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The Traitors defeated the odds to take out Faithful Adam – before facing toughest decision yet in turret
Jacob Stolworthy Friday 16 January 2026 01:00 GMT- Bookmark
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We’re now into the second half of this year’s series of The Traitors – and the twists and turns are only getting bigger.
The latest episode (15 January) saw Traitors Rachel and Stephen successfully murder Adam despite being unsure whether he had a shield. This threw suspicion upon Sam – who knew Adam didn’t have a shield – and his luck ran out at the roundtable, which also saw Jessie reignite her suspicions of Stephen.
Confusion reigned after Sam revealed he was a Faithful and, in the turret, Rachel and Stephen faced what they branded their most “pivotal” decision yet: should they murder Jessie, Faraaz or Matt?
If they choose Jessie, it could point to Stephen – but if they opt for Faraaz, it will mean the Traitors have officially reneged on their “deal” with Matt, who asked the Traitors a few episodes back to murder Jessie before recruiting him as one of their backstabbing allies. Who they selected will be revealed in the next episode.
The Traitors continues on Thursday (15 January) night at 8pm.
Follow along below for live updates…
The Traitors
- Rachel and Stephen consider three Faithfuls for murder
- Faithful Sam banished from castle
- Adam successfully murdered by Traitors
- Is there going to be a Soothsayer twist?
Traitors icon backs shock contestant for victory
But after the latest episode, we’re not so sure.

Traitors icon Amanda backs shock contestant for victory: ‘Don’t underestimate them’
Former star Amanda Lovett reveals which contestant’s playing a ‘fantastic game‘ and sheds light on how producers put contestants on edge at ‘difficult’ roundtableJacob Stolworthy16 January 2026 01:00Matt, Sam, who?
The latest season of The Traitors is teeming with twenty and thirtysomething men who all look pretty similar, and it’s making the backstabbing and double-crossing in the castle even more impenetrable than usual, says Katie Rosseinsky.

Matt, Sam, who? The Traitors’ ‘man-merge’ is the real problem with the latest series
The latest season of ‘The Traitors’ is teeming with twenty and thirtysomething men who all look pretty similar, and it’s making the backstabbing and double-crossing in the castle even more impenetrable than usual, says Katie RosseinskyJacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 23:30ICYMI: Adam is murdered by Traitors
The Traitors’ risky strategy to murder, despite not knowing who had a shield, paid off.
Traitors Rachel and Stephen claim ghost-hunting builder Adam as their latest victimJacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 23:00'Second envelope' theory
There’s a theory doing the rounds based on the second envelope next to the banished contestants when they discover who the traitors are on aftershow Uncloaked.
One sleuth has suggested it might bear the name of someone Claudia secretly appointed as a Soothsayer at the start of the show.
The theory goes that the Soothsayer has been able to correctly identify their fellow contestants’ true identities – and has been quietly influencing the game ever since.
There's a second envelope that remains unopened (BBC)So who could it be? If true, the sleuth believes the Soothsayer is Ellie.
Jacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 22:30Adam said he spotted ghost in the castle
The ghosthunting builder dropped the bombshell on Traitors Uncloaked, where he said: “As I was walking up the stairwell, somebody followed me up.”
This is where The Traitors is filmed:

Inside the Traitors castle: A wedding venue once owned by an opium trader
Ardross Castle is available to hire for corporate and private events Jacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 22:00Adam 'wanted to slap' James after shield theft
“I don’t like being lied to face-to-face. I asked him a few times when I came into the castle. I was bubbling.”
(BBC)Jacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 21:18Sam stunned to discover Rachel is a Traitor
“That blew my mind – I was never suspicious of her,” he said on aftershow Uncloaked, stating she “deserves to win”.
Sam and Adam stunned to discover Rachel is a TraitorJacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 21:17Recap of tonight's episode
- Traitors Rachel and Stephen successfully murdered Adam despite being unsure whether he had a shield.
- Sam was banished after a tense rountable, which also saw Jessie reignite her suspicions of Stephen
- Rachel and Sam faced what they branded their most “pivotal” decision yet: should they murder Jessie, Faraaz or Matt?
Sam was banished from ‘The Traitors’ (BBC)Jacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 21:09The Traitors narrow down their choices
It’s either Matt, Jessie or Faraaz in what is clearly the most pivotal decision yet.
If they vote for Jessie, it could point back to Stephen – but would it be too obvious for him to get rid of her?
We won’t find out until tomorrow!
Jacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 21:00The Traitors decide to murder
Not only are they not seducing, but it sounds like they’re not going to follow through with their plans to recruit Matt. Bold!
Jacob Stolworthy15 January 2026 20:59Newer1 / 3OlderMore about
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