The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman reveals what sinister red cloak means in brutal twist as BBC bosses shake-up show format

It is the ultimate game of deception, treachery and betrayal, and has become a standout hit for the BBC.

This year, however, Traitors bosses have decided to shake-up the format with a twist that will change the way the game will be played, with Producers admitting they are feeling ‘pressure’ for this civilian series to perform well after the success of the celebrity version of the show.

And just moments into the launch episode, host Claudia Winkleman revealed that alongside picking her three Traitors, she will also select a secret fourth Traitor, who will wear a new red cloak, while the others stick to the famed emerald green cloaks.

The secret Traitor will be the only player to know everyone’s true identity, and not even viewers will know who Claudia has chosen.

Speaking on the decision to change the format this year, Mike Cotton, the Creative Director at Studio Lambert, explained: ‘Each series is like its own murder mystery. We never change the core game, but we always work in twists. We thought it would be interesting if you didn’t know who one of the Traitors was.

‘As Claudia says in the show, the secret Traitors reign will go on until the others earn the power back. The Traitors are used to having all of the power, so it will be interesting to see how they navigate that and if they can use it to their advantage.’

Later in the episode, Claudia picked Stephen, Rachel, and Hugo to be her Traitors, but what viewers didn’t see was who she tapped on the shoulder to be the secret Traitor.

Claudia told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s nerve-racking, but I don’t choose them alone. I interview all the players and some are absolutely desperate to be faithful. Anyone who convinces me otherwise is in contention.

‘I then go into a small room with the bosses and an enormous tin of biscuits and we pick.

‘We picked someone who wanted it. Someone who sat in front of the fire and said, “I need to be a Traitor”. They have some fun’. She added that the game gets ‘brutal’ and the contestants play with their hearts.

During their first meeting, she told them: ‘I have a small confession. You are not the only Traitors in this castle. At the round table, I picked one other Traitor, the secret Traitor. You still have power, but not quite as much.

‘That secret Traitor will work alone. Each night, they will provide you with a murder shortlist. You can only murder one of the people who is on the murder short list. Because they are a Traitor, they won’t put themselves on it, and of course they won’t put you on it.

‘Let me add this, you don’t know who they are, but they know exactly who you are.

To which Stephen responds: ‘This is twisted,’ with Claudia smirking and adding, ‘Just the way I like it.’

Among the twenty-two players hoping to win the huge prize pot, which could be up to £120,000, is Judy and Roxy, who are mother and daughter. They are keeping their relationship secret from their fellow contestants but let viewers in on the secret in the first episode.

And two more contestants had an unexpected reunion when they arrived at the famous Scottish castle.

While Netty was delighted to see a familiar face among the 20 strangers, Ross was sceptical and already in game mode, despite the Traitors not even being chosen yet.

BBC Bosses told the Daily Mail that it was not planned to have a second pair of contestants on the show who already know each other, as it was also revealed in the first episode that there is a mother and daughter duo in the game.

When conducting background checks, producers did find that Netty and Ross followed each other on social media, but the link was tenuous and they didn’t want to not cast them because of it.

Mike Cotton, Creative Director at Studio Lamberts, told the Daily Mail that neither player was warned ahead of the opening scene, as they wanted to watch their natural reaction on-screen for the first time and see how it played out in the game.

Netty’s stunned look quickly turned to excitement as she jumped into Ross’ arms after exiting the black 4x4s, while Ross was more reserved, making the reunion slightly awkward.

She then points to Ross and screams to the group, ‘I know him!’

Speaking to the camera, Netty added: ‘I get out of the car, and I recognise a face of someone called Ross who I met 10/15 years ago. I had no idea Ross was going to be here.’

He later explained that he was worried people would be suspicious of them. ‘Seeing Netty for the first time, I was like oh can we keep…,’ while pretending to zip his mouth shut.

‘But she is a very honest person, and I didn’t want to betray her, and it was really nice to see her. In the back of my mind, I was thinking this looks a bit suss.’

The pair later explained that they know each other through mutual friends in London, but Netty has since moved to Glasgow, and they haven’t seen each other for over 10 years.

The Traitors continues on January 2 at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.