The Traitors tonight: Eagle-eyed viewers spot 'hint' from producers over Secret Traitor's identity
'Was that on purpose or just an error?'
The Traitors murdered their first Faithful tonight (January 2), with the second episode of the 2026 series getting off to a flying start. Although, sadly, not for Netty.
Tonight’s episode opened in the turret, before the first breakfast of the series, where the Faithfuls learnt that Netty had been murdered by the Traitors.
And Ross – who knows Netty in the real world – soon declared that it was a “huge weight” off his shoulders that she’d gone. That didn’t stop the rest of the contestants speculating that he’d offed her, though.
“Poor Ross, I feel so sorry for him but he’s doomed I fear,” said one viewer.
Time for a mission… and the first banishment
After Claudia Winkleman took Netty’s portrait down and chucked it on the floor, it was off to complete the day’s mission.
In the challenge, the contestants managed to add £8,750 to the prize pot. Three contestants also won immunity from murder – Amanda, Faraaz and Jade. But no one was safe from the first roundtable of the series. That saw Judy ejected from the castle. She then revealed that she was a Faithful – and not the Secret Traitor.
So the hunt for the Secret Traitor is well and truly on. Both the Traitors and viewers are eagerly looking out for any clue over who it might be. But producers have given viewers a bit of an edge when it comes to working out their identity…
The race to find the Secret Traitor hots up
Eagle-eyed fans of the show tonight spotted that, as well as the Traitors being identified when they speak to camera in the show’s diary room, so too are the Faithfuls, as they become 100% known.
One viewer posted: “I don’t know if it’s an editing mistake or not but one of the dude’s had Faithful by his name when he was giving his interview but some of the others had nothing? Was that on purpose or just an error?” Another asked the same question: “Why do only some of the names have Faithful next to them?”
“Have you noticed that on there VTs some of them say ‘Faithful’ and ‘Traitors’ but some of them don’t say anything?? Are we getting some hints?” another armchair detective asked.
Others were quick to explain: “We know he’s defo a Faithful now because he was on the list for murder.” “They were the ones put up for murder last night so can’t be the Secret Traitor,” another viewer confirmed.
So, as the list of confirmed Faithfuls grows, producers appear to be making it a little easier to see who could be the series’ Secret Traitor…
Tonight’s murder shortlist
On the subject of which, the Secret Traitor was tasked with creating the murder shortlist again tonight.
On the list – and therefore confirmed as Faithfuls – are Ben, Reece and Maz. Of course, he was also on the shortlist last night.
So who will the Traitors pick to murder next? Find out on Saturday night’s show…
Read more: Can you stay at Ardross Castle where The Traitors is filmed?
