Explosive Traitors twists and hint that final could be the most dramatic yet

The Traitors has seen various explosive moments over the years, and this year host Claudia Winkleman has told fans that a new twist in the final will throw the show "on its head"

Since the first series of The Traitors aired in 2022, the show has brought us plenty of dramatic twists and turns - and this year is no different.

With The Traitors final just over one week away, presenter Claudia Winkleman revealed that a huge twist was coming after announcing that a tweak has been made to the show’s format. For the first time ever, any contestants in the final will no longer reveal if they are a Faithful or Traitor when they are banished. Instead, anyone left in the game will need to determine whether there are any Traitors left for themselves.

Dropping a clue that this could lead to even more explosive scenes, Claudia told the press: “You’re going to like the end, I hope, that’s all I can say, it throws it all on its head.”

As Claudia hints at a potential final twist, let’s take a look at some of the biggest shocks from The Traitors history…

Amos and Kieran’s ‘savage’ dumping

Back in the very first episode of series one, Claudia tasked the contestants with putting themselves in a line ranked from most likely to win to least likely to win before the challenge had even begun. With Kieran and Amos ranking themselves as least likely to be victorious, Claudia immediately dumped them from the castle and fans took to social media to call it a “savage” twist.

“Every decision you make, every single one, has a consequence, so you two, you think you’re going to lose,” she said. “I am going to take you at your word, so I’m afraid it’s goodbye. I’d like you to leave the grounds immediately.”

However, in another twist, Kieran and Amos returned to the show after being hidden away. As they made their return, Claudia reminded the contestants: “You can only leave The Traitors if you are murdered or banished.”

Triple train departure

Similarly, during the first episode of the current series, three contestants were dumped before even reaching the castle. After boarding a train to the castle, the contestants were informed that one person from each carriage needed to disembark immediately in order to boost the prize pot.

Fozia, Jack and Alexander all volunteered to leave the carriages and said goodbye to the competition. However, the trio later returned as part of a challenge in which the existing contestants could only save two of them. Sadly, Jack wasn’t saved and left the show for a second time.

Tom and Alex’s secret romance

An appearance on The Traitors seems stressful under normal circumstances, let alone when you’re concealing a secret relationship. For series one contestants Alex and Tom, who were dating, attempts to keep their romance under wraps failed when Tom revealed all during one tense moment when suspicion fell on Alex.

“Obviously we’ve got three people on the line here, I love you all, Alex isn’t a traitor straight up, she’s my girlfriend,” the magician told everyone at breakfast. “We came in here as a couple, to try and find Traitors, we tried to come apart separately, hear different stories. She is a Faithful 100 per cent, I am Faithful 100 per cent.”

‘But Ross is…’

Following the drama of Alex and Tom’s secret relationship, The Traitors producers created even more excitement in series two by casting a mother and son duo in the form of Diane and Ross.

When they entered the castle, the pair kept things secret and appeared to be just like any other contestants. However, after another contestant questioned whether Diane could be Paul’s mum because of their auburn hair, their secret was exposed in what made for one of the show’s most memorable moments.

“Paul just couldn’t be my son,” retired teacher Diane told the camera. After pausing for a moment, she added: “But Ross is.”

Diane’s doomed fizzy rosé

Series two contestant Diane went down in The Traitors history when she was killed off after drinking a glass of fizzy rosé from a ‘poisoned chalice’. After taking the doomed sip all was not as it seemed as all contestants appeared at breakfast the following morning. However, things took a dramatic turn when they all joined a funeral procession in which potential victims Diane, Paul and Evie had to climb into coffins before Diane was ‘buried’ in front of her own son.