The Traitors LIVE: Claudia Winkleman chooses initial Traitors as players taken on first mission

The Traitors, the BBC’s hit reality show where deception and lying could win you big money, is back on our screens.

The Bafta-winning show returns tonight (3 January), with 22 new contestants setting up camp in a Scottish castle, where they’re secretly split into “Traitors” and “Faithfuls”.

The “Traitors” are aiming to get to the end of the game undetected, while the “Faithfuls” are trying to catch them. For those left standing at the end, there is their share of the up to £120,000 prize pot.

You can meet the class of 2024 – including an insurance broker, a photographer, and a clairvoyant – here.

Claudia Winkleman is back at the show’s helm, with the series two trailer promising an even more explosive second series.

Follow along for updates from tonight’s first episode...

Key points

• When is The Traitors series 2 on iPlayer?

• Meet the cast of The Traitors

• The first three Traitors have been chosen

Welcome to The Traitors live blog!

Wednesday 3 January 2024 18:07 , Isobel Lewis

Hi all! It’s t-minus three hours until The Traitors is back on our screens, and we’re going to be live-blogging tonight’s first episode!

Follow along for updates – and everything you need to know about series two...

When does The Traitors series two begin and when is it on iPlayer?

Wednesday 3 January 2024 18:15 , Isobel Lewis

The Traitors returns this evening – and it’s not just one episode fans will be able to tune into!

Episode one of series two will air tonight on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm. Once the show ends at 10pm, the following two episodes will be available to stream on iPlayer too, and they will be broadcast on BBC One on Thursday and Friday this week.

Claudia Winkleman admits concerns over fan expectations for The Traitors season 2

Wednesday 3 January 2024 18:30 , Isobel Lewis

As the show comes back on our screens, Claudia Winkleman has asked fans of The Traitors to lower their expectations.

Speaking in a new interview, the presenter said that she and the team were “literally winded” by the positive response to series one, and that she hoped the show would be able to capture that “magical dust” once more.

Read more below...

Claudia Winkleman admits concerns over The Traitors season 2 expectations

Insurance brokers and clairvoyants: Meet the cast of The Traitors series 2

Wednesday 3 January 2024 19:00 , Isobel Lewis

There are 22 new contestants taking on the ultimate challenge of deception in The Traitors series two – but who are they?

Find out below...

Insurance brokers and clairvoyants: Meet the cast of The Traitors series 2

‘They’ve become cool again’: The Traitors and our renewed love of party games

Wednesday 3 January 2024 19:30 , Isobel Lewis

Based on the Dutch series De Verraders, The Traitors is the latest in a long line of “social deduction” games to delight people the world over.

Over the years, party games such as Werewolf and Mafia, board games like Secret Hitler and video games like Among Us have used similar set-ups, where players must deceive each other to win.

Find out more about these party games – and why they’re making such a comeback – below...

‘They’ve become cool again’: The Traitors and our renewed love of party games

Claudia Winkleman says she has ‘worked out’ the best way to win The Traitors

Wednesday 3 January 2024 20:00 , Isobel Lewis

Claudia Winkleman has revealed the best way to win BBC game show The Traitors.

Speaking ahead of series two, Winkleman shared what she believes to be the easiest way to win the show, as well as which stars she would like to see participate in a celebrity version.

Read more below...

Claudia Winkleman says she has ‘worked out’ best way to win The Traitors

Wednesday 3 January 2024 20:59 , Isobel Lewis

One minute to go! Who’s excited?

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:04 , Isobel Lewis

And we’re off, for “the ultimate murder mystery game”.

Prepare yourself – you’re going to be thinking about nothing else all January!

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:06 , Isobel Lewis

The cast are arriving and eyeing each other up already.

Definitely a fan of Sonja, who says she “hasn’t got an off button”. That’ll serve her well...

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:08 , Isobel Lewis

Aubrey, the show’s oldest contestant has a cat called Luther VanDross and says he’s willing to “throw everyone under the bus at the flip of a hat”.

The kind of quote only The Traitors could produce.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:10 , Isobel Lewis

They’ve really upped the camp factor this year, haven’t they?

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:11 , Isobel Lewis

Looks like people are playing along at home too:

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:13 , Isobel Lewis

First twist of the series! Just like last year, the contestants have been asked to rank themselves based on how likely they are to win.

Remember, last year the two bottom players were immediately booted out at this point.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:13 , Isobel Lewis

“You think you know how this game works. You don’t.”

Anyone else got chills?

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:14 , Isobel Lewis

But it’s a bluff! Nobody is sent packing and the players are sent inside to gawp over the interior design of the castle.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:17 , Isobel Lewis

Some big characters emerging already, and it’s time for the Claudia to quiz them about why they want the money. Who will be a Traitor?

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:19 , Isobel Lewis

We’re at the round table, “the sacred place where Faithful and Traitors do battle”. There’s gonna be a lot of drama going down here in the coming weeks.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:20 , Isobel Lewis

Who will be chosen? Claudia’s going to walk around the room; whoever she taps on the shoulder, is a Traitor.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:21 , Isobel Lewis

Traitor number one chosen! It’s Paul, a 36-year-old business manager from Manchester.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:22 , Isobel Lewis

He’s followed by Ash, 45, an events co-ordinator from London.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:23 , Isobel Lewis

And our final Traitor is chosen! It’s British Army engineer Harry, 22, from Slough.

No, we don’t need to talk about that lip-lick.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:26 , Isobel Lewis

Those initial Traitors have been picked, but they don’t know who the other Traitors are. But there’s (another) twist: they’re going to meet for the first time tonight and enlist a fourth Traitor tonight.

Nobody is being murdered tonight, so that’s a good thing.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:27 , Isobel Lewis

Diane might be onto Harry already. She thinks she felt him “panic” during the choosing, and spotted him being “unnerved” when she questioned him onto it.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:30 , Isobel Lewis

OK, major points for this dramatic cover of REM’s “Losing My Religion”. Shazam tells me it’s by BELLSAINT.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:31 , Isobel Lewis

The Traitors have made their vow (camp, once again), and are going to meet for the first time. Eek!

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:32 , Isobel Lewis

Turns out everyone on social media is obsessed with Diane’s sleuthing.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:34 , Isobel Lewis

And, unfortunately, Harry’s tongue.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:36 , Isobel Lewis

The Traitors have been revealed to each other, and chosen their fourth member, who will be revealed later.

These are the Traitors so far:

Paul, 36

Ash, 45

Harry, 22

Meet the full cast of The Traitors

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:40 , Isobel Lewis

You can find out more about the 22 contestants – so far consisting of 19 Faithfuls and three Traitors – below:

Chess coaches, corporals and clairvoyants: Meet the cast of The Traitors series 2

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:44 , Isobel Lewis

The first mission is underway. The group must form a giant puzzle in the middle of the lake and set the beacon alight within 40 minutes. If they do it, they can win £15,000 for the prize pot.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:46 , Isobel Lewis

TWIST KLAXON! This year, during the missions, there will be shields up for grab which will protect the holder from being murdered (although not from being banished).

“What’s more important? Your money or your life?” Claudia asks. Good question – a shield might save you, but it doesn’t exactly scream team player...

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:50 , Isobel Lewis

Claudia’s getting mad, and screaming: “You need to get the pieces faster” as the teams struggle to row to get the pieces.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:53 , Isobel Lewis

Kyra, Jaz and Harry have gone for the shields, meaning they can’t be murdered tonight.

Interesting move from Harry; in theory it suggests he’s a Faithful (which he isn’t), but will it pay off?

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:54 , Isobel Lewis

“Shambles” seems to be the right word for this mission.

Or, as Claudia puts it: “I shouldn’t get this angry.”

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:55 , Isobel Lewis

But they made it! If only with 11 seconds to spare.

“If you can’t work as a team, how on Earth are you going to catch a Traitor?” Clauds says. Fair point.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 21:58 , Isobel Lewis

And we still don’t know who the final Traitor is!

Based on the Traitors’ chat earlier, its either Andrew, Diane, Miles or Sonja.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 22:01 , Isobel Lewis

Everyone seems to be fixating on an ill thought-out comment by Zack that he’s going to be sleeping well tonight.

Oops Zack – that might just get you murdered...

Wednesday 3 January 2024 22:02 , Isobel Lewis

The clock chimes. “The murdering hour is upon us,” Claudia says.

The fourth Traitor is about to be revealed, and the group will work together to kill their first victim.

Wednesday 3 January 2024 22:04 , Isobel Lewis

The last Traitor is being inducted by Claudia. What’s the chance we don’t find out who it is this episode? The Traitors does love a cliffhanger...

Wednesday 3 January 2024 22:05 , Isobel Lewis

Called it! That’s the episode done! Anyone else exhausted?

The Traitors season two, review: You’ll be staying faithful to your sofa for the rest of the month

Wednesday 3 January 2024 22:17 , Isobel Lewis

In his four-star review of The Traitors episode one, The Independent’s critic Annabel Nugent wrote: “The cloaks, the chaos and Claudia Winkleman are all back for a second season of the BBC’s runaway gameshow hit. Resistance is futile – just cancel all your January plans now.”

Read more below:

The return of The Traitors will keep you faithful to your sofa – review

How to watch The Traitors episode two and three

Wednesday 3 January 2024 22:21 , Isobel Lewis

Episode one is done and dusted, but you don’t need to wait until tomorrow to tune into the next episode (although you can if you like).

Episodes two and three are on BBC iPlayer to stream now, and will air on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday and Friday respectively.

To wait or not to wait? That is the question...