The Traitors grew from rejected Dutch idea into global television hit
The Traitors began with an idea inspired by a 17th-century shipwreck and has grown into one of television’s biggest global hits. Its mix of trust, deception and dramatic presentation helped it stand out from dating-focused reality TV, while Claudia Winkleman’s hosting and the Scottish castle setting shaped the British version.
The format was developed in the Netherlands after 20 rejections, then adapted by UK production company Studio Lambert, which increased its scale and changed the endgame. Episodes are estimated to cost £1m each; UK audience figures rose from about 4 million for the first series to 11.5 million for the fourth, while the first celebrity edition peaked at 14.9 million viewers.
In short
- The Traitors grew from a Dutch reality format into a global hit.
- UK audiences rose from 4 million to 11.5 million.
- The celebrity edition peaked at 14.9 million viewers.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “‘I always think my head will fall off when Traitors turn on each other’: the inside story of the world’s biggest TV show”.