A new group of contestants is set to challenge their wits and instincts in the upcoming series of The Traitors, which premieres on January 1, 2024, on BBC One and iPlayer. The show will feature a diverse lineup, including a retired police detective, a bestselling crime writer, and a psychologist, all vying for a prize fund of £120,000. Each contestant will navigate the tension of identifying the “traitors” among them while completing shared missions and facing nightly eliminations.
Among the notable contestants is Harriet Tyce, a 52-year-old thriller author and former criminal barrister. Tyce, known for her books such as Lessons in Cruelty and The Lies You Told, believes her background offers her a unique advantage in the game. “I spend my life making up horrible ways for people to die,” she said. “The idea that I might get to actually plot to kill people… it’s the closest that I’d get to that experience in real life.”
Tyce plans to downplay her literary skills, opting instead to present herself as a typical housewife and mother to avoid drawing attention early in the competition. She expressed her excitement while acknowledging the potential challenges she may face in the game. “I could collapse into a puddle of angst and it might be a complete disaster,” she admitted.
Joining Tyce is Amanda, a 57-year-old retired police detective from Brighton. With years of experience in interviewing criminals and victims, she aims to leverage her skills in deception and observation. “You have to put the pieces together to find the truth and see through the lies,” Amanda explained. “To be a traitor, you have to be good at lying and have a master of deflection to prevent you from being identified.”
Another intriguing participant is Ellie, a 33-year-old psychologist who aims to bring a unique perspective to the infamous roundtable discussions. She plans to use her understanding of human behavior to navigate alliances and manipulations. “It’s absolutely about trying to form bonds with people early on,” Ellie noted. “I am also going to be hiding my occupation as I don’t want people to make assumptions about me.”
The cast also includes a variety of other characters, such as Adam, an outspoken builder, James, a poker-playing gardener, and Reece, who works as a sweet shop assistant. Each contestant will face the challenge of distinguishing themselves while simultaneously trying to identify the traitors in their midst.
This new series follows the success of a celebrity edition aired in late 2023, where comedian Alan Carr emerged as the surprising winner. Host Claudia Winkleman has teased that this season will introduce a “brutal” twist, promising to elevate the stakes for contestants.
As the contestants prepare to enter the castle, audiences eagerly await the strategic plays and psychological games that will unfold in this captivating competition. With a mix of backgrounds and skills, the upcoming series of The Traitors is poised to deliver intense drama and unexpected alliances.
