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Entertainment • Television

The Traitors UK

The Traitors UK is a British reality television series on BBC One, based on the Dutch format De Verraders.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Traitors UK is a British reality television series on BBC One, based on the Dutch format De Verraders. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, it began broadcasting in 2022 and places contestants in a social deduction game set at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Premise

The series is a social deduction competition in which players complete missions to build a prize fund while trying to identify hidden Traitors among them. If a Traitor remains undetected at the end, that player can take the prize.

Production and broadcast

The Traitors UK is broadcast on BBC One and presented by Claudia Winkleman. BBC programme pages describe the show as a reality game of trust, betrayal, and elimination, with episodes also available on BBC iPlayer.

Reception and success

The BBC has described the programme as a major success, with audience figures growing across series. It has been described as one of the most watched British reality game shows of all time.

The UK version is adapted from the Dutch series De Verraders and has itself expanded into spin-offs, including The Celebrity Traitors.

Key facts

  • Contestants are divided into **Faithful** and secretly selected **Traitors**.
  • The goal for Faithful contestants is to identify and vote out the Traitors before the end of the game.
  • Traitors try to eliminate other players while avoiding detection.
  • The show is hosted by Claudia Winkleman.
  • It is filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
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Canadian context

The series has international relevance for Canadian viewers as a widely distributed reality format and part of a global franchise that includes a Canadian version.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Traitors UK?
A British reality competition where contestants try to identify hidden Traitors while completing missions and building a prize fund.
Who hosts The Traitors UK?
Claudia Winkleman hosts the series.
Where is The Traitors UK filmed?
It is set at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
When did The Traitors UK first air?
It first broadcast on 29 November 2022.
What is the format based on?
It is based on the Dutch television series De Verraders.
Is there a celebrity version?
Yes. A celebrity spin-off titled The Celebrity Traitors began in 2025.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Traitors_(British_TV_series)
    Supports: Title, broadcaster, host, format basis, debut date, setting, premise, spin-off, popularity.
  2. BBC One — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0db9b2t
    Supports: Official series description, host, prize fund, and competition premise.
  3. BBC One — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0db9c0q
    Supports: Episode 1 synopsis, traitor selection, and game mechanics.
  4. BBC Media Centre — https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/the-traitors-series-4-launch-date-confirmed
    Supports: Series 4 confirmation, 2026 broadcast timing, host, contestant count, and prize fund.
  5. BBC Media Centre — https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2026/the-traitors-series-4
    Supports: Series 4 details, broadcast days, and ongoing BBC/iPlayer availability.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23743442/
    Supports: Alternative title, UK origin, and release date.