The Traitors have faced their riskiest night in the turret yet as they were faced with an impossible choice of murder or recruitment – with no idea of who had a shield. It came after narrowly surviving a close call with Harriet, who worked out Rachel’s identity but failed to convince the group and was banished.
Rachel and Stephen opted for murder, from a possible three of Jessie, Adam or James. But the backstabbing pair did not know that James had secretly taken a shield to protect him from murder and did not know whether Jessie or Adam were protected.
Having only just survived a round table grilling by former barrister Harriet who the group banished, could Rachel have signed her death warrant just hours later by picking the wrong victim?
Matt doesn’t know his fate lies in Rachel’s hands. (BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
The show ended on the mother of all cliffhangers last week as previously quiet player Matt asked to be recruited to the turret during his cloistered audience with the mystery pair.
Rachel and Stephen had a choice to make, but unsurprisingly the BBC series had further twists in store as we saw Harriet’s explosive blind visit with the Traitors in Wednesday’s episode.
From dirty deals to Traitors ambushes and breakfast confessionals, here’s what went down in episode seven of The Traitors.
Deal or no deal?
Rachel and Stephen make their deal. (BBC screengrab)
It was the question on every Traitors fan’s lips all weekend as we tried to work out what the best strategy was in the face of Matt’s proposed deal.
Rachel and Stephen went with a perhaps predictable choice as they agreed to accept, but throw Matt under the bus later on. Their answer read: “We have a deal, new recruit.”
Matt looked pleased as he said, “I wanted to be a Traitor from the very beginning, so keep my cloak warm!”
However, whether he has the stomach for Traitoring hangs in the balance as he was very nervous at breakfast the next morning, admitting in the diary room: “I feel like I’m in two camps this morning. I’m a Traitor in waiting.” The Traitors had already agreed to murder Jessie next, but with her holding a shield, it seems Matthew’s plan is already falling apart.
Harriet terrifies the Traitors
Harriet publicly ambushed Rachel with her theory. (BBC screengrab)
Matt had good reason to feel on edge, as Traitor hunter extraordinaire Harriet had an even greater trick up her sleeve.
Revealing in her secret interview with the mystery Traitors that she was, in fact, a psychological thriller author and a criminal barrister, she asked who they were planning to recruit and was told herself, Jessie and Sam.
A furious Harriet threw the answer paper in the fire and said, “I think this answer is not worth the paper on which it was written. If my voice is shaking, it’s not through fear, it’s through anger that you have taken me for such a fool.”
Stephen was shocked as Harriet showed her hand. (BBC screengrab)
Rachel and Stephen were left open-mouthed as she said: “I am as certain as I can be that Rachel is in there,” adding: “I will have no compunction in going after her. You can’t murder me tonight. There is nothing you can do to stop me.”
“She’s scaring the life out of me,” Rachel admitted to Stephen as Harriet pressed on with her next question – whether they planned to protect Rachel.
The pair agreed on a double bluff, writing: “No. Take her.” Harriet told them: “I bet you wish you’d killed me when you had the chance.”
Of course, Harriet worked out the double bluff, and in the most dramatic breakfast the castle has seen, revealed her theory to the other players, whom she told about her true career as an author and barrister.
Roxy found herself facing unwarranted heat from Harriet at the breakfast table. (BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
Sleep had done nothing to calm Harriet’s anger, as she even fell out with an interrupting Roxy during her speech about why Rachel was guilty.
However, as Rachel pretended to share the questions she had asked the Traitors, she suggested that she would turn on Stephen. She said she had asked: “In what way do you think more than one Traitor can win this game?” and added: “They came back and said we don’t.”
Ellie gasped: “So Traitor versus Traitor!” As Stephen looked uneasy at the hint from his teammate.
Harriet’s move backfires…or does it?
Getting angry at breakfast never goes down well, and Harriet’s impassioned speech — as well as shouting down Roxy — only earned her more enemies.
It was almost a clean sweep against her at the round table, but Harriet said she was happy to go, explaining: “It’s a kamikaze move, I appreciate that…it seems to me this is the only way I can remove any doubt over what I’ve said.
“I’ve given you the names; do not let this sacrifice be in vain.”
Harriet’s case against Rachel failed to convince the group. (BBC screengrab)
Rachel’s wasn’t the only name she put forward, as she also incorrectly accused Roxy and unknowingly predicted Matt. But Matt’s recruitment is far from secure as it hinges on Jessie’s murder, and he has no idea whether or not she won a shield.
The Traitors opted to murder, choosing between Jessie, Adam and James, but having no idea whether any of them got a shield, which could backfire massively in the morning.
The Traitors S4 E7 highlights
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Stephen is suddenly everyone’s Hundy
No one believes Stephen could be a Traitor. (BBC screengrab)
He might not have the unshakeable nerve of Rachel, but Stephen seems to have won over the group with a softly, softly approach.
Stephen now appears to have become everyone’s Hundy (Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler’s term for a 100% Faithful surety), as players revealed their trust in him, including Jack and even Harriet, who said, “You’re not on my list.”
Competition for a shield was fierce. (BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
In tonight’s mission, the group had the chance to play for shields as usual – but taking shields would reduce the prize money banked.
At the end of the mission, Claudia Winkleman shocked the group by telling them seven shields had been taken, so they had only banked £3,000 instead of £10,000.
James caused even more chaos by secretly taking a shield, leaving everyone else suspicious as they counted up who’d claimed them.
Rachel has mentioned before that she was so committed to Traitor’s success, she even took on FBI training before filming to help her spot a liar.
In a hilarious moment at the round table, she revealed this to the rest of the group, explaining: “For the last few months I have been trained by a former FBI agent… I have profiled every single one of you.”
The Traitors continues on BBC One at 8pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.