The Traitors

The Traitors is a popular British show with an original concept. It is based on the Dutch series De Verraders, created by Marc Pos and Jasper Hoogendoorn. In this article, we will discuss the history of the show, its participants, and finalists.

Basic information about the show

The reality show is produced by Lambert Studios. A group of participants moves into a castle in Scotland and plays a game similar to Mafia. Each player is secretly assigned a role, either as one of the Loyalists or one of the Traitors. Throughout the day, the characters complete various tasks, which add to the prize fund.

History of the show

In October 2021, the BBC bought the rights to the British adaptation.

The original format of De Verraders is based on a 17th-century incident when the Dutch ship Batavia was shipwrecked on an island off the west coast of the Australian continent.

Filming for the first season of the show began in May 2022 at Ardcross Castle in Scotland, with the final episode airing on 22 December 2022.

On 27 February 2023, BBC executives announced that the project would be renewed for a second season.

In early 2024, an additional television programme and podcast, The Traitors: Uncloaked, were presented.

The third season was released in 2025, with plans for a fourth season and a celebrity spin-off.

Claudia Winkleman is the host of The Traitors in the UK.

Format

The project participants compete for a prize against a backdrop of mystical events. To win, they must make difficult decisions. The participants are tasked with figuring out which of them belongs to the other group, the ‘Traitors,’ who are attempting to sabotage their actions. Each week, they undergo tests designed to test their physical and intellectual abilities. The winners receive rewards, while the losers face punishment.

Each episode features an ‘expulsion’ ceremony, where participants vote to remove the person suspected of betrayal. The last remaining player wins a cash prize.

The project is being filmed in a Scottish castle. Participants are divided into two groups, the first being the ‘Traitors’ and the second being the ‘Loyalists’. The Traitors' task is to eliminate the Loyalists, while the Loyalists must identify the traitors. If the Traitors remain until the end of the game, they will receive a reward of $250,000. If the Loyalists manage to identify and eliminate all the Traitors, they will receive the prize.

In most cases, the ‘traitors’ form a coalition, deciding to “eliminate” someone from the ‘loyalists’ group, and that person is immediately eliminated from the project. The remaining players do not know who has been eliminated until the next day, when the hero arrives at the castle for breakfast.

Expulsion ceremony. At the end of each day, the participants gather at the Round Table to discuss who to expel, voting for a specific person. The hero who receives the majority of votes leaves the game, revealing which team they represented.

When completing missions, any participant can win a shield that gives them immunity from ‘murder’ but not from expulsion. If, during the game, the number of ‘Traitors’ decreases to two, they have the opportunity to ‘seduce’ or recruit the “Loyal” to join them instead of ‘murdering’ them.

End of the game

Final challenge. When there are four people left in the game, they all take part in the final challenge. They are asked to choose between ‘Exile again’ or ‘End the game’. A unanimous choice of the second scenario ends the game, while just one vote for ‘Expel Again’ leads to another expulsion ceremony, followed by another round of voting between the two options.

Any vote to continue the game results in immediate expulsion. When the game ends by unanimous decision or when no more than two heroes remain, they reveal which clan they belong to: ‘loyal’ or ‘traitors’. If both participants are loyal, the cash prize is divided between them. The reward may also go to the surviving ‘traitor.’

Where is The Traitors filmed?

The Traitors is filmed at Ardross Castle in Scotland, in the Highland region, approximately 30 miles north of Inverness, on the coast of the River Alness.

The 19th-century castle, built in the Scottish baronial style, is surrounded by gardens and parks covering an area of over 100 acres.

How do I apply for The Traitors?

Filming for the fourth season of The Traitors in the UK is scheduled for 2026. Applications to participate in the show can be submitted on the official BBC casting website: The Traitors UK Application 2026.

Potential participants must meet a number of requirements:

• the right to legally reside in the UK.
• be of legal age;
• be willing to participate in filming for a month in the summer or autumn of 2026;
• accept the BBC's terms and conditions and privacy policy.

The Traitors 3

The third season of The Traitors in England ran from 9 January to 6 March 2025. There are 12 episodes in total. The format underwent minor changes compared to previous seasons. The updated rule relates to the finale.

Previously, in the final episode, the remaining players gathered around a fire and each voted to end the game. If the decision to end the game was unanimous, everyone revealed their affiliation to one group or another. If all the players were Loyal, the prize was divided between them. If a Traitor reached the final, they got everything.

In the third season, the finalists no longer reveal their status. To identify possible Traitors, players have to rely solely on their own intuition.

The Traitors 3 cast

List of players for the third season of the show:

1. Welles Adams (The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise);
2. Sam Asghari (actor and model);
3. Chanel Ayane (The Real Housewives of Dubai);
4. Bob Drag Queen (RuPaul's Drag Race);
5. Dolores Catania (Real Housewives of New Jersey);
6. Jeremy Collins (Survivor);
7. Robin Dixon (Real Housewives of Potomac);
8. Dylan Efron (Down to Earth with Zac Efron);
9. Nikki Garcia (Total Divas, Dancing with the Stars);
10. Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser);
11. Britney Haynes (Big Brother);
12. Rob Mariano (Survivor, Amazing Race, Deal or No Deal);
13. Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York City, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls' Trip);
14. Ciara Miller (Summer House);
15. Lord Ivar Mountbatten (British royal representative);
16. Daniel Reyes (Big Brother);
17. Tom Sandoval (The Vanderpump Rules, Special Forces: The World's Toughest Test, The Masked Singer);
18. Krishel Stauz (Selling Sunset, Dancing with the Stars);
19. Tony Vlachos (Survivor);
20. Carolyn Wiger (Survivor);
21. Gabby Windy (The Bachelorette).

Final

The winners of the third season were Jake Brown and Leanne Quigley (Faithfuls), who shared the prize fund of £94,600. Despite the fact that all participants turned out to be faithful, Alexandra and Francesca were expelled.

The Traitors Winners

Here is a list of the winners of all seasons of The Traitors.

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