Series four follows hot on the heels of the hugely popular celebrity version of the game, which was won by comedian Alan Carr.
Ahead of the latest series, which launches on New Year’s Day, Winkleman (53) said there is “something new” that viewers can look forward to.
The first series of The Celebrity Traitors, which aired in the autumn, was a ratings winner for the BBC, with traitor Carr snatching victory from faithfuls David Olusoga and Nick Mohammed.
Asked if she ever revealed any spoilers to her family, Winkleman said: “Genuinely I’d lose my job. Plus, there’s no fun in knowing. When Alan won, my husband and youngest son couldn’t stop screaming and crying, and shouting, ‘but you knew’.”
Speaking about the upcoming series, Winkleman added: “What happens in this series is truly extraordinary, with moments that made me gasp.
“I can’t wait for people to see it. The producers have the greatest minds on Earth.”
Claudia
News in 90 Seconds – 29th December 2025
In The Traitors fourth series, 22 people from across the UK will descend on a Scottish castle to take part in a game of “deceit and betrayal” with a prize pot of up to £120,000 (€138,000).
Winkleman said: “The Scottish Highlands might be the most beautiful place on the planet. It’s a privilege to spend so much time surrounded by the jaw-dropping landscape. I’ve never been anywhere like it.
“There’s something about the expanse of sky, the breathtaking lochs, and the flora and fauna.”
Winkleman’s role on the show is to oversee challenges and help pick the traitors, who secretly murder the larger group of faithfuls in a bid to take the prize pot for themselves.
She said: “It’s nerve-racking, but I don’t choose them alone. I interview all the players and some are absolutely desperate to be faithful. Anyone who convinces me otherwise is in contention.”
To win the prize money, players must survive until the end of the competition and avoid being ‘murdered’ or ‘banished’.
The BBC has promised “even more twists, turns, secrets, epic missions, deception, banishments and, of course, murders aplenty” for the upcoming series.
‘The Traitors’ starts on January 1 at 8pm on BBC One