We’re now into the second half of this year’s series of The Traitors – and the twists and turns are only getting bigger.
Tonight’s episode (15 January) will see Traitors Rachel and Stephen attempt to murder a Faithful who might very possibly have a shield, meaning they’ll be unsuccessful.
Their latest decision arrived after a dramatic say in which Harriet spectacularly confronted Rachel, not once, but twice.
Harriet first launched an explosive attack at breakfast, where she also revealed her previous job and the fact that she’s written best-selling crime books. However, just as Fiona did before her, Harriet went a little too strong and later found herself in the firing line – and ultimately banished at the round table.
The action-packed episode also saw Matthew receive a response from the Traitors after making them an unusual offer. And elsewhere, a tense challenge saw seven of the remaining 12 Faithfuls win shields, with Rachel and Stephen being left in the dark on exactly who had them.
The Traitors continues on Thursday (15 January) night at 8pm.
Follow along below for live updates…
The Traitors
- Harriet's 'real motive' for being on The Traitors
- Harriet labelled 'best Traitor ever' as she confronts Rachel
- Who will be murdered next?
- Is there going to be a Soothsayer twist?
30 minutes to go
19:30 , Jacob StolworthyWill tonight’s episode be better than last night’s? It’s doubtful – although we keep thinking that and it then it comes along and delivers. This series is the best since two, in my opinion.
Matt, Sam, who?
19:00 , Jacob StolworthyThe latest season of The Traitors is teeming with twenty and thirtysomething men who all look pretty similar, and it’s making the backstabbing and double-crossing in the castle even more impenetrable than usual, says Katie Rosseinsky.
Matt, Sam, who? The Traitors’ ‘man-merge’ is the real problem with the latest series
This is a good point
18:30 , Jacob StolworthyAlthough we’re sure it’s designed to eke out a little bit of tension.
REMINDER there’s no point in saying “I am and HAVE ALWAYS BEEN” when you’re a faithful because you can’t go from Traitor to Faithful so just say “I am a Faithful”, thanks for listening. #TheTraitorsUK
— Vit (@vitt2tsnoc) January 14, 2026
The latest Traitors drama exposes the show’s central flaw
18:01 , Jacob StolworthyUntil her dramatic explosion at the breakfast table, Harriet was perhaps the best player we’ve seen on ‘The Traitors’ so far. That’s why she could never win, writes Ellie Harrison
The latest Traitors drama exposes the show’s central flaw
Proof Stephen is gonna go far
17:00 , Jacob StolworthyLoved this moment in last night’s episode after Stephen played Jack for a massive fool.
You silly silly boy x #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK pic.twitter.com/mzTlW1ombv
— lencrandle (@lencrandle) January 14, 2026
Why Claudia Winkleman is at the riskiest point in her career
16:30 , Jacob StolworthyClaudia might have us all eating out of the palm of her knitted glove-clad hand right now, but The Independent’s Helen Coffey thinks The Traitors presenter is at the most precarious point of her professional life. Here’s why...
Why Claudia Winkleman is at the riskiest point of her career
Steal Claudia's style
16:00 , Jacob StolworthyThe shopping experts on our IndyBest team have got you covered. Thanks us later.
Claudia Winkleman just wore these custom Traitors loafers – here’s where to shop
Is The Traitors just a popularity contest?
15:30 , Jacob StolworthyIt’s hard to disagree with this.
#TheTraitors is a perfect example of modern day society by showcasing that not a single one of the faithfuls have a unique thought and follow what the loudest person says
— Oli Hope (@ItsJustOlisWork) January 15, 2026
Yet when a counter argument is made against someone they like (Rachel) they immediately banish the accuser.
The Traitors' bleakly predictable pattern
15:00 , Jacob Stolworthy“The Traitors is a fantastic show precisely because it sheds light on the relatable dynamics that tend to crop up if you put together any random group of people,” writes our columnist Micha Frazer-Carroll.
“Just as we relish in this part of the show, we should also be open to the reality that everyday biases likely swirl in its undercurrent.”
Read the full article here...
People of colour keep leaving Traitors early. We need to talk about why
Traitors icon backs shock contestant for victory
14:30 , Jacob StolworthyHe might look like a rabbit in headlights and go bright pink during every roundtable, but this year’s dark horse? According to a former Traitors star, it’s Stephen.
Traitors icon Amanda backs shock contestant for victory: ‘Don’t underestimate them’
ICYMI: Harriet discovers if she was right
14:00 , Jacob StolworthyIt’s safe to say, Harriet knew Rachel was a Traitor – and she was understandably delighted to find out she was spot on.
Was Harriet too good to win The Traitors?
13:45 , Ellie HarrisonNovelist and former barrister Harriet was one of the strongest Faithfuls in the game. But it didn’t get her anywhere...
The latest Traitors drama exposes the show’s central flaw
Amanda reveals show may have saved her life
13:00 , Jacob StolworthyBanished copper Amanda has been giving interviews since leaving the castle - and in one of her chats, she revealed how The Traitors may have saved her life...
The Traitors medical check-up revealed serious heart disease, says contestant Amanda
The real problem with this series
12:30 , Jacob StolworthyDon’t get me wrong, I am loving the drama of the current series and would give it five out of five stars.
But I 100 per cent agree with our lifestyle and culture writer Katie Rosseinsky on this one...
Matt, Sam, who? The Traitors’ ‘man-merge’ is the real problem with the latest series
Have Rachel and Stephen messed up?
12:00 , Jacob StolworthyI agree that seducing felt like a waste, but murdering was a risky move considering so many players had shields. Pretending they’d been targeted for murder could have been genius play.
What possessed Rachel & Stephen to attempt another murder when 5 out of the 10 remaining Faithfuls had a shield. Why didn't they recruit Matthew & as Claire Balding suggested pretend the traitors had made an attempt on them but they were protected by their shield 🙂 pic.twitter.com/v0DLJyJtvI
— iain mcbride (@t2soon) January 14, 2026
'Second envelope' theory
11:30 , Jacob StolworthyThere’s a theory doing the rounds based on the second envelope next to the banished contestants when they discover who the traitors are on aftershow Uncloaked.
One sleuth has suggested it might bear the name of someone Claudia secretly appointed as a Soothsayer at the start of the show.
The theory goes that the Soothsayer has been able to correctly identify their fellow contestants’ true identities – and has been quietly influencing the game ever since.
So who could it be? If true, the sleuth believes the Soothsayer is Ellie.
Claudia Winkleman praised for off-screen behaviour
11:00 , Jacob StolworthyShe’s an outlier when it comes to other game show presenters, according to a past Traitors contestant.
Traitors star reveals Claudia Winkleman’s true off-camera personality
Harriet's 'real motive' for appearing on The Traitors
10:00 , Jacob StolworthyIn the latest episode, Harriet proudly declared to her fellow contestants not once, but twice, that she was a bestselling author of crime fiction.
After bowing out in a self-sacrificial banishment, it’s now being speculated that she went on the show to promote her novels.
If that was the case, it’s worked: her book sales have increased by 95 per cent – and she has another one due out in two months.
Re-live Harriet's banishment
09:30 , Jacob StolworthyHarriet decided, out of nowhere, to throw herself on her own grenade for reasons I still can’t quite discern. She urged people who weren’t going to vote for her to write her name down. But hey, it made for great TV.
Fireworks at breakfast
09:00 , Jacob StolworthyRachel hadn’t even had a cuppa before Harriet went for her, and then Roxy, at breakfast. It had shades of the Tom/Alex relationship reveal in series one.
The real big questions after last night's episode
09:00 , Jacob StolworthySome people aren’t buying Rachel’s big revelation.
How does this even happen? Do you go on a course and if so for what? Do you get a private tutor who comes to you? Is it online, is the FBI agent from AMERICA? Is there role play, do you get a certificate and what are you PAYING for this? No. I don’t buy it. #TheTraitorsUK pic.twitter.com/xQQ1RhoQnV
— Vit (@vitt2tsnoc) January 15, 2026
Harriet explains why she went rogue
08:30 , Jacob StolworthyBy Harriet’s own admission, her sacrificial banishment was a reckless move but stemmed from wanting to make an impact on the game.
“I think it was my moment to depart – and I did it on my own terms,” she said on Uncloaked. You can say that again!
Recapping last night's drama
08:30 , Jacob Stolworthy- Harriet has been banished. She threw herself under the bus to prove her own theory about Rachel. But it seems the Faithfuls are ignoring her and are now targeting two other names she threw in at the last minute: Roxy and Matthew.
- Stephen and Rachel have decided to murder and whittled it down to three options: Adam, Jessie and James. The only problem is, two of those people (Jessie and James) have shields so the murder might backfire...
It was a doozy!
Best comeback in Traitors history?
08:01 , Jacob StolworthyStephen appeared to be toast at the start of last week – and how the tables have turned. He’s gone from a rank outsider to favourite, admittedly thanks to some rather bizarre behaviour from Fiona, which he’s used to his advantage.
I can’t recall a better turnaround in Traitors history.
stephen is an absolute sweetheart and i’m so happy that his game has taken a turn for the better. what a power move from him #thetraitors #thetraitorsuk pic.twitter.com/tpjzkvVnXV
— beth ✨ (@raggedydocs) January 9, 2026
