The Traitors arrived on UK screens in November of 2022, promising to feature a concept unlike anything seen before. The show is based on the Netherlands’ original version De Varraders, released in 2021. The UK’s first series was the second-ever edition worldwide, and the first English-language version, meaning the show’s concept was still incredibly fresh to audiences globally.
The show revolves around a group of 22 contestants whisked away to the Scottish Highlands into a large castle, where each will be told by the host Claudia Winkleman whether they are either a “Faithful” or “Traitor”. Those selected to be Faithful must try to banish the Traitors so they can split the prize pot of up to £120,000. However, the Traitors must attempt to “murder” the Faithful first and make it to the end of the game to take the prize pot for themselves.
A Ruthless Game
In the years leading up to 2022, the reality TV scene in the UK was typically easy-going and tame. Long-running classics including The Great British Bake Off, The Voice, I’m a Celebrity, and Strictly Come Dancing, mostly fell into the category of light-hearted fun competitions never to be taken seriously by the contestants. As lovely as it is to be mostly there to enjoy the experience, the lack of tension or stakes can arguably become a little stale.
However, The Traitors subverts this expectation. This is immediately presented in the pilot episode of the first UK season when Claudia Winkleman asks the contestants upon arrival at the castle to line up and stand in order of how likely they think they are to win. This shocking task immediately set the dramatic tone for the game show, reiterating to audiences that this show is a competition riddled with twists and turns never seen before on reality TV. This cutthroat agenda is further established when Claudia tells Kieren and Amos, the two people standing at the end of the line most likely to lose, that “I’m going to take you for your word, so I’m afraid it’s goodbye”. From a mere ten minutes in the first episode, this extremity proved just how ruthless and high-stakes The Traitors would be.
Crossing International Borders
Since the first UK season of The Traitors, new editions of the show have opened around the world, including Canada, Belgium, Australia, the USA, and more. This emphasises how popular The Traitors franchise has become, not only in the UK but across international borders. Each version of the show approaches the game slightly differently in terms of setting, challenges, and rule changes, to ensure each country’s franchise stands out and has its own identity.
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Despite being a huge risk, The Traitors paid off. Series One averaged an audience of 5.4 million and a peak of 4.7 million on the finale episode. The second series only grew larger with an average audience of 6.8 million and a peak of 8 million on the finale episode. These are astounding figures to achieve, particularly in the age of streaming and subscription services. These figures in addition to the show’s presence across various social media platforms prove how revolutionary The Traitors have become, not only for the UK, but for the world.