TV fans say they wouldn’t tune in to one of the UK’s top reality shows if it aired on a different channel.
The Traitors, which has become a major hit since its BBC debut in 2022, is one of the broadcaster’s most-watched shows, with nearly 12 million viewers tuning in for the final of its latest and fourth series.
The Traitors takes place at Ardross Castle in Scotland and involves contestants taking part in a Mafia-style elimination game as either 'Traitors' or 'Faithfuls.'
Plans are already in motion for a second celebrity series later this year, with a fifth regular series expected early next year.
The Traitors fans say they wouldn't watch show away from BBC
Fans of the show have been discussing an alternative timeline that may have seen it air on another channel.
A fan on a Reddit page for the programme sparked the debate by asking: "I have a question, if The Traitors was on ITV instead of the BBC would you have watched it?"
Many viewers said they wouldn’t, with the BBC’s lack of adverts repeatedly cited as a key reason.
One viewer said: "Maybe, but not live.
"I’d be watching it after with an adblocker cutting the ad breaks out."
Another wrote: "Nope - ad breaks in competitive reality TV absolutely destroys the viewer experience as half the episode ends up being a rehash of what happened either side of the break."
A third said: "Probably, but not during its broadcast.
"I’d have watched it on my Sky box after and fast forwarded through all the adverts, which would have interrupted the programme and taken me out of it 4 times in the hour it was on."
Some fans also said they wouldn’t have watched the show because of its presenter, Claudia Winkleman, possibly not being the host.
A fan said: "If it was ITV it wouldn't have been Claudia.
"It would have been an ITV host.
"Stephen Mulhern incoming!
"Would have killed the future of the show within 5 minutes."
Another agreed and said: "If Claud had still been hosting, possibly.
"But knowing ITV, it’s the sort of thing they’d have given to Mulhern."
A third joked: "Ant and Dec would have hosted it instead."
When is the next series of Celebrity Traitors?
The first celebrity spin-off of The Traitors aired last autumn and was eventually won by comedian Alan Carr.
It was even more popular than the main series, with the viewing figures for the finale of The Celebrity Traitors close to 15 million.
A second series was quickly planned and is set to air on the BBC later this year, expected to be in the autumn.
The full line-up for the show is:
- Amol Rajan – Journalist and Broadcaster
- Bella Ramsey – Actor
- James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster
- James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter
- Jerry Hall – Model and Actress
- Joanne McNally – Comedian
- Joe Lycett – Comedian
- Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor
- King Kenny – Content Creator
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer/Songwriter
- Maya Jama – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
- Michael Sheen – Actor and Presenter
- Miranda Hart – Actor and Author
- Myha’la – Actor
- Professor Hannah Fry– Broadcaster and Mathematician
- Richard E. Grant – Actor and Author
- Rob Beckett – Comedian
- Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian
- Ross Kemp – Actor and Presenter
- Sebastian Croft – Musician and Actor
- Sharon Rooney – Actor
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All will be looking to win a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
Series One winner Alan Carr donated his entire £87,500 winnings from the BBC's Celebrity Traitors to Neuroblastoma UK, a children's cancer charity.
He has been a dedicated patron of the organisation since 2016 and chose to support them on the show to fund vital research and raise awareness for the rare disease.
Who are you looking forward to watching on the second series of The Celebrity Traitors? Let us know in the comments.
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