Celebrity Traitors Boss Has 2 Words To Explain The Show’s Success

As part of a new interview with Radio Times, Stephen Lambert – the founder of production company Studio Lambert, which has helped make hits of Gogglebox, Race Across The World, Squid Game: The Challenge and, indeed, The Traitors – had two words when asked why he thinks people have become so hooked on the Bafta-winning reality show.

“Dramatic irony,” he responded when asked for “the key” to what he described as The Traitors’ “universal appeal”.

The cast of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 with host Claudia WinklemanBBC/Studio Lambert/Euan CherryHe explained: “[That dramatic irony is] the engine of The Traitors. It’s about the pleasure that we know more than the protagonists – we know who is lying. And it’s fun to try and watch people work out who the liars are.”

Stephen added that, particularly with The Celebrity Traitors, which is currently airing, the famous contestants can “find it uncomfortable because they have so little control”.

“It’s such an immersive game that people get caught up in it, and show how they really are,” he noted. “It’s very revealing of character, and celebrities care – a lot – how they come across.”

Claudia Winkleman has hosted The Traitors and its celebrity counterpart since they premiered on UK screens in 2022BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan CherryTwo weeks into the current season of The Celebrity Traitors and viewers have already seen some firsts – not least the first time the Faithfuls have ever successfully banished a Traitor on their first go (helped in no small part by Richard E Grant outing himself to the group before he’d even set foot in the turret).

Friday’s episode ended on a unique cliffhanger, which saw Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Ross Kemp, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett having been selected to play a deadly game of hide-and-seek, as one of them faces murder by The Traitors.

The Celebrity Traitors continues on Thursday night at 8pm on BBC One.