The Traitors may be over, but with so many international versions, there’s no shortage of content to tide fans over until the next season.
Just days ago, The Traitors Ireland (hosted by Derry Girls icon Siobhan McSweeney) started airing on BBC One and iPlayer, with the new season of The Traitors US (featuring Maura Higgins!) also tipped to arrive in the coming month or two.
However, as fans make their way around the globe, some have just realised that an alarmingly familiar face appeared in the German version of the show – and won it!
Known as Die Verräter – Vertraue Niemandem! in Germany, the third season landed in April last year.
Strictly Come Dancing’s very own Motsi Mabuse starred not only as a Traitor, but she went on to be crowned victor alongside her fellow green-cloaked schemers.
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It’s no surprise we missed the memo over here in the UK since that version of the show (airing on German network RTL) is not available to watch here. But it means that fans are just discovering this iconic piece of Motsi lore, a year late.
In the end, she won the €44,200 (£38,350) prize alongside her coven of Traitors, Charlotte Würdig and Mirja du Mont.
The South African dancer lives in Germany, so it’s no surprise she ended up on this specific spin-off. Still, given her high-profile here in Britain, fans are just as shocked to learn of her victory this side of the English Channel.
‘Just discovered that Motsi Mabuse won the German version of The Traitors last year yet no one’s ever mentioned it?’ teenofpaint wrote on X.
‘And she was a TRAITOR? And won it with two other female Traitors. This is incredible I need to watch it immediately,’ superTV247 raved.
‘It’s a crime that I only just found this out,’ Katie echoed.
The TV personality has been tight-lipped about the whole experience, simply posting when the series first aired in April 2025 to announce her involvement.
Dubbed a Traitor from the start, she lip-synced to Wicked’s Defying Gravity, alongside the caption: ‘Welcome to the chaos. Now you know my big little secret.
‘And don’t forget: It’s just a game. A very small, emotionally overloaded, crazy GAME.’
At the time, her sister, former Strictly pro Oti, also voiced her support on social media, writing: ‘Guys @motsimabuse is on Celebrity Traitors in Germany and she’s a TRAITOR!! Can’t wait to follow her journey.’
When she won, Motsi returned to Instagram to address her haters, writing: ‘You hated me before the game even started right. Too present. Too dangerous. And when I played, I really played.
‘Suddenly it was ‘TOO MUCH’ (nothing new). I don’t play to be liked. I played to be played. With a piece of mind. With an attitude. And with women by my side who knew what they were doing.
‘And quite honestly? You don’t have to be everyone’s cup of tea. Be gasoline. Set s##%t on fire.’
Notably this post, which had a flurry of congratulations messages underneath it, was liked by The Traitors icon herself, Claudia Winkleman (also Motsi’s former fellow Strictly star).
As for the UK version, season four just wrapped up last week with a suitably dramatic ending as treacherous duo, Rachel and Stephen, pulled off a win at the last minute and secured the £95,750 prize pot.
The finale peaked at a whopping 9.6 million viewers, proving the BBC show’s staying power as we look ahead to the second Celebrity season and season five of the civilian version.
The German version of The Traitors is currently not available to stream in the UK. The Traitors UK, US and Ireland are on iPlayer now.
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