The Traitors: Nail-biting finale brings series to dramatic end

The third season has had a notably different narrative arc to the previous two.

In the first season, three faithful contestants won after rooting out the last remaining traitor, Wilf, during the finale. In the second series, original traitor Harry made it to the final, and won.

The third season is different in that none of the original traitors selected in the first episode made it to the end.

The differing routes of each series suggest the show’s format has the potential to last for several more years, as each finale has kept viewers guessing and been hard to predict.

However, the contestants are becoming increasingly aware of the way the show is produced, speculating on the decisions being made behind the scenes.

For example, one of this year’s faithfuls, Elen, correctly speculated in an early episode that there would be more female traitors this year, following a male-heavy line-up last year.

As players become progressively more savvy, producers will have to keep making changes to make sure the show remains fresh and unpredictable, keeping players on their toes.

A celebrity version of The Traitors will air later this year, giving the format another new spin. It has not yet been confirmed who will take part.