Fans of the hit BBC show The Traitors were sent into a frenzy on Christmas Day after the programme released a mysterious teaser hinting at a major twist for its upcoming fourth series.
A Cryptic Christmas Gift
In what was described as the 'ultimate Christmas Day treat', the official social media accounts for the show shared a brief clip featuring a dramatic red cloak. The garment is set to play a pivotal role when the series returns on New Year's Day, 1st January 2026.
The teaser prompted an immediate and excitable reaction online. One viewer on TikTok, @fliccross, wrote 'What the hell????', while another, Ellie Henmann, simply commented 'Screaming!'.
What Could The Red Cloak Mean?
The arrival of the scarlet shawl has sparked intense speculation about a potential new role being introduced to the game's format. This comes after the recent conclusion of The Celebrity Traitors, which saw comedian Alan Carr win £87,500.
TV experts suggest the move is a smart one to keep the format fresh. After three hugely popular civilian series and a celebrity special, contestants are now highly strategic, and producers are keen to reintroduce an element of surprise.
Tom Percival, Deputy TV Editor at Metro, shared his analysis, suggesting the red cloak likely signals a new player with special abilities. While a classic 'detective' role, similar to that in the game Mafia, is one possibility, he argued it might not dramatically alter the game.
A 'Super Traitor' Theory
Percival proposed a more thrilling alternative: a 'Super Traitor'. This would be a Traitor secretly tasked with targeting their fellow murderers, creating chaos and distrust within the secret group. This could solve a known issue where a united bloc of Traitors becomes too powerful, as seen in the celebrity edition.
The new civilian series will see 22 fresh contestants enter the iconic Scottish castle, competing for a potential prize fund of £120,000. The BBC has promised 'even more twists, turns, secrets, epic missions, deception, banishments and, of course, murders aplenty'.
The show's legacy includes Faithfuls Hannah Byczkowski, Aaron Evans, and Meryl Williams winning the first series, Harry Clark claiming victory as the 'Ultimate Traitor' in series two, and Faithfuls Leanne Quigley and Jake Brown splitting £94,600 in series three after unmasking the final Traitor, Charlotte Berman.
The Traitors returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm on Wednesday, 1st January 2026.
