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 22:04

Called it! That’s the episode done! Anyone else exhausted?

Isobel Lewis3 January 2024 22:05

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