BBC announces third series of The Traitors ahead of second series’ arrival

The Traitors will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for a third series following the soon-to-be-aired second series of the hit reality TV show.

The programme, presented by Claudia Winkleman, follows 22 strangers in a game of strategy and suspicion, as they compete to win up to £120,000.

The scheduling of the second series will be announced “in due course”, according to the BBC, and members of the public can sign up to be in the third series now.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said: “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.”

Stephen Lambert, chief executive of production company Studio Lambert, said: “We’re delighted a third series of The Traitors has been confirmed today ahead of the second series’ arrival on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

“The Traitors has been so warmly received by viewers, critics and award juries alike.

“Claudia and the team look forward to keeping audiences on the edge of their seats again with ever more thrilling missions and exceptional players competing in this gripping game of bluff and skill.”

This year The Traitors scooped a host of awards including the Bafta TV Award for best reality and constructed factual, and a National Television Award for best reality competition.

It also won the Royal Television Society (RTS) award for entertainment and the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for best entertainment programme.

Winkleman herself bagged the Bafta TV Award for best entertainment performance and the RTS award for entertainment performance.

The second series of the TV show was teased recently with a clip that aired on BBC One ahead of an episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

The Traitors, which is based on a Dutch format called De Verraders, involves Winkleman selecting a small number of players to be the traitors, while the rest of the players are the faithfuls and are unaware of the identity of the traitors.

While trying to avoid being eliminated, the faithfuls must figure out who is a traitor and vote them out so they can take the prize money for themselves.

If a traitor makes it to the end, they are in with a chance of taking home the cash prize.

Members of the public can apply to take part in The Traitors series three via BBC Take Part.