It might only be March, but we are already starting to crave some more cloaks and Claudia Winkleman. Yes, we're talking Traitors season 5. After that incredible fourth season (two Traitors won together, and it was a beautiful thing, people!), it's no wonder we are already daydreaming about returning to the castle. And good news — not only is season 5 definitely happening, the show along with its celeb spin-off, have both been extended until at least 2030, per Deadline. Plus, we already have our first little titbit of intel and what might change.
Stephen Lambert, founder of Studio Lambert, which produces both the UK and U.S. versions of the show, recently shared some updates on what we can expect from the next series. One of the biggest bits of news? Apparently, that Secret Traitor twist was a one-time only thing.
Hungry for more treachery?
"After the huge success of the Celebrity Traitors, we introduced the idea of a Secret Traitor as a way of doing something that was different," Lambert said at an event at the University of East Anglia in Norfolk, per IGN. “But it wasn't something we wanted to keep going with. It was a clever way of signalling we were doing something different, but I go back to the pleasure of the show being that the audience doesn't know who the Traitors are.”
He added that the “trouble” with a twist like the Secret Traitor is that "you're completely a victim of the edit... and that doesn't feel very satisfying."
Ultimately, Lambert and his team are confident that their original format is enough to keep us all hooked. "A good format is something that's designed in such a way that people feel a sense of familiarity with it, which is why they want to keep coming back to come back and watch it," he said. “But intrinsically it's designed so that there's sufficient variation — partly, obviously, through the change of cast, but also you want to make little changes within it... What I like about The Traitors is there's so many ways that story can go, that once you add a different cast and once you think of some additional tweaks here and there.”
These fan suggestions actually make a lot of sense.
Is The Traitors season 5 happening?
Yes, don't worry, Traitors will be back — and by the sounds of things, it'll be back to its original format. But that doesn't mean there won't be a few twists and turns and murders in plain sight along the way!
When is The Traitors season 5?
Traitors season 5 will reportedly begin filming in just a few months' time. Applications close on 31st May (more on that below), so it's safe to say filming probably won't begin until the summer. Although an official premiere date hasn't yet been announced, you can probably expect the show to land in January 2027 (as per previous seasons).
To tide you over, Celebrity Traitors season 2 is also on its way this summer.
How do I apply for The Traitors season 5?
If you fancy your chances on The Traitors season 5 (you brave thing, you), you can apply directly on the BBC website. Applications close on 31st May.
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