The Traitors 2026 stormed back onto BBC One tonight with a jaw-dropping opener that saw Claudia Winkleman unleash multiple twists within minutes – including the introduction of a Secret Traitor that has already turned the game on its head.
From the moment the first episode began, it was clear series four was not going to play by the old rules. Claudia wasted no time explaining the mystery behind this year’s red cloak, something that had kept fans guessing in the run-up to launch. By the end of the 65-minute episode, viewers had met all 22 contestants, discovered who the Traitors are – or at least some of them – and learned that one player has a very personal secret lurking inside the castle.
Here is everything we learned from episode one of The Traitors 2026, including the first clues about who the Secret Traitor could be.
The Traitors’ Claudia Winkleman returned tonight with 22 new contestants (Credit: BBC)
The Traitors 2026: What the red cloak means
The episode opened with scenes of the 22 contestants making their way towards Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, all with their eyes firmly on a prize pot that could reach £120,000. But before any of them arrived, Claudia had already been at work.
Under the cover of darkness, 12 hours earlier, Claudia appeared alone in the castle holding a red cloak. Addressing the unseen wearer, 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.”
Later, Claudia was shown speaking directly to the red cloak as it hung on a mannequin. She teased 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 all the contestants had arrived, Claudia summoned them to the first Round Table of the series. Blindfolded, they waited as she walked around the group, tapping four players on the shoulder to mark them as Traitors. However, viewers only saw three of those faces revealed, with the fourth deliberately kept hidden.
The three confirmed Traitors for 2026 are Hugo, a 51-year-old barrister; Rachel, a 42-year-old head of communications and mum-of-three; and Stephen, a 32-year-old cyber security consultant.
Claudia later confirmed their identities in a piece to camera, adding: “But what you didn’t see is who I picked for my Secret Traitor. Do you know who it is? Could you guess?”
She also revealed there would be no murder on the first night.
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