Claudia Winkleman reveals The Traitors’ third series will ‘have people on the edge of their seats’ as she hints at brand new format
Claudia Winkleman teased that there will be ‘a new format’ in the third series of The Traitors – which will have ‘people on the edge of their seats’.
The beloved English presenter, 52, has revealed some updates on the highly anticipated new installment, but claimed she couldn’t spill too much just yet.
“I mean, yes and no, I can’t tell you. I’m sorry. I realize that is annoying,” said the presenter of The Traitors The sun‘s TV magazine during a recent roundtable.
“There’s one twist this year that I think will have people on the edge of their seats.”
Speaking about the new season, Claudia added that the missions will be ‘really exciting’ – as the broadcaster hopes viewers will enjoy it as much as she does.
“They keep getting bigger and better, and this year they have more commitment to the bigger picture of the game than ever before,” she finished.
Claudia Winkleman teased that there will be ‘a new format’ in the third series of The Traitors – which will have ‘people on the edge of their seats’
“There’s one twist this year that I think will have people on the edge of their seats,” Claudia recently told TV magazine The Sun during a roundtable discussion.
It comes shortly after Claudia teased a shocking moment from the latest series of The Traitors, ahead of its highly anticipated return on New Year’s Day.
The 52-year-old won her first BAFTA in 2023 for hosting the big hit BBC game show and said the third series ‘moved’ her and the crew.
Claudia told me Sunday times: ‘I can’t wait for you to see it, there’s something in it that takes my breath away.
‘Chairs fall over. When everyone is gone, the crew and I stand there and shiver because we have just witnessed real emotion, real tension, a real release.”
But despite its huge success, Claudia revealed she originally didn’t want the show to continue after its first performance in 2020, as she thought it would be ‘chic’ to make something right once and then put it to bed.
‘The boss of the BBC literally came over, took my temperature and said, ‘We’re going again’.
Claudia recently revealed The centerpiece podcast which she initially turned down when presenting the show because she didn’t want to film in Scotland for more than three weeks.
The star was offered the job but turned it down because she didn’t want to be away from her family.
Discussing the challenging missions in the new series, she added: “They keep getting bigger and better, and this year they have more stakes in the bigger picture of the game than ever before.”
The 52-year-old won her first BAFTA in 2023 for hosting the big hit BBC game show and recently said the third series ‘moved’ her and the crew.
But after watching the original Dutch version, Claudia became ‘obsessed’ and quickly sent an email to BBC bosses who changed her mind.
Claudia, who also presents Strictly Come Dancing, said: ‘The Traitors is something I initially turned down because I didn’t like leaving my bed or the kids and they said, ‘Would you like to go to Scotland for three and a half weeks to go?’ .
‘And I thought, ‘I don’t think so,’ and then I watched the Dutch version and I became so obsessed.
‘I emailed Kate Phillips who offered me the job, who works at the BBC, and said, “I’ve booked a train, I want to do this more than anything” because it’s a privilege to to see the psychology and gameplay up close.’
Last month, the BBC shared a first look at the brand new series The Traitors and announced its release date.
The highly anticipated series of the award-winning show returns to screens on New Year’s Day, with Claudia back at the helm.
And in a thrilling new teaser, the show promises to ‘come back with a bang’ as a new group of strangers prepare to do battle in the hope of winning up to £120,000 in the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust.
Claudia revealed that she originally didn’t want the show to continue after its first performance in 2020, as she thought it would be “chic” to make something right once and then put it to bed.
The BBC is yet to confirm the line-up of Traitors and Faithfuls for the 2025 series, but the newcomers will have big shoes to fill with the following iconic characters from the previous series, including secret mother Diane Carson, villain Paul Gorton and of course the eventual winner Harry Clarke
The eerie clip shows three cloaked traitors carrying lanterns as they make their way to the castle under the cover of darkness.
As the haunting theme music from the series plays, fireworks explode in the sky, revealing the show’s logo, followed by the release date on New Year’s Day.
Claudia then appears on screen and says to the camera: ‘Start the new year with a bang.’
The format for the nail-biting show follows the previous series, with episodes released in batches of three and airing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings.
While the first two episodes air at 8pm, episodes three and beyond will be on screen from 9pm.
In addition to the new civilian series, the officially visualized podcast Traitors Uncloaked, hosted by stand-up comedian Ed Gamble, returns and will be available on BBC Two and iPlayer immediately after each episode of the main show.
The BBC is yet to confirm the line-up of Traitors and Faithfuls for the 2025 series, but the newcomers will have big shoes to fill with the following iconic characters from the previous series, including secret mother Diane Carson, villain Paul Gorton and of course the eventual winner Harry Clarke.
Harry won the £95,000 prize from The Traitors in January after duping his fellow contestants, including Faithful runner-up Mollie Pierce.
The Traitors series 3 returns on January 1 at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.