The Traitors 2026: Everything we know from episode 1 including identity of Traitors and who Secret one could be
There's also some secret connections in Ardross Castle, tooThe Traitors 2026 has exploded back onto our screens tonight with Claudia Winkleman hitting viewers with multiple massive twists from the get go – including a Secret Traitor.
Claudia immediately revealed the truth behind this year’s red cloak, which has kept fans guessing in the lead up to series 4’s launch.
In the 65 minute-long first episode, viewers also learned who this year’s Traitors are and met all of the 2026 contestants.
Just when the suspense couldn’t get any higher, there was also a bombshell reveal. One of the players has admitted her mum is also in the castle!
Here’s everything we learned from episode 1 of The Traitors 2026, including who the Secret Traitor might be.
The Traitors 2026: What the red cloak means
The Traitors kicked off with scenes of this year’s 22 contestants travelling towards Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
This year’s prize pot has the potential of reaching £120,000 and they are all desperate to get their hands on it.
But under the cover of darkness 12 hours before, Claudia appeared in the castle holding a red cloak.
Looking straight ahead, she said: “You stand before the Traitors’ Turret. Before you take the Traitors oath I imagine you are wondering why this cloak is a different colour.
“I can now reveal you have a special role. You are my Secret Traitor.”
Claudia was seen a short while later, talking to the red cloak as it hung on a mannequin. She said to viewers: “Just when they think they know how to play I am also going to pick a Secret Traitor.
“Nobody will know who that is – not the Traitors and not even you. It’s naughty, isn’t it?”
Who are The Traitors?
Once everyone had arrived, Claudia summons them to the first Round Table of the new series.
The players donned their blindfolds and Claudia walked around and around. She tapped a total of four contestants on the shoulder, meaning they are the Traitors.
But viewers of the BBC show only got to see three of the people she picked. The fourth’s face was obscured from view.
This year’s three known Traitors are:
- Hugo, a 51-year-old barrister
- Rachel, a 42-year-old head of communications and mum-of-three
- Stephen, 32, a cyber security consultant
Claudia confirmed the three Traitors in a piece to camera and out of earshot of the players. She said to viewers: “But what you didn’t see is who I picked for my Secret Traitor. Do you know who it is? Could you guess?”
Claudia told the contestants there would not be a killing on the first night.
The Traitors 2026: Who is the Faithful?
Hugo, Rachel and Stephen being named as Traitors leaves 19 other players in the game. 18 of these are Faithful, but one is the Secret Traitor. They are:
- Harriet, 52, former criminal barrister and now an author of psychological thrillers
- Judy, 60, child liaison officer and single mum
- Netty, 42, nursery school teacher
- Ross, 37, sales exec and personal trainer “prone to sweating”
- Ellie, 33, psychologist from London
- Sam, 34, account manager and “fantastic liar”
- Fiona, 62, local government officer from Swansea
- Jessie, 28, hairstylist who has a stammer
- Adam, 34, builder
- Jack, 29, personal trainer from Essex
- Jade, 25, PHd student and video gamer
- Maz, 59, civil servant and “family man” to five kids
- Amanda, 57, retired detective chief inspector
- Faraaz, 22, internal auditor
- Ben, 66, Royal Navy veteran
- James, 38, gardener
- Reece, 27, sweet shop assistant
- Roxy, 32, recruiter
- Matthew, 35, creative director
Surprise connections
There were two surprise connections to come out of episode 1 of The Traitors.
It quickly emerged Netty and Ross knew each other. Screaming when she saw Ross, Netty said: “We met like 10, 15 years ago!” She added: “I had no idea that Ross was going to be here, so it’s nice to see a familiar face.”
The pair told some of their fellow contestants they met through a mutual friend in London. Netty said “I think I love it” when asked how she felt about Ross being there.
But Ross was far more wary and told the cameras it “looks suss”.
There was a bigger bombshell to come, however. Towards the end of the episode, Roxy admitted that Judy is actually her mum. The pair have decided to keep it a secret from everyone else.
Roxy said in a confessional: “Judy seems lovely. But I’m bound to say that, considering she’s my mum.
“I’m keeping it secret just because I think, if you come as a pair, it’s almost like an alliance. I feel super protective over her and hearing anyone casting doubt on her for her actions just isn’t nice.”
Judy also confirmed Roxy was five when she adopted her. She added: “I’m loving this secret because nobody’s got a clue!”
Who is the Secret Traitor?
Rachel, Hugo and Stephen’s hearts sank when Claudia dropped the Secret Traitor twist on them. The trio had gathered to meet for the first time when she appeared and said: “I just had to pop in because I have a small confession. You are not the only Traitors in this castle.
“At the Round Table, I picked one other Traitor. The Secret Traitor. You still have power but not quite as much.”
Claudia was also seen telling the mystery player: “You are my Secret Traitor. You will not be joining your fellow Traitors tonight. Instead, you will be controlling them.”
Claudia continued to Rachel, Hugo and Stephen: “The Secret Traitor will work alone. Each night they will provide you with a murder shortlist. You can only murder one of the people that is on the murder shortlist.
“Because they’re a Traitor, they won’t put themselves on it and, of course, they won’t put you on it. Let me add this, you do not know who they are but they know exactly who you are.”
Claudia was seen telling the Secret Traitor who the other Traitors are, adding: “You are the only player in the game who knows everyone’s identities.”
Stephen reckons he knows who the Secret Traitor is. He told Rachel and Hugo: “I’ve got a suspicion about the Secret Traitor and I think it could be Judy. I just have a feeing she could be the person behind all of this.”
Rachel, meanwhile, seethed: “I want the control back and am going to do everything in my power to hunt that Secret Traitor down.”
The Traitors: Who gets murdered first?
The first mission of the series saw the players bank £10,000 in the prize pot. It also put 10 names at risk of the first murder.
The contestants were taken to a lake scattered with 100 full-size wooden coffins floating in it. They were told 12 coffins, decorated with a money sign, contained gold.
Claudia told the players to split themselves across three rowing boats. They had 45 minutes to get the gold coffins and drag them back to 22 open graves. For every coffin placed in a grave, £1,000 would be added to the prize pot.
But there was a twist. Each grave had a name on and the players who ended up with coffins in their graves would be up for murder.
By the end of the mission, Rachel, Fiona, James, Ross, Adam, Judy, Reece, Faraaz, Maz and Netty were told they were at risk of being killed. Obviously, Rachel is a Traitor so was secretly safe.
But it is the Secret Traitor who actually picks who they can murder. Claudia delivered Rachel, Hugo and Stephen his or her shortlist from the 10 names.
This means the Traitors can only murder either James, Netty or Maz. Obviously, the show ended on a massive cliffhanger and we are yet to find out who gets killed.
When is The Traitors on again?
The Traitors returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer tomorrow (Friday January 2, 2026). Episode 2 starts at 8pm and is again on for 65 minutes, with an end time of 9.05pm.
And that’s not all. The new series has kicked off with a three-night extravaganza. This means you can watch episode 3 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday January 3, too!
But we warned. It starts at the earlier time of 7.45pm and ends at 9pm. A full 75 minutes… yippee!
Read more: Celebrity Traitors season 2: Davina McCall, Daisy May Cooper and Louis Theroux favourites to sign up
