Traitors star Ellie vows to 'avenge' Ross' banishment as she confirms he is her boyfriend
After an unearthed picture roused suspicion…
The Traitors viewers finally got confirmation of what many had suspected when Ross was banished from Ardross Castle on tonight’s episode.
During Wednesday night’s instalment (January 7), the Secret Traitor twist came to an end and Ross was voted out at the roundtable. But it was what followed his exit that really sent shockwaves through the Twittersphere.
In her confessional, Ellie claimed Ross had been unfairly set up. “The Traitors have done their work, because they have framed Ross,” she said. “I’m really sad to see him go… Especially because Ross is actually my boyfriend.”
Moments later, unseen clips of the pair sharing private conversations around the castle were shown. Ellie then added: “What I’ve got to do now is avenge his death. I’ve got to work a lot harder. I want to catch a Traitor for him.”
Ellie and Ross’ relationship secret explained
Ellie’s confession lifted the lid on what had already become one of the worst-kept secrets of the series. Since the show launched, viewers had questioned whether Ross, 37, and Ellie, 33, were already acquainted before filming began.
That speculation intensified earlier this week after a resurfaced image began circulating online. The photo, which was later deleted, was said to have been taken in summer 2024 and quickly gained traction on Reddit.
Fans had initially noticed how relaxed the pair appeared when meeting on the Traitors train in episode one, despite the supposed first-time introductions. While the opening episode confirmed Ross had a real-world connection to Netty, attention soon turned to whether Ellie was also part of his pre-show circle.
A Reddit user tracked down an image from a “team outing” shared in June 2024 by an account named @damospersonaltraining. The photo showed Ross standing next to Ellie with his hand placed on her back.
The caption read: “Team outing with the best personal trainers in London.”
The image featured Ross, Ellie and seven others dining at a restaurant called Eco. While the post has since been deleted, Ross still appears connected to the account, though Ellie no longer features on its visible grid.
Confirmed, Ross and Ellie know each other #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK pic.twitter.com/iLncgfTWVv
— (@j_swizzle_123) January 5, 2026
Fans react to Ross and Ellie reveal
Viewers were quick to react as Ellie’s confession confirmed long-running theories. “Ooooo well done detectives!” one fan wrote, while another predicted: “Things are gonna get interesting!”
Following Ellie’s on-screen admission, fans flooded social media. “Ross and Ellie were dating. Yeah, we knew,” one wrote.
“To be fair to Ross and Ellie, you couldn’t tell they were together from their behaviour in the castle. That takes some doing,” another commented.
“No one’s surprised by that,” said a third. “I called Ross and Ellie in the first episode,” bragged another, while one fan shared a meme of someone pretending to be shocked.
Evidence mounted long before Ellie’s confession
Since filming wrapped, Ross has been spotted interacting with Ellie’s social media posts, further fuelling speculation about their relationship.
Fans also noticed that Ross had liked a LinkedIn post Ellie shared in July. As Metro reported, Ross commented: “Congratulations! Great work Dr Buckley,” when Ellie announced she had qualified as a chartered psychologist. There have also been reports the pair have holidayed together.
One fan noted: “They could be a couple potentially. I did see Ellie react when Netty recognised Ross.” Another added: “She glances at him when everyone is sitting in a group after Traitors are chosen. It’s just a split second, but it looks like she’s checking his reaction to what’s being said.”
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