A Dagger to the Heart | Traitors 2026 | Thread 10 | Spoiler Free!

[CaveMum]

Link to previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5476837-its-a-wicked-game-traitors-2026-thread-9-spoiler-free?page=1

Welcome to Thread 10 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:

Traitors
Hugo
Rachel
Stephen
Fiona (Secret Traitor)

Murdered
Netty
Ben
Maz
Reece
Adam
Jessie

Banished
Judy (Faithful) - Roxy’s mum!
Hugo (Traitor)
Ross (Faithful) - Ellie’s boyfriend!
Amanda (Faithful)
Fiona (Traitor)
Harriet (Faithful)
Sam (Faithful)
Ellie (Faithful)

The floor is yours…

I liked Aus1 and then Aus2 was so bad you can’t look away. I liked season 2 but it seems like a marmite one. New Zealand is good but lower budget. I’ve watched the US ones but I’d say they’re my least favourite. They’re doing a civilian one this year as well which will hopeful be better. Ireland was fantastic. Canada was a bit meh. Claudia is my favourite host but Siobhán McSweeney is also brilliant but I don’t rate any of the other hosts that highly.

I like Alan Cumming, probably from the great character he played on The Good Wife and eventually realising it was the same actor as in The High Life. which I’d not watched much, but seen snippets of.

I tried, but even he couldn’t make me sit through a whole episode of The Traitors US, even though he had some wonderful outfits.

I agree with you -it makes me sad being the mum of boys.

i sincerely hope that all these MIL bitchers have sons!!!

Nigel in series 1 traitors Australia is my favourite ever contestant.

I'm the "MIL bitcher" who made the one comment that you and @Womaninhouse17 didn't like. Which I've explained.

You'll be pleased to know I do indeed have a son. Although you'll probably be less pleased to know I'm very unlikely to have a DIL as my son is gay. I hope you weren't being homophobic with your stereotypical comment?

Oh me too! Apart from Alan Carr.

I've just come across this interesting article in Sunday's Observer about how the traitors are chosen and what influence producers play once they're in the castle (answer - none).

Apparently, Fiona came acroas a sweet, little old lady in the interviews so the programme makers were as blindsided by the rest of us by her.

I also liked that they don't want to pick contestants who are only applying because they want to be on tv or want to be famous. I hope they can keep weeding out the wannabe celebs.

You have to register to read the article but it's free to register.
observer.co.uk/news/national/article/dark-delicate-art-of-choosing-the-traitors

I've seen that article and although they say "they don't want to pick contestants who are only applying because they want to be on tv or want to be famous" - the fact is that several have started on media jobs (Alexander for ClassicFM, Minah for BBC) and quite a lot come back regularly to discuss, so it is definitely on the minds of some as an option.

"Apparently, Fiona came acroas a sweet, little old lady in the interviews so the programme makers were as blindsided by the rest of us by her." - @cariadlet

Seeing as we've just been talking about potentially misogynistic stereotypes - to be fair and accurate in case anyone gets the wrong stick, what the (male) producer was quoted as saying about Fiona was "Fiona was a lovely, sweet lady". There was no 'old' nor 'little'.

I find it hard to believe they were so shocked that Fiona (to quote) "played that game hard" given the extensive psychological exams they apparently too.

I am also cynical about them saying they don't go for contestants who want to be famous. I can believe they look for more than that, but they've had several people on who were big on social media and influencers in their niche before going on the programme. And several others who have gone that way since.

Again to be fair, I think it would be very hard now after four seasons to pick someone who doesn't want to be on TV or famous, or at least is comfortable with being well-known, given the huge viewing figures and the opportunities to go on Uncloaked for future seasons etc.

Thank you for the new thread 😊
we’re planning our snacks for Saturday. Tiramisu is high on the list. Popcorn, cashew nuts and possibly a few haribo.

I tried watching US Traitors, but it basically being a carbon copy annoyed me, as did Alan Cummings.None of the players seemed likeable.
Have watched Aussie and New Zealand, enjoyed them both, but UK and Aussie my faves, heard that they are going to be filming another series for Australia so if true will look forward to that( I like the host)
Watched Ireland's and liked that too, but found it hard to understand some of them and wasn't keen on Siobhan McSweeney, they did a relationship reveal on it which i think was great and actually added something to the show unlike most of the reveals on UK's.
Since Reece left (I had hopes he would figure it all out) I want stephen and Rachel to win together
Please none of the faithfuls

I live near the airport, there is often a row of black land rovers outside the hotel and you can often see them on the roads around Inverness.

There’s a new host for the next Aus version apparently. Gretel Killeen. I haven’t heard of her before so I don’t know what she’ll be like but hopefully it will be good. I didn’t like Rodger at first, probably because I was used to Claudia, but he grew on me about halfway through the first season. New Zealand are also getting a new host this year.

I think the subtext was 'we distinguish ourselves from entirely vacuous wannabes you might find on ITV/C4'.

I'm rewatching bits for a daily Stephen fix 😂.

Although the cabin task is riddled with continuity errors which is annoying once you see them 🤣.

I imagine every country’s version has a bit of its’ own culture embedded into it. The language used, the way the greet each other etc. Plus if you are introduced to 22 new characters in a show it’s easier to place them if they are from your own country as you ‘recognize’ the characters more easily.

I got into Aussie traitors from episode 4 onwards, it’s been brilliant!

You might want to avoid here if you're planning on watching on Saturday, the final is Friday :D

I saw your explanation and I sympathise. It was my mother who undermined and belittled me so I'm truly grateful to have a wonderful MIL. Your comment would have been better if you had specified 'my MIL' though, as it implied that all MILs deserved a nasty jumper.

@ZappyDays yes i made the same conclusion within about 45 seconds of attempting the aus version 😂

@RainbowSnake interesting! I started with season 2 as I was told it was the better one...maybe I should do them in order. Though tbh after 20 minutes of episode 1 im not sure i'd get through 2 seasons.

@CarminaBiryani oo like what? I never spot errors unless someone points them out!

Thanks for the info-I didn't know that NZ was also filming another season.
Great! can continue my Traitors fix

I've finally caught up with viewing and now place marking so I can participate in these threads for the final week!

That’s good to know, thank you.

Is there not somewhere nearer Ardross they could stay? I used to visit family quite near there, and the nearly-an-hour journey from Inverness Airport was quite a trek. They have made significant improvements to the road since we used to make the journey, though.

Maybe they like a modern hotel with long straight corridors they can guard, and there’s room for the production crew, too.

I imagine they have to keep changing the number plates on the Land Rovers when they go off the Ardross grounds.

Slightly different username as MN has made me sign in but won't let me have my usual one!

I liked Alan Cumming on the US version of The Traitors but I wasn't so keen on the contestants all being reality stars, especially as I hadn't seen any of the programmes they were on.

James has grown on me. I liked it at the dinner party when he said he didn't have lots of money but had enough (paraphrasing) and wanted to buy his stepdaughter a better car. I thought that was quite sweet.