The BBC’s reality TV show The Traitors is returning for a second series on Wednesday January 3, with 22 contestants competing for the cash prize.

Last year’s three faithful winners – Meryl Williams, Aaron Evans and Hannah Byczkowski – claimed the prize after the gripping three-week contest ended with traitor Wilfred Webster being found out.

Contestants on the show are voted out one-by-one by each other until the end, if there are any ‘traitors’ left they take the money for themselves, otherwise it is split between those who are left.

However, the £120,000 prize pot is not set in stone, so, how much will The Traitors series two’s winners end up walking home with?

Find out how it is decided below…

BBC reality TV show The Traitors returns on January 3 and boasts one of the broadcaster’s biggest ever prize pots

Pictured: Last year’s winners (L-R) Aaron Evans, Meryl Williams and Hannah Byczkowski with host Claudia Winkleman

The Traitors sees 22 members of the public compete for a cash prize of up to £120,000

How much is The Traitors prize money?

The BBC has confirmed that series two of The Traitors will, again, have a £120,000 prize fund – one of the broadcaster’s biggest for any show.

However, at the series’ debut the prize pot itself is empty. 

All 22 members of the public who are holed up in the Scottish highlands have to work together to build their potential winnings.

This is whether you are a traitor or a faithful – with the opposing sides forced to work together if they want to win big, but without becoming too fond of each other as faithfuls try to discover who their secret enemies are. 

In each episode, viewers will be able to see how much the players have added to the prize fund by undertaking various challenges which rely on their strength, speed of wit and problem solving skills.

And at the end of each show there is a round-table discussion where someone is voted out by their co-stars, before the traitors unite and decide to ‘murder’ someone. 

At the end of all the drama, it will be revealed just how much money is at stake as the few remaining contestants stick or twist as they whittle themselves down until they are confident not a single traitor remains.

With the prize money shared, the fewer that are left, the more each winner takes home for themselves. 

What did The Traitors series one’s winners do with the money?

In December 2022, Hannah, Meryl and Aaron successfully uncovered Wilfred Webster as the final traitor to share a £101,050 between them.

It had looked like the traitors stood a good chance of edging out their faithful counterparts before Wilf and Kieran Tompsett turned on each other at the very end, blowing their cover.

By the time the finale had aired, Hannah and Aaron had both quit their jobs, while Meryl – who worked at a call centre – had aspirations of getting into TV presenting and following in Claudia Winkleman’s footsteps.

She had already starred in a short Channel 4 documentary called Living My Best Life As A Woman With Dwarfism before being on The Traitors, and has used her elevated profile since then to continue to raise awareness of her condition.

In her post reflecting on the year after she won the reality show, Meryl said: ‘2023 – One of the best years of my life…

‘I now work in an industry I never thought I could ever work in & be able to make living from it!’

A theme among the champions is that they appear to have allowed some of their prize money to go towards enjoying themselves.

Meryl’s social media is packed with snaps of her enjoying trips away and nights out alongside raising awareness of dwarfism.

Discussing the targeting she had received following her TV appearances, she also opened up about having forehead reduction surgery – as this had always been a ‘big insecurity’ for her.

Meryl feels ‘more confident than ever’ after getting forehead reduction surgery, admitting that it had always been a ‘big insecurity’ of hers

Hannah co-hosts a podcast called Ghost Huns with her pal, and fellow comic, Suzie Preece where they regale spooky tales

Her good friend, and fellow winner, Hannah used to do care assessments but already had plans to become a comedian before even joining The Traitors.

Alongside stand-up shows, Hannah also now co-hosts the Ghost Huns podcast with fellow comic Suzie Preece, which casts a light-hearted eye over some of ‘the world’s creepiest ghost stories’.

Their show achieved huge success, with over one million plays in its first full year and inspiring a tour in 2024 from March until April.

Aaron also quit his job – as an estate agent – to go travelling in 2023, but was hoping his documentation of the trip would set him up as a vlogger – but one of the eight videos he uploaded to YouTube has got over 1,000 views.

He still seemed to enjoy his time though, posting snaps from Vietnam, Thailand and other stunning locations with his friends.

But he spent most of his winnings on his mother.

Throughout the series, Aaron had promised that if he won any money, he would give it to his mother so she could put down a deposit on a house, and he stuck to his word. 

While the job as a full-time vlogger never materialised, Aaron revealed in a YouTube Q&A on the day of series two’s launch that he had started working on yachts.

Aaron spent most of his winnings on his mother (pictured), after promising that if he won any money, he would give it to her to put down a deposit on a house

When is The Traitors series two on?

The Traitors returns on BBC One at 9pm Wednesday 3rd January, and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Episode 2 and 3 will become available online immediately afterwards.

Episodes will continue to air at the same time on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights from then.