The Traitors has delivered its most dramatic moment yet as the secret traitor was finally revealed on BBC One on 7 January 2026, with Fiona emerging from behind a red cloak to join Stephen and Rachel in the castle turret, reshaping the BBC series and launching a new phase of deception inside the game; reported by The WP Times, citing BBC.
The unmasking took place in episode five of The Traitors 2026, broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday 7 January at 9pm GMT and now available on BBC iPlayer. Fiona, a 62-year-old local government officer from Swansea, had been secretly selected by Claudia Winkleman in the opening episode but remained invisible to both the players and the audience for four episodes — a deliberate break from the format used since the show launched in 2022.
In previous seasons, viewers always knew who the traitors were, creating dramatic irony as innocent players unknowingly trusted their enemies. This year, however, producers removed that safety net. By hiding the identity of one traitor, the BBC forced the audience to share the same uncertainty as the faithful contestants, turning millions of viewers into active participants in the psychological game.
Fiona’s role was not symbolic. While operating undercover, she was given direct strategic power, including the right to compile the shortlist of players that the traitors were allowed to murder. That authority allowed her to influence the course of eliminations without attracting suspicion.
Her influence became clear when Hugo, one of the original traitors, was banished at the round table in the previous episode — a move Fiona had quietly supported while remaining hidden. When she finally revealed herself, she did so with confidence, telling Stephen and Rachel that she had successfully deceived the entire castle.
Her arrival immediately destabilised the traitor group. Rachel, who had previously worked closely with Hugo, reacted with visible shock when Fiona confirmed her role in his removal. Rachel later admitted she was “nervous” that Fiona could disrupt the internal balance of the alliance, particularly because she had already shown she was willing to sacrifice her own side.
Alongside the strategic shock, the episode also delivered one of the most emotionally charged moments of the season.
Ellie, a psychologist competing in the game, disclosed to viewers that she had been in a relationship with Ross, the London-based sales executive and personal trainer who was recently banished. The other contestants remain unaware of their connection.
Ellie said she now intended to avenge Ross’s exit from the game. Ross, in his departure interview, said he had begun to suspect Ellie of being a traitor because she became emotionally distant from him inside the castle. The collision of real-world relationships and deception has become a defining feature of the 2026 series. Online fans have focused on a large family tree displayed inside the castle, which has fuelled speculation that more contestants may be secretly connected.
Two hidden relationships have already been confirmed: Ross and Ellie’s past relationship, and the revelation that Judy is the adoptive mother of Roxy. Latin inscriptions on the family tree warn that betrayal is most dangerous when it comes from those closest to you, reinforcing theories that further secrets are still waiting to be exposed.
The format changes have coincided with record-breaking audiences. The Traitors returned on New Year’s Day 2026 with 6.9 million viewers, the highest launch figure in the show’s history and more than double the audience of its nearest drama rival. By withholding the identity of the secret traitor, the BBC created a national guessing game that extended far beyond the screen, driving online debate and keeping the series at the centre of British popular culture.
With Fiona now publicly aligned with Stephen and Rachel, the faithful players must reassess everything they think they know. At the same time, the traitors face a more fragile internal alliance, having already witnessed how easily one of their own can be removed. In a game built on suspicion, the revelation of the secret traitor has not brought clarity. It has only deepened the uncertainty at the heart of The Traitors.
What happens next after the secret traitor reveal in The Traitors
The unmasking of Fiona as the secret traitor in episode five of The Traitors 2026 marks a significant shift in the BBC series, bringing to an end a four-episode period in which one player was able to influence events without being publicly identified.
The reveal was broadcast on BBC One on Wednesday 7 January at 9pm GMT and the episode is now available on BBC iPlayer. From episode six, Fiona joins Stephen and Rachel as a fully visible traitor, meaning all three are now open to being targeted by the faithful at the round table.
Until her exposure, Fiona had been given the power to influence the murder shortlist, allowing her to shape who could be eliminated while remaining outside the main line of suspicion. That included playing a role in the banishment of Hugo, one of the original traitors. With the secret element now removed, the faithful are expected to reassess earlier votes and alliances, knowing that some decisions were driven by a player whose role they did not know existed.
For Stephen and Rachel, the calculation is also changing. Fiona’s knowledge of previous murders and voting patterns gives her influence, but also makes her a potential liability. The next episode of The Traitors will be broadcast on Thursday 8 January at 9pm GMT on BBC One, with streaming available on BBC iPlayer. The series now enters a phase in which all remaining traitors are exposed, and the margin for error on both sides is reduced.
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