The mind games are back — sharper, darker, and more unpredictable than ever. The Traitors returns for Series 4 with 22 brand-new contestants entering a remote Scottish castle, all under the watchful eye of Claudia Winkleman. With up to £120,000 on the line, alliances will be forged, friendships tested, and trust shattered as Faithfuls hunt Traitors and Traitors hunt everyone else.

Premiering on New Year’s Day at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer, the latest series promises fresh twists, bigger personalities, and some of the most strategically diverse players the show has ever seen.

A Cast Built for Chaos and Calculation

This year’s lineup is a fascinating mix of backgrounds, ages, and mindsets — from psychologists and barristers to builders, auditors, creatives, and carers. What unites them is a shared belief: they can outthink the rest.

• Strategists and Analysts include psychologists, cyber security consultants, auditors, and PhD researchers — players openly planning to weaponise body language, micro-expressions, and behavioural patterns.
• Legal and Crime Minds arrive in force, with former police detectives, barristers, and crime writers all confident they can spot lies — or tell them convincingly.
• Physical Competitors like personal trainers, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts are eyeing the Missions as their strongest leverage to survive and gain trust.
• Social Operators — recruiters, communications leads, teachers, and carers — are banking on warmth, empathy, and relationship-building to stay off the chopping block.

Age ranges from early 20s to mid-60s, creating an intriguing generational dynamic where experience, instinct, and adaptability collide.

Faithful or Traitor? Almost Everyone Wants Control

One striking pattern this season: a large number of contestants openly want to be Traitors. Many view the role as the ultimate power position — full information, narrative control, and fewer ways to be eliminated. Several players already plan to:

• Hide in plain sight
• Play down their intelligence or profession
• Befriend suspected Traitors to survive longer or force recruitment
• Use Missions strategically to appear indispensable

Meanwhile, those anticipating a Faithful role are focused on patience, restraint, and avoiding early Round Table hysteria — knowing the first few banishments are often driven by paranoia rather than proof.

What Makes Series 4 Different

Unlike earlier seasons, these players have studied the show intensely. Many reference past mistakes, herd mentality, and overplaying suspicion. Expect:

• Fewer reckless accusations early on
• More subtle manipulation
• Longer social chess games
• Traitors who actively think like Faithfuls

Add to that new twists teased by production, and even seasoned fans should expect surprises.

Stakes Beyond the Prize Money

While £120,000 is a powerful motivator, many contestants are driven by deeply personal goals — from supporting charities and caring for family members, to buying first homes, funding fertility plans, or finally taking long-delayed family holidays. That emotional layer adds weight to every betrayal and banishment.

As the castle doors close and the torches light the Round Table once more, one thing is certain: Series 4 is shaping up to be one of the most psychologically intense chapters yet. Trust no one — especially the person who seems the nicest.

The Traitors Series 4 airs from New Year’s Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.