TV personality has revealed that she is sworn to secrecy about the forthcoming series of , with any leaks potentially costing her the hosting job. Ahead of the show’s third season, which is scheduled to debut on New Year’s Day, she remains tight-lipped about the latest contestants competing for a possible £120,000 prize.
Following the captivating second series, which saw “traitor” Harry Clark cleverly claim £95,000 in a suspenseful finale, Winkleman is careful not to disclose any specifics about the upcoming instalment. In an interview with The Sun, the host admitted that spilling the beans would lead to her termination.
She hinted: “I would love to tell you all about series three, but then I will get fired so I can tell you absolutely nothing. What I will tell you is that things are different.”
Winkleman teased at some exciting changes, stating: “There are some really exciting things that have changed, which keeps everyone on the toes and feeds into the central premise of trust. I can’t wait for everyone to see.”
The Traitors, based on the Dutch programme De Verraders, features Winkleman selecting several contestants as traitors, while the rest, known as the faithfuls, aim to uncover the impostors to secure the jackpot. Pearce was left reeling from the shock when Harry, looking her straight in the eye, assured her with the words: “It’s not me.”
Claudia Winkleman is back (Image: BBC)
The tension was palpable as viewers watched through their fingers, witnessing an emotional Mollie exit the stage after Harry’s betrayal was unveiled, reports .
The 52-year-old presenter admitted to being just as engrossed in the nail-biting finale as the audience, praising the programme’s success for its element of surprise.
The Traitors returns on New Year’s Day (Image: BBC)
She shared her thoughts on the show’s appeal, saying: “I think that the absolute kicker, the joy of the show, is the game itself. You’re watching a psychological game show, that’s the only way I can describe it.”
Winkleman reflected on the nature of the competition, adding: “You’re watching to see whether people can persuade somebody to think like they do, and even if you know, even if you’re sure of what’s going on, if you can’t persuade them, it’s worthless, and that’s heartbreaking.”
Reflecting on a previous series, she confessed: “Last series, the final surprised me as well. I couldn’t look up as it was so tense, but I loved every one at that final roundtable so I was backing all of them, which was complicated.”
The first two episodes of The Traitors will air on January 1 at 8pm on One and iPlayer.