Claudia Winkleman reveals how The Traitors are actually chosen in very first episode

Claudia Winkleman has shed light on how The Traitors team selects who will play the villain each season—and it turns out she actually has little influence over the decision.

We’re officially two weeks deep into the third instalment of The Traitors, and viewers have witnessed everything from deadly card games to some stellar performances by equivocator extraordinaire Linda Rands, 70.

There’s been a dramatic clique break-up, some unfathomable banishments, and a host of excellent outfits worn by presenter Claudia Winkleman.

The 53-year-old has been at the heart of The Traitors since its launch on the BBC in December 2022, overseeing all challenges and interacting with the Traitors themselves.

And although each season sees Claudia sitting down with the cast and seemingly ‘deciding’ who is going to be one of the baddies, it turns out that isn’t quite the case.

Speaking to The Radio Times ahead of the season three grand finale, Claudia confirmed that there is actually a team of people who help to handpick the Traitors.

“It’s not down to me. There’s a group of us, including the brilliant producers and casting team,” she explained to the publication.

“We go into a room and don’t leave until they’re chosen. If someone asks not to be a Traitor, they wouldn’t be picked.”

Last year, the Strictly Come Dancing favourite also revealed that conversations she has with each individual in the first episode are ‘much longer’ than they initially appear on screen.

Claudia Winkleman has shed light on how the Traitors are selected (BBC)

“They are persuasive,” she said of the cast during an episode of The Traitors: Uncloaked, the premier gameshow’s tell-all spin-off.

During the behind-the-scenes programme, she also admitted that a season two cast member was determined to make an anti-heroine.

“I really, really wanted to make Diane [Carson] a Traitor, I can say that out loud. She was like 'Can you imagine me as a Traitor?'”, she explained.

The Northern Irish sensation, 64, captured the nation’s hearts during her time as a staunch Faithful but was eventually ‘murdered’ in plain sight by series two Traitor Miles Asteri, 37.

Meanwhile, The Traitors producer Stephen Lambert, 65, has also shed light on how the villains of each series are chosen.

“People are cast because we’re making a judgement all the time about the chemistry between them… but, and crucially, whether they have the confidence to take part, particularly if they have the confidence to be a Traitor,” he told The News Agents’ presenter Lewis Goodall.

“The decision as to who the Traitors are is made at the very last moment after Claudia does an interview with each of them before they go into the meeting.”

He added that in 'just that last moment' the Traitors are 'locked in'.

Minah is one of this season's Traitors (BBC)

Right now, there are only two Traitors still in the game: Linda and her co-conspirator Minah Shannon, 29.

The latter, a call centre manager from Liverpool, has been praised as ‘the best Traitor of all time' by some fans, while others have described her as ‘playing a phenomenal game’.

But can the pair make it all the way to the end? You’ll have to tune in to find out.

Catch The Traitors every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The season three finale is set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday, January 24 from 8.30pm with a special 70-minute show.