Claudia Winkleman made her way back to the Scottish Highlands last week, where 19 famous faces were ready to deceive, double-cross and scheme their way to securing £100,000 for their chosen charity.

The nation fell head over heels for the murder mystery gameshow when its civilian version debuted in 2022, and now Celebrity Traitors has made a triumphant return that’s proved even more captivating.

Following Paloma Faith’s murder at the hands of Traitors Alan Carr, Cat Burns and Jonathan Ross, the remaining contestants gathered at the roundtable for the first banishment vote.

The BBC has refused to comment on whether any disciplinary action will be taken, but sources suggest the network has privately reminded all remaining contestants about the strict confidentiality agreements they signed. “They’ve all been told to keep their lips sealed — no interviews, no hints, no cryptic posts on social media,” one insider confirmed. “They’re taking no chances after this.”

This isn’t the first time The Traitors has been rocked by premature revelations. During the previous season, fans correctly predicted the winner weeks before the finale after spotting what appeared to be a subtle editing clue in one of the mid-series episodes. However, this marks the first time a cast member has been directly implicated in leaking the outcome.

Public reaction has been mixed. While many viewers are disappointed that the suspense might have been spoiled, others say it’s only increased their curiosity to see how the final plays out. “Now I have to watch it,” one fan posted. “Even if we know who wins, I want to see how they pull it off!”

Media commentators have pointed out that the controversy could, ironically, end up benefiting the show. “There’s an old saying in television — there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” noted entertainment journalist Rhiannon Griffiths. “The Traitors thrives on drama and tension, and this just adds another layer. Whether it was a genuine mistake or not, everyone’s talking about it. That’s gold for the BBC.”

The celebrities grew increasingly wary as they began noticing tell-tale signs of suspicious conduct, with last week’s episode ending on a cliffhanger suggesting either Kate Garraway or Niko Omilana faced elimination, reports the Daily Record.

View 3 Images

Celebrity Traitors is currently airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer(Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/Artwork)

Ultimately, YouTuber Niko found himself with the highest number of votes, as his fellow players believed he possessed the qualities of an “excellent” Traitor, whilst also highlighting his background in pulling pranks.

EastEnders star Tameka Empson became the second contestant banished on Wednesday (October 15), after Kate, Charlotte Church, Mark Bonnar and Nick Mohammed all voted against her.

After her departure from the castle, Tameka sat down with ITV’s This Morning presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on Thursday (October 16) to discuss her brief time on the programme.

She confessed to the hosts: “I’m very emotional. I’m up and down. You don’t want to hear your name, not so early, do you know what I mean?

View 3 Images

Tameka Empson was banished on Wednesday(Image: ITV)

“From one person, okay. But from four? I’m like, ‘Huh?’ It took a moment for it to register… I would have liked to have thought that I would have seen something before I called it out, because people slip up all the time.”

The 48-year-old actress also shared her prediction that Cat Burns will walk away with all the prize money in the final, describing her as “so under the radar” as a Traitor.

“She is so clever. Just how she’s playing it, she’s playing it just right. She’s not out there, she’s not too quiet. I think she’s got the best equilibrium,” she continued.

View 3 Images

Tameka thinks Cat Burns will win the series(Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)

Discussing her “shock” upon discovering the identities of the Traitors, Tameka added: “Cat in particular. That girl, I can’t look at her in the same way.”

BBC viewers have been left stunned — and producers reportedly furious — after a Celebrity Traitors contestant appeared to spoil the show’s biggest secret by accidentally revealing who wins this year’s explosive finale. The shocking slip, which occurred during a live interview earlier this week, has sent fans into meltdown and forced the BBC to scramble into damage control mode to contain what some are calling “one of the biggest leaks in the show’s history.”

According to insiders close to the production, the contestant — a popular figure on the celebrity spin-off of the hit psychological reality series — let the information slip while discussing her experience on the show. The moment came during what was supposed to be a light-hearted chat about the intensity of filming. But when asked about the strategy of a particular player, she reportedly said, “Well, she’s so clever — that’s why she won, right?” before quickly realizing her mistake. The room reportedly went silent before the presenter awkwardly changed the subject.

Within hours, clips of the interview had spread across social media, with fans dissecting every word, facial expression, and pause. “Did she really just say that?” one viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I can’t believe she spoiled it like that — the BBC is going to lose its mind!” Another fan joked, “The real betrayal isn’t on the show — it’s live on daytime TV!”

The BBC has since moved swiftly to remove or edit versions of the interview from its official online platforms, but as one insider told reporters, “the damage is already done.” “Once something like that’s out there, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle,” the source said. “Fans have already made up their minds about who the winner is. It’s a nightmare for the production team, especially given how much secrecy they work to maintain.”

For a show built entirely on deception, secrecy, and shocking reveals, The Traitors relies heavily on maintaining the mystery until the finale airs. Contestants are reportedly bound by strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that include heavy financial penalties for any leaks or spoilers. Producers go to extreme lengths to prevent details from leaking — filming multiple endings, limiting access to key information, and even ensuring contestants’ families remain in the dark until broadcast.

“That’s why this incident is such a big deal,” said one television industry insider. “These NDAs aren’t a joke. They’re airtight. If she really has spoiled the winner, the BBC’s legal team will be looking very closely at the situation.”

The contestant in question has since issued an apology, claiming her comment was taken out of context. In a statement shared through her representative, she said, “I’m mortified that people think I’ve spoiled the ending — I would never do that! I was speaking hypothetically and got my words mixed up. Please don’t take it literally — you’ll have to wait and see what happens!”

Despite her insistence that it was an innocent mistake, fans aren’t entirely convinced. “She said it so casually — like she forgot we haven’t seen the final yet,” one viewer commented. “You could see the panic on her face when she realized what she’d said.” Others were more forgiving, noting the intensity of media appearances following filming. “They do so many interviews back-to-back,” another fan wrote. “Slip-ups happen — it doesn’t mean it was intentional.”

Behind the scenes, however, producers are said to be “deeply frustrated.” One production insider told The Daily Mirror, “It’s incredibly disappointing. We work so hard to keep the ending under wraps. It’s a huge part of what makes the show special — the suspense, the guessing, the big reveal. To have that potentially ruined because of a careless comment is gutting.”

Adding to the tension, online sleuths have now gone into overdrive, combing through previous episodes and promotional footage for hints that might confirm the alleged winner. Reddit threads and fan forums are buzzing with theories, screen grabs, and timestamped clips, as viewers debate whether the contestant truly spoiled the finale — or if the entire incident might be a clever publicity stunt orchestrated by the BBC to boost ratings.

“It could easily be a misdirection,” one fan speculated. “They know how obsessed we are with trying to guess the winner. Maybe they planted this to throw us off the scent!” Another agreed, saying, “The timing is too perfect — right before the finale airs? It’s either a major blunder or marketing genius.”

Meanwhile, the contestant at the heart of the storm has been keeping a low profile since the incident, reportedly feeling “embarrassed and stressed” by the backlash. “She’s devastated,” a close friend revealed. “It was a slip of the tongue, nothing more. She’s worried it’s ruined things for the fans, and she feels terrible about it.”

As the finale approaches, fans are still debating whether the supposed spoiler will prove accurate. Some insist the comment was definitive, while others believe it was a classic case of misdirection — or even editing trickery in the viral clip. Regardless of the truth, one thing is certain: The Traitors has once again delivered exactly what audiences crave — chaos, intrigue, and a nation gripped by speculation.

Whether or not the “accidental spoiler” turns out to be true, viewers will be tuning in in record numbers to see how the story unfolds. As one fan summed it up perfectly online: “If this was a betrayal, it might just be the best one yet.”

During last night’s closing scenes, Jonathan, Alan and Cat gathered once more in the Traitors’ Turret to work out their next murder victim.

Ruth Codd, David Olusoga and Charlotte Church are all potential targets ahead of tonight’s instalment, but which of them will survive to see breakfast?