The Traitors UK is a total television pleasure but it makes the Irish version look a bit low budget

"It feels like we've been watching Claudia Winkleman on this show for more than three years, and while some things never change - such as the ageism of most contestants - the creation of a 'secret traitor' is a misstep Sometimes it feels like The Traitors is on the telly as much as the news. Or sport. No, no, nothing is on the telly as much as sport. But The Traitors is on very often. So you'd think you'd be sick of it."

"Until you see Claudia Winkleman again. And the castle, And the procession of black Land Rovers. And Claudia talking to an owl. And then you're sucked in all over again, just like the first time. When was the first time? Nobody can remember. You have to look it up to discover that The Traitors UK started three short years ago, on November 29, 2022, to be precise. But now it seems eternal, as if we have been watching it forever. As if it has always been there - now that's spooky."

The Traitors UK has become a persistent presence on television, offering recurring visuals such as Claudia Winkleman, a castle, and a procession of black Land Rovers. Familiar rituals like Claudia talking to an owl continue to draw viewers back. Most contestants display notable ageism. A new mechanic—a 'secret traitor'—represents a misstep that unsettles the format. The series launched on November 29, 2022, yet the show now feels eternal and omnipresent. Viewers frequently feel simultaneously familiar and captivated, as if the programme has always existed despite its relatively recent start.

Read at Independent