Who is the Secret Traitor? Clues and theories explained ahead of reveal
Who's hiding beneath the red cloak?
7 January 2026, 11:45 | Updated: 8 January 2026, 10:06
It was the question on everyone's lips – who is the secret traitor? With four main suspects, according to fans and former players, we now have the anser.
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The Traitors series four kicked off with an explosive start as Claudia Winkleman revealed a shocking new curveball in the game – there's a secret traitor in the mix.
Beneath the menacing red cloak is a mystery player pulling the strings behind the traitors' sneaky plan, controlling every move by selecting a shortlist of who can be murdered each night.
It's a twist that's creating frustration among viewers and the plotting coven, who are desperate to know the identity of their unknown master.
But who is the secret traitor? Here we delve into the clues that have been revealed along with theories as we discover who the mysterious player really is.
Who is the secret traitor?
Series four has a secret backstabber hiding beneath a swishing scarlet cloak, roaming Ardross Castle as they laugh in the face of their fellow Traitors.
But who could the secret traitor be? Fans were breaking down all the clues that have been drip fed on-screen so far to come up with their logical guesses.
- Read more: Where is The Traitors castle? Inside filming location Ardross Castle
- Read more: Where do The Traitors contestants sleep?
The second clue flagged by fans, as well as on Ed Gamble's hit spin-off show Uncloaked, is the secret traitor's handwriting.
Many believe its curly cursive style must belong to a woman as it's "female and fluid", sparking some amateur analysis on social media.
So who is on the secret traitor hotlist? Here are the four main suspects.
Ellie - not the secret traitor
People have been comparing the handwriting on the round table chalkboards with the scrawl on the murder shortlist and think it could point to Ellie, 33, who works as a psychologist.
She's largely remained under-the-radar so far but viewers have suggested this could make her the perfect puppet-master.
Sleuths also noticed she previously referenced the 'secret traitor' during one scene – something only the traitors and Claudia are supposed to know about.
However, it turned out her secret wasn't being a traitor but that she had her longterm boyfriend on the show too - Ross, who was banished at the round table.
Fiona - secret traitor
Welsh player Fiona, 62, might seem innocent but she's made comments many times about people underestimating her. And they were right, as she turned out to be this series's secret traitor.
She gunned for banished traitor Hugo at the round table, revealing her ruthless side, which went some way to catching the Welshman before he left the game.
Fiona has now joined her fellow traitors, Stephen Libby and Rachel Duffy, after they underwent a secret mission to reveal her identity.
Read more: How much do the Celebrity Traitors get paid? Famous cast's wages revealed
Amanda - not a traitor
Other viewers were suspicious of former detective Amanda, who has decided to keep her ex-profession under wraps from the other contestants.
She is cool, calm and collected under pressure with sharp tactics and a beady eye for wrongdoing.
Harriet - not a traitor
Harriet is another contestant keeping her profession from the other players as she doesn't want to come off as suspicious.
However, eagle-eyed fans believed she may have been unmasked on Uncloaked after they spotted an apparent "blunder" during one episode.
Behind spin-off guests Cat Burns and ex-player Charlotte were four photos – three of known Traitors Rachel, Stephen and Hugo – and weirdly one of Harriet.
"Can’t stop thinking about Harriet as the Secret Traitor now," typed one viewer on social media.
"She could really have played it perfectly getting rid of the fellow barrister and cementing her position as a Faithful to the group so early in the game. She made Hugo her prime target."
- Read more: The Traitors blunder sparks fan frenzy as viewers ‘spot secret Traitor’ in Uncloaked
- Read more: Celebrity Traitors' Jonathan Ross reveals Alan Carr's 'horrible' unaired moment
