*Warning – This article contains spoilers for tonight’s episode of The Traitors.*
Claudia Winkleman has certainly spiced up the proceedings on The Traitors with a jaw-dropping twist that arrived just in time to stir the pot before the grand finale.
On Thursday night’s show (January 23), the ever-glamorous TV hostess prepped the participants for their ‘most important mission’ to date.
She detailed the gravity of their task, stating: “Today we will revisit some of the missions you have done but you will face three new challenges. If you complete all of those challenges successfully, you will add an amazing £12,000 to the prize fund.”
Always one for surprises, Claudia added an unexpected twist, enthusing: “But, there’s more. This is by far the most important mission you have ever faced. Whoever banks the most gold individually will gain a power more valuable than we have ever seen. They will become The Seer.”
The Seer, a clue-in from the popular group role-playing game Werewolf which inspires the format of The Traitors, holds exceptional clout within the game, reports Wales Online.
As per Claudia’s explanation: “The Seer has the power to know one other player’s ‘true’ identity. The Seer will invite one player this evening to a private face-to-face meeting.
“That player they have chosen will have no choice but must reveal if they are a Faithful or a Traitor. This power could turn the entire game on its head,” she added.
After a strenuous set of tasks throughout the day, the contestants came together for their penultimate roundtable discussion, culminating in the eviction of the conniving Freddie from the premises.
The game’s climactic moment arrived as Francesca assumed the crucial role of The Seer and was granted a private session with Claudia to expose a contestant’s ‘true’ allegiance.
With great anticipation, she chose Traitor Charlotte, confessing: “In my heart, I hope she’s a Faithful. Then I can take a sigh of relief that I know that one person is 100% a Faithful and it was the person I always thought it was.”
Shocked at her own selection, Charlotte expressed during her key interview: “But I guess that’s the game. I’m the last Traitor standing, everything is at stake. It is literally her word against mine,” highlighting the high tension in the battle for survival.
As the episode reached its suspense-filled conclusion, both Charlotte and Francesca braced themselves for their inevitable confrontation.
Meanwhile, viewers also witnessed a conniving twist as Traitor Freddie was expelled from the castle. His elimination was deftly masterminded by Charlotte, who, aiming to protect herself, ‘murdered’ Leanne, fully aware she was safe from expulsion due to a shield.
Charlotte’s cunning strategy intended to cast doubt on those unaware of Leanne’s immunity, Freddie and Alexander, ultimately sewing seeds of distrust about Freddie amongst the others.
Despite his best efforts to prove himself, he insisted that Minah, who was banished yesterday, had informed him about Leanne’s shield. This white lie only served to make him appear guilty in the eyes of the other Faithfuls, resulting in them voting him out.
As the finale approaches, Charlotte is the sole remaining Traitor within the castle walls.
The Traitors finale airs tomorrow at 8.30PM on BBC One and iPlayer