The Traitors

BBC iPlayer reveals January release date for The Traitors US

The Traitors US is coming to BBC iPlayer, kicking off the same day the UK series ends. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the series differentiates itself from its British counterpart by featuring celebrity contestants, largely from reality TV.

The contestants are divided into ‘Traitors’ and ‘Faithfuls’, who will then compete to win $250,000. The Traitors will operate covertly, ‘murdering’ Faithfuls nightly, and try to avoid being discovered and banished at the round tables.

The Traitors Series Three Power Ranking: Week One

The 22 contestants of The Traitors stand outside the castle awaiting Claudia Winkleman's instructions

Yes, The Traitors, that high camp masterpiece of reality TV, is back to release us from our January blues with more hilariously hubristic schemes, disturbingly primitive groupthink and luxury knitwear.

There have been several twists to the game this year: there are slightly more contestants (25, up from 22), and those who make it to the final will no longer have to reveal their allegiances when banished. Most welcome of all are the added incentives for Traitors to sabotage the missions, which many considered to be skippable interludes.

BBC sets The Traitors to ring in the new year

Claudia Winkleman, a woman with a light skin tone, and dark hair with a long fringe, stands in front of a large round table surrounded by seats

After series two’s nail-biting finale, we’re all ready for a fresh batch of contestants to join Claudia Winkleman – and her knitwear collection – in her Scottish castle. 22 players will enter the contest and be split into ‘Traitors’ and ‘Faithfuls.’ Although they can say which side they prefer, the choice is ultimately Winkleman’s to make.

Sue Perkins teams up with ex-Traitors contestant for Chess Masters

Despite being one of the world’s oldest games, chess is far from being forgotten. From 2020’s The Queen’s Gambit spiking sales of chess boards and books, to the chess.com app being the most downloaded in February 2023, new players across the globe continue to find love for the 1500-year-old game.

Now Chess Masters will bring together 12 amateur players from across the UK to compete in heats and knock-out rounds.