The global phenomenon known as The Traitors traces its unlikely origin to a 1628 Dutch trading ship, the Batavia. After crashing off the Western Australian coast, the survivors were left stranded on an island where mutineers turned against their shipmates in a brutal struggle for survival. Nearly four centuries later, in 2015, creative entrepreneur Marc Pos drew inspiration from this “adult Lord of the Flies” historical event to conceptualize a high-stakes game of trust and deception. Shipmates, friends and families turned on each other, as mutineers eyed the Batavia’s stash of silver. In 2015, creative entrepreneur Marc Pos had a lightbulb moment while reading about this “adult Lord of the Flies” atrocity, nearly 400 years later.
Alongside co-creator Jasper Hoogendoorn, Pos initially developed the concept as The Mutineers. The pair navigated approximately 20 rejections while refining the game’s mechanics, eventually deciding to move the setting from a boat to dry land to allow for more creative flexibility. Inspired by his childhood memories of the haunting gothic architecture of a 14th-century cathedral, Pos helped shape the show’s dark, atmospheric aesthetic. By 2021, the Dutch version, titled De Verraders, was officially born. With banished players jumping overboard into the sea, it was originally envisaged to take place on a boat. So they shifted the action on to dry land – and looked for more aesthetic inspiration, filming it on a boat was too limiting. This became the template for the show’s setting: cue cloak-clad figures walking silently down torch-lit corridors to a secret tower.
The concept quickly caught the attention of UK-based Studio Lambert, known for successful series like Gogglebox and Race Across the World. Creative director Mike Cotton noted that the office was immediately captivated by the Dutch format, which felt distinct from the era’s focus on dating programs. After visiting the Dutch set and observing participants treating the intense social gameplay with complete seriousness, the production team secured the UK and US rights. At the time, it was in a phase of dating shows.
Studio Lambert chose to supersize the format, increasing production values with a budget estimated at £1 million per episode. This financial investment allowed for cinematic elements like exploding pirate ships and elaborate set designs. The British and American versions were filmed at the same location, Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Almost double a normal reality show, enabling it to splash out on cinematic flourishes such as exploding pirate ships and creepy cabins, each episode is estimated to cost £1m.
For the role of host, producers turned to Claudia Winkleman. Initially, she declined the offer, citing her desire not to leave her bed or her children for the four-week Scottish production. However, after further discussions with BBC One controller Kate Phillips, she signed on. Winkleman has since become synonymous with the show, known for her sharp demeanor and distinct knitwear wardrobe. Making it one of the most violent chapters in maritime history, about 100 people were brutally murdered. According to but I don’t leave the kids or my bed, so I, No thanks and forgot all about it. Now all it needed was a worthy host. Then Kate said: ‘You should rethink. She begged to have screens in her dressing room so she could watch the footage.”, right from the start.
The UK launch in 2022 saw respectable ratings of 4 million, but the show experienced exponential growth as audiences engaged via iPlayer. By the second series, viewership climbed significantly, with the chaotic celebrity edition finale anticipating an audience of 17 million. Winkleman admits she remains largely detached from these high-level figures, recalling a moment when BBC director of entertainment Ed Havard called to report a 10-million viewer milestone, to which she jokingly replied that he had made a clerical error. The third to 9 million, the fourth to 11.5 million, the second series leapt to 7 million. Making it the year’s most-watched show, the inaugural celebrity edition last autumn peaked at 14.9 million. Director of entertainment] called me a couple of weeks ago to say ‘10 million’, my BBC boss Ed [Havard. I watched two episodes and called back to say I was booking my train to Inverness.”. Audience figures grew exponentially, as buzz spread and punters caught up on iPlayer. I told him it was a clerical error and never to call me again.”.
Executive producer Sarah Fay explains that the production team treats the show like a drama rather than standard reality television. This approach influences everything from the music and set design to Winkleman’s presentation. Winkleman, who initially struggled with the idea of being mean to contestants, credited Fay’s guidance for helping her embrace a stricter on-screen persona. Ever modest, Winkleman plays down her importance. “I disagree with that quite viciously,” she says. “At first, I couldn’t bear being mean or cold.
The series maintains a philosophy of minimal interference, a core principle carried over from the original Dutch creators. Producers operate with a hands-off approach, letting the game unfold naturally without interference at the round table. Additionally, the show rejects the idea of hiding the identities of the Traitors from the viewers, choosing instead to let the audience experience the tension of watching the game from the inside, even after a brief experiment with a secret Traitor twist in the fourth series. It was fascinating to watch.”, even unedited.
Today, The Traitors is franchised in over 40 countries, winning numerous industry accolades including Baftas and Emmys. Industry expert Jake Kanter attributes this success to strong word-of-mouth growth, which he considers the hallmark of a genuine hit. Despite the global success, the production team remains focused on keeping the experience unpredictable for viewers.
As the show continues, Fay promises that every series offers a completely different dynamic, with upcoming seasons of the UK version featuring new developments. Reflecting on the emotional weight of the game, Winkleman notes that she invariably cries at the endgame, regardless of the winner, because the person remaining has played the best game. The current Celebrity Traitors concludes with episodes on Thursday 29 October and Friday 30 October on BBC One and iPlayer.
