Tell Me Lies Tell Me Sweet Little Lies | Traitors 2026 | Thread 7 | Spoiler Free!

[CaveMum]

Link to previous thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5473255-whispers-in-the-confessional-traitors-2026-thread-6-spoiler-free?page=1

Welcome to Thread 7 of Traitors 2026.

This thread runs at TV pace so do not read any further if you are not up to date with the live broadcast. Whilst most discussion will be on the current series, inevitably people will refer to previous series/players/winners so reader beware if you’ve not seen the 3 previous editions, or the celebrity version.

While we welcome posters discussing their theories and speculating on relationships/connections between players, please don’t post spoilers from elsewhere that may ruin things for those of us who like to see things unfold over the course of the series.

The story so far (as at end of Ep 6):

Traitors
Hugo
Rachel
Stephen
Fiona (Secret Traitor)

Murdered
Netty
Ben
Maz
Reece

Banished
Judy (Faithful)
Hugo (Traitor)
Ross (Faithful)
Amanda (Faithful)
Fiona (Traitor)

This thread is starting mid-way through Episode 7, so goodness only knows what is going to happen in the Round Table Showdown that is brewing.

The floor is yours…

@C8H10N4O2 For me the problem was that Harriet was primed to speak at breakfast and Roxy kept cutting her off and interjecting with banalities like how the task went down and what the group has decided. The aggressive way Harriet spoke was out of order but Roxy kept inserting herself unnecessarily into the conversation it was irritating

Roxy is annoying and her saying Harriet’s behaviour is ‘disgusting’ was a bit much. Unless H called them all cunts, then that’s not the way to deal with the situation and it’s no wonder it got her back up.

Agree about Judy, and I don’t usually say this, but I think there was unconscious bias at play because they got rid of like 4 non-white contestants in a row 🤦‍♀️

Well, that was a rapid turnaround from Harriet. I haven’t particularly liked her from the start—there was something about her behaviour at one of the first few breakfasts that made me feel she wasn’t really my cup of tea. That said, regardless of personal feelings, she absolutely went from calm and considered to quite angry and agitated for seemingly no reason.

Someone upthread (sorry, I can’t refind it now—the thread’s moved too fast!) pointed out how strange it was that she said, “You’re not going to make a fool out of me.” That really stood out to me too - what happened we didn't see?

A few other of my thoughts, courtesy of the approximately one million comments on this thread:

• I haven’t watched Uncloaked, but is there any chance this “mysterious second envelope” contained the two relationships we know about. Then because of the mania about everyone being related, they cut it out to create a purposeful mystery instead.
• Stephen is clearly smart and observant and probably has been from the start—it’s just been edited out. Also, no one seems to think he’s a traitor anymore just because he goes red and flustered, which they previously saw as suspicious… until the whole “Library Five” theory collapsed when Fiona turned out to be the traitor. Everyone apparently decided that meant Stephen was cleared, without entertaining the wild possibility that there might have been two traitors!
• Matthew. I truly haven’t understood his thinking since the moment he failed to grasp how Reece knew Maz was a Faithful, despite Maz being the last one in the cages and then immediately getting murdered.
• Finally, despite so many of they talking about tactics bases on previous series, they seem to have forgotten (especially where Rachel is concerned) that just because you like someone doesn't mean they aren't a Traitor and a big liar, liar pants on fire!

They don't need to know who is on which side though. They can agree to go for a specific person and vote them out and who the group decided to go for and whys they are right give them information.

This is what I find unusual in this series and it was something that happened at pretty much every rt in the Irish series. Faithfuls worked together to get the numbers for banishing someone, checking in through the day who are we going for? Have we enough votes? if we don't lets hold off until we do. It was far more strategic, didn't always work and there was always some that went rogue on their vote but they knew numbers was the key and without the numbers to get someone you were potentially putting your own head on the chopping block. Harriet should have spent time bringing people on board with her theory before going for Rachel. I didn't see the episode was out and I am in Ireland so can't get it on catch up (or even record it anymore BBC pulled our rights to 😫, tbf we are not UK licence payers) but I would have thought Harriet would have had the sense to work with small groups to get them on side with Fiona first. It is a team game until the very end.

I looked at Roxy’s Instagram and people were writing horrible comments on there. It’s awful as she’s a person who was also playing a game and now loads of people are being vile towards her. There were some shitty comments on Fiona’s too.

Fiona was a Traitor. The Secret Traitor.

Has anyone else noticed that not a single Traitor has been English? And the next candidate is the only non-English person remaining in the game? (Hugo was Welsh, he confirmed this on Uncloaked).

Roxy saying she thought she was liked gave me the ick. Popular girls should be more modest!

Glad you can see the bias@SeanutBrittleOnToastedCoral

On the voting at the round table, I do think there are some players who have no ideas of their own and just listen to everyone else and then decide who to vote for, like sheep. Obviously it could be editing, but there are some who never speak, or just add onto what others have already said.

In retrospect, isn’t it interesting though that Leanne’s aggression at the round table never backfired on her? Look at how fast contestants are to round on anyone who makes a scene, appears to be too angry/aggressive, just isn’t “nice/unassuming” enough - but none of that applied to Leanne last year.

I am wondering how much unconscious bias in the game also comes down to “pretty privilege” as well as social skills. Leanne was pretty extreme with it looking like an actual Barbie doll! Are we seeing some hard evidence that once you’re over 50 your character flaws just aren’t obscured by your looks anymore?

Sorry if already mentioned but I don’t understand why Harriet didn’t ask them to all vote Rachel out and if she’s wrong, to vote her out at the very next round table. I mean they could have not gone along with it but she didn’t even try.

I think the mainstream popularity of the programme has opened up the pool of potential players in a way that other reality programmes like Big brother etc. cant. So the producers have been able select/recruit some quite big/interesting/ arrogant confident characters. A few that are very much used to being in control! And with manipulation via the game itself they've created an environment ripe for drama.
I think perhaps the editing looks more clumsy this series because there was so much that could have been shown but ultimately it has to be edited to make the best tv and is only done after the game has ended. They have to get it down to 3 x 1 hour episodes.
We know the whole 'day in the castle' is orchestrated and directed , it's not just set the cameras rolling and watch the day happen like Big Brother.
So there's a great deal of director/producer influence without having to set up explicit narratives or create artificial drama

There may be unconscious bias at play but Ross was banished because he kept bringing himself up at Round Tables and reminding people of why they might be suspicious of him. It was hilariously bad game play.

I really, really wish they would choose clever, friendly people who are mostly team players - what made this series different was that nearly all the participants wanted to be a traitor!

Conflict isn't always "great TV" - it can just be messy and exasperating. What made the Celebrity Traitors such good viewing was seeing them grappling not with each other's arseholery, but with the increasingly fraught situation they found themselves in. The discussions at the round table were genuinely interesting because of that, instead of relying on animosity and paranoia to make them "entertaining".

I think you might be right. Outspoken attractive younger women seem to be more accepted by the group than loud older ones. It’s sad really. It seems to be a trait admired in someone younger but cringed at if over 50.

I know, in Ross’ case, he really over compensated and looked super guilty, but he was so nice😂

He did seem nice but clueless!

This series seems very main character driven, some contestants have barely been seen. I’m finding it really frustrating.

This is also a great way for one traitor to throw the other under the bus.
The only? defence would be for the first accused to reverse the suggestion.

People are so judgemental and vile.

I don’t even understand the dislike for Roxy. Harriet was so rude to her (snapping at her and the slow handclap). And she called it out. Quite right. The disparity in age and background made it worse. IMHO, older people shouldn’t behave like that towards younger people.

Roxy only cut in on Harriet to remind her their group had agreed to discuss what to say to the rest of the group. They’d reiterated that at breakfast before Harriet came in. By going it alone Harriet was potentially putting other people at risk.

I thought Harriet might have had the humility to acknowledge on Uncloaked how rude she’d been. If I remember correctly, she did refer to her outburst, but didn’t show any empathy for how it may have affected Roxy.

However, Harriet shouldn’t be vilified either. It’s a stressful situation and some people struggle more than others when under stress, due to physical/mental conditions, disabilities, hormones, backstory etc. But they should acknowledge and apologise.

Hard agree! Jade only seems to get airtime at the RT when someone invairably accuses her of being a traitor (why?! Because she looked 'shifty' when taking the blindfold off?!) Faraz seems to have a bit to say in the 'diary room' but almost no screen time (although when he does he seems good natured and funny). I'd like more of the low-key and less of the drama tbh. More sleuthing, less shrieking.

The thing it’s confirmed for me is that I have zero interest in reading any of Harriet’s books. I imagine the plot lines and thriller twists aren’t up to much, judging by her performance.

Very good point.

Well to be fair, it might be different if she's in full control of all the characters and plot!

Bit like Dorian Gray innit