- The Traitors series 4 launches on New Year’s Day 2026 with exciting twists teased by Alan Carr
- Alan’s first-look clip warns new contestants of ‘big plans’ from host Claudia Winkleman when the game show returns
- Fans eagerly anticipate the return of the popular show, with casting already open for series 5
Celebrity Traitors champ and all-round national treasure Alan Carr has donned his cloak one final time ahead of the twisted game show’s new series.
In a first look at series 4 of BBC’s The Traitors, which launches in 2026, the comedian issued a stern warning to the next batch of players.
Alan, 49, stole everyone’s hearts as an unlikely yet unbeatable Traitor this autumn, managing to outlast Jonathan Ross and Cat Burns and deceive the Faithfuls to win a jackpot for charity.
In the programme’s first UK celebrity series, Alan stole an impressive £87,500 from David Olusoga and Nick Mohammed at the very end in a victory even he couldn’t have predicted.
And fortunately for us Traitors fans, there isn’t long to wait until we get our next fix, as the fourth civilian series lands on BBC One in January.
The first teaser clip sees Alan wearing the infamous green velvet hood and carrying his lantern as he stalks the dark halls of the Scottish castle.
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With a devious expression, he picks up an ominous note and reads: ‘Dear new Traitors, look after the place, won’t you? Because you’ll never guess what Claudia’s got planned this time.’
‘It’s big,’ he states, suggesting more twists and turns are around the corner for the 2026 cast.
‘Good luck,’ Alan signs off, leaving a wax seal on the scroll before sauntering off. ‘You’re definitely gonna need it.’
The short trailer ends with the Chatty Man host letting out a sinister cackle, suggesting he knows something we don’t about Claudia Winkleman’s plans to put the newest players through their paces.
Reacting to the clip, Traitors viewers shared their excitement for the series 4 launch, declaring it the ‘best show on TV’.
‘I absolutely cannot wait! 👏❤️’, wrote @lindsayjones320 on Instagram.
‘So excited!!! Bring on traitors 2026! 🔥’, echoed @lucywritesss.
Alan certainly had his fair share of memorable moments in Celebrity Traitors, whether it be his meme-worthy lines or shocking Traitors decisions – such as murdering best pal Paloma Faith in plain sight.
It remains to be seen how series 4 will stack up, but if one thing’s for certain, it’s that The Traitors will never let us know its next move.
At the start of December, the BBC confirmed that The Traitors would be returning to our screens on New Year’s Day.
A fresh group of 22 contestants will compete for a potential £120,000 prize, working together in gruelling missions before facing off at the roundtable for banishments—all while trying to avoid being murdered.
While the series will launch in the earlier slot of 8pm on January 1, episode 2 will follow the next night, with both episodes then going onto BBC iPlayer for viewers to catch up.
Audiences can get further Traitors content, as the official spin-off show, Uncloaked, is also returning with Ed Gamble.
In their official announcement, the broadcaster said: ‘Expect even more twists, turns, secrets, epic missions, deception, banishments and, of course, murders aplenty.’
Last series saw the Faithfuls emerge victorious, with Leanne Quigley and Jake Brown splitting £94,600 in the final, having banished Francesca Rowan-Plowden Brown and Alexander Dragonetti out of suspicion and unmasked the lone Traitor left standing, Charlotte Berman.
But will the Faithfuls manage to maintain their winning streak? Or will the spirit of Ultimate Traitor from series 2, Harry Clark, return and allow evil to succeed again?
Those who think they’ve got what it takes to play the game to perfection can also apply for series 5 already, as casting is currently open following the programme’s astronomical success since beginning in 2022.
The Traitors returns on New Year’s Day at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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