⚠️ SPOILER ALERT:
This post contains spoilers for The Traitors episode aired on BBC One on Thursday 22 January 2026 (episode 11) – nerves, suspicions, a £10k win and a brutal cliffhanger
Quick Traitors TV info (UK)
- Where to watch: BBC One + BBC iPlayer
- Final week schedule: Wed / Thu at 8pm, Final Fri at 8:30pm
- One episode left: Friday’s finale (and we’re going in with chaos levels at maximum)
- Prize pot going into the final: £76,750
Catch up links (add internal links):
What happened on The Traitors last night (22 January 2026)?
If you’re catching up late (same), this episode was basically:
breakfast panic → mission pressure → round table meltdown → cliffhanger that should be illegal.
Also… it finally felt like the Faithfuls were almost waking up. Almost.
Who was murdered on The Traitors last night?
The murder revealed at breakfast was Roxy — and the castle vibe instantly went from tense to properly stunned.
Claudia also shared some personal context about Roxy and her mum, Judy (first contestant to be banished), at breakfast… and honestly, it floored everyone. It was one of those moments that reminds you these are real people under all the paranoia.
Why was suspicion flying around from breakfast?
Because the dagger twist was still causing absolute mayhem.
James had been handed the dagger the day before (chosen by the Traitors), which he used to vote Matthew out and even though he didn’t ask for it, it painted a target on his back for basically the rest of the show! People were watching his face, his reactions, his breathing, his blinking… everything, constantly.
It didn’t help that:
- Stephen had started stirring by nudging Rachel’s name into the mix
- Jade still couldn’t let go of her suspicion (James and Rachel were in her sights)
- Faraaz stayed firm that Rachel’s behaviour wasn’t sitting right
- Jack was questioning Rachel too, but couldn’t shift from James being a Traitor
So by lunchtime, it already felt like: James vs Rachel, with everyone else spinning around the castle like confused meerkats. Except Stephen, obviously!
The mission: how did they add £10,000 to the prize fund?
The challenge was brutal — a full-on uphill slog where they had to make it to the summit in time, with enough gold to fill a shield at the top… and they did it with seconds to spare. This was filmed at Fyrish Monument, Alness, Scotland.
I was shocked at how quickly James sprinted off, but kudos to him, he gave it everything he could – even to the point of collapsing and being ill. Ew!
Result: £10,000 added to the prize fund, now making it a total of £76,750 to win/share, going into the final.
And the huge twist? Completing it meant the shield was filled with gold… which blocked the Traitors’ final murder.
So heading into the final: no more murders. Just banishments, accusations and everyone trying to read each other’s souls through a side-eye.
What’s going on with Rachel and Stephen right now?
Rachel is still doing that calm, confident thing… but it’s starting to look less “unbothered queen” and more “hard-faced and holding it together.” I did notice her cheeks had a slight rosy glow to them!
People are picking up on her mannerisms now (finally) and once that starts, it’s hard to undo.
Stephen, meanwhile, is still Stephen — always a little red-faced, always slightly flustered… but somehow pulling it off because his fashion choices are so cool he looks like he’s meant to be there.
He is actually growing on me and I am toying with Stephen or Jack to win. I like James, he is just a goof, Faz is cool, as is Jade, but she can afford £400 cardigan’s and I am a tad jealous about that!
And at the round table? Rachel briefly threw Stephen under the bus in a last ditch attempt to throw heat off her… then Stephen turned it back on her. YEY! For once, Rachel looked like she was actually feeling the strain.
Who was banished on The Traitors last night?
Here’s where it got properly tense.
The round table landed on two main suspects: Rachel and James — and it ended in a tie. So both had to plead their cases.
I actually felt that James made more of an emotional plea, out of frustration for having to defend himself pretty much throughout the game. Rachel was very matter-of-fact ‘but I have already caught a Traitor’. YES… because you ARE A TRAITOR yourself!
For me, she just came across as very arrogant and I am surprised Jack still fell for her gumph.
Then it went to a second vote… and somehow it was a tie again.
With the deadlock still there, Claudia announced the tie-breaker: the Chests of Chance.
- Rachel and James each have to choose a chest
- Only one chest contains a shield
- Whoever doesn’t get the shield is banished
…and then the episode ended!!!!!!!
So yes. We go into Friday’s FINAL still not knowing who goes. Because this show enjoys our suffering!
Final week FAQs (what happens in the final?)
When is The Traitors final on TV?
Friday 23 January, starting 8:30pm (UK).
How long is the final?
The final is a longer episode (75 minutes).
What happens in The Traitors final?
Usually: a final mission, a final round table, then the endgame where the remaining players decide whether to end the game or banish again until they’re confident no Traitors remain.
Will there be any more murders?
No, because the mission result blocked the final murder. From here on out, it’s all about banishment decisions.
Comments open
Are you Team “Rachel is finally getting caught” or Team “the Faithfuls are still going to mess this up”?
And who do you think got the shield in the Chest of Chance?
(If you mention big moments, add SPOILER at the start so nobody gets mugged off.)
🕵️ Want more Traitors catch-ups? Browse our UK TV Spoilers hub for all the latest recaps and updates.
