Claudia Winkleman has finally fixed the only problem with The Traitors

Claudia Winkleman has made The Traitors even better than before (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Mark Mainz)

*Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Traitors series 3, episode 1.

OK yes, I’m aware that it’s January 1 and the following statement is absurd to make 21 hours into the new year but… The Traitors will be the best TV series of 2025.

And I could have told you that months ago, long before I was able to watch the very first episode.

Since launching just two years ago, it has remained the most thrilling reality television series since the early days of Big Brother. Absolutely nothing has come close.

After that first finale, with Wilf cornered by suspicious faithfuls who’d been given an undeserved ‘parting gift’ by Kieran – a clue basically giving the end game away – I didn’t think television could ever be topped again.

Then series two came and the nation was swept away even harder than before, thanks to three little words: ‘But Ross is…’

This will already be the best TV of 2025 (Picture: BBC / Studio Lambert)

It was a rug pull like no other when Diane confirmed Ross was her son and they’d not only fooled their rivals’ eyes but us too. It was a stroke of genius that I’ll never forget.

It was immediately clear The Traitors series two was going to be at least as good as the first, if not better. The cast was exceptional from the get-go and then proved to be even greater than anyone imagined.

Puppy-eyed Harry played the best game ever seen across all series of The Traitors around the world and betrayed his best friend Molly to walk away with the entire £95,150 prize money.

I still get goosebumps thinking about it now.

After watching the first episode of series three I have no doubt it will be the highlight of 2025 with two vast improvements potentially making the strongest series yet.

Claudia Winkleman immediately fixes the biggest problem faced last year by appointing three female traitors.

Minah is one of our three Traitors (Picture: BBC / Studio Lambert)

Harry and Paul underestimated all the women as potential traitors and the series suffered for it. They even picked Ross as a traitor when they had Inspector Diane right there the whole time.

Already, it’s more exciting having three sharp, smart women pulling the strings. Minah instantly looks like a strong contender to make it to the final and clinch the prize money – surprisingly ruthless behind that kind face and charming scouse accent.

Armani is one of two sisters in the castle, a first for The Traitors. We’ve had a couple, mother and son but never two siblings and never have we had one of those pairs being selected as a traitor, forced to betray the only person they should be able to count on.

Already, this is a different game to anything we’ve seen before. Maia is instantly suspicious knowing her sister better than anyone in or outside of The Traitors, spotting she was acting differently the moment the traitors had been selected. One of them will have to stab the other in the back, and quickly.

If Maia doesn’t rumble Armani, someone else will soon. She is a loose canon, pure main character energy which makes for excellent television – and a terrible traitor.

Then we’ve got Linda, destined to be a Hunsnet sensation with a dreadful poker face who will either be the first traitor to get the chop or somehow make it all the way to the final by being too obvious to be a traitor. I wouldn’t bank on the latter but I’ll be rooting for her every step of the way.

But Claudia also mentioned a twist which has been long overdue. For the first time, the traitors who make it to the final won’t reveal their true identity until the game is finished.

Linda is destined to be a Hunsnet sensation (Picture: BBC / Studio Lambert)

Faithfuls will have absolutely no idea how many traitors are left standing when it comes to the final decision adding even more jeopardy to what has already become the most nail-biting 60 minutes of television every year.

Immediately this series opens with a twist before contestants have even arrived at the castle. Three of them must voluntarily get off the train and sacrifice their place in the game, although I’m sure they had as much certainty as I do that they’ll be back…

It’s a clever tactic to see who the biggest game players are very early on and serves as a reminder that anything is possible at any time in The Traitors but it was my only real gripe with episode one. There’s no real jeopardy when we don’t have any attachment to any of the contestants yet – just get to the castle and start the game.

On first impressions, the cast is gold again – producers clearly have the formula down to a tee and they know it. The middle-aged huns, the slightly overzealous gen Z, the wildly intelligent conspiracy theorist taking the game as seriously as going to war. There’s even another undercover soldier – this time a nail technician hoping her fib will throw others off the scent.

One contestant has the worst game plan I’ve ever heard of – needlessly pretending she’s Welsh because it’s the ‘most trust-worthy accent’. Watching that error unravel when she’s inevitably caught out will be the messy joy we live for.

The obstacle which isn’t necessarily unique to the Traitors but is more of a predicament than for other reality series is the more Traitors we consume, the more savvy players become to the game. Somehow it doesn’t seem to matter though, so far every series feel completely different to every other and this one too feels fresh. There are plenty of characters to root for, some because they’re going to be great game players and others because they’re so relatably hopeless.

The Traitors is bound to be one of – if not the – best series of 2025. I have no doubt about that. It might be premature to say but at this point we can trust The Traitors team know exactly what they’re doing – they haven’t let us down once and there’s no sign they will here.

’I can’t wait for January,’ said no one ever until The Traitors became the shining light in the most miserable on the of the year. Thank god for Claudia Winkleman, thank god for having no plans for the next three weeks and thank god The Traitors is back.

The Traitors returns tonight at 9pm on BBC One.

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