The Traitors season 2 has been and gone: here's what you need to know about the second series.
The Traitors had us glued to our screens across 12 episodes as we watched the contestants in this nail-biting BBC reality series try to unmask the Traitors amongst them to bag themselves a share of a huge cash prize (worth up to £120,000) during their stay at a stunning castle in the Scottish Highlands.
The show was a huge hit when it debuted; the final episode alone drew in more than 4 million viewers, though this series has had just as impressive viewing figures. Plus, there was plenty of buzz about the series on social media and we've even seen an American version hosted by Alan Cumming (The Traitors US season 2 is also back for more this month) and an Australian spin-off, too.
The show continued to be an even bigger deal this time around; there were way more applications, much more dastardly villains (looking at you, Paul), and many more viewers tuning in.
Here's everything you need to know about The Traitors season 2, including who won the money, who took part, and whether there's going to be another series.
Who won The Traitors season 2?
Harry was our big winner this time around. He and fellow Traitor, Andrew, made it to the final discussion alongside Jaz and Mollie. Andrew tried (and failed) to get the others to banish Harry, and it looked like it was all locked up for Harry... until Jaz (dubbed "Jazatha Christie" by the fans) decided to vote for one more banishment.
However, Mollie had utmost faith in Harry being a Faithful. Just before the three contestants had to reveal their answers, she decided to change the name she'd written down and opted to banish Jaz. That fateful decision meant Harry was safe, and able to walk away from the competition with £95,000 cash prize all to himself.
Will there be a third series of The Traitors?
Good news, Traitors fans: The Traitors has been renewed for season 3!
The BBC announced the show's renewal back in November 2023, before the second season had even arrived. Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, said of the news: "The massive unscripted hit The Traitors will be back for a third series. Expect to see more psychological gameplay, exciting challenges and of course Claudia at the helm. It will be a thrilling ride for both avid fans and newcomers to the series for sure. The BBC will always remain faithful to The Traitors.”
Anyone wishing to take part in the show's third outing can apply via the BBC Take Part website. Applications close on March 17, 2024.
The Traitors season 2 release date: how to watch and next episodes
The Traitors season 2 has now come to an end, after premiering on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9 pm.
New episodes continued to air on TV on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the same time, in the same place.
Looking for more BBC shows to enjoy? Check out our picks for the best BBC Dramas and best BBC comedies we think you should be streaming right now.
Who hosted The Traitors season 2?
Claudia Winkleman was confirmed to be returning to The Traitors when the show was officially renewed
Speaking at the time, Claudia said: "I can't wait to go back to the castle to watch people play the greatest game on television. I'm knitting a high funnel sweater immediately."
Before the new series arrived, she teased: "The missions this year are epic. The producers are so clever as the missions are incredibly important as it is a chance for the contestants to switch off from strategising and plotting. They get fresh air, they run around, they work as a team. The scale this year is beyond".
The Traitors series 2 contestants
The Traitors season 2 lineup was revealed just one day before the show aired. You can find out a little bit more about each of the contestants below.
How does The Traitors work?
The Traitors is a game show that sees a group of contestants taking part in "the ultimate game of truth and deception".
The group of contestants — comprised of 19 Faithfuls and a number of Traitors — are competing for the chance to walk away with the huge cash prize. As the team completes a series of challenges, they're also tasked with trying to figure our who the Traitors are among the group.
Every night, the Traitors gather to "murder" one of the Faithful to remove them from the competition (if there's just two Traitors left, they're given the choice whether to try and recruit another Faithful or eliminate another contestant instead). When the whole group gathers at the Round Table, they're also given the choice to remove another player from the show.
The winners are either the Traitor who remains undetected throughout the show or the Faithfuls if they manage to successfully eliminate all the Traitors.
Who won The Traitors series 1?
The three remaining Faithfuls — Hannah, Aaron and Meryl — who'd made it all the way to The Traitors series 1 final managed to walk away splitting a massive prize pot worth £101,050 by successfully rooting out that Wilfred and Kieran were the two Traitors remaining among the final five.
Is there a trailer?
Yes, a "festive trailer" was released over the Christmas period ahead of the show's return, giving us a small taste of the challenges and tense confrontations from the new series. Check it out below:
Where is The Traitors filmed?
Like the first series and the US spin-off, The Traitors season 2 was filmed at Ardross Castle, a magnificent 19th-century castle found north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
