In a dramatic power play on BBC One's The Traitors, contestant Matthew Hyndman's bold strategy to join the secretive 'hooded brigade' has been flagged as a potential recipe for disaster by a leading game theory expert.
The High-Stakes Gamble
Matthew Hyndman, the 35-year-old creative director, seized a rare opportunity during the episode aired last week. Alongside fellow players Harriet and the secretly treacherous Rachel, he won the chance to directly question the hidden Traitors. Hyndman, who has previously spoken about his personal life, including a church's attempt to 'cure' his homosexuality, used his moment to propose a daring deal.
He first asked the Traitors who they intended to murder next, even suggesting fellow Faithful Jessie as a target. He then explicitly stated his desire: he wanted the Traitors to 'seduce' him and recruit him to their side later in the game.
Why Experts Fear a Backfire
However, this calculated move has raised serious doubts. Dante Kalise, an associate professor in optimisation and control at Imperial College London, told Metro that such a mid-game shift in allegiance is fraught with risk.
'Whether you want to be a traitor from the very beginning, or shift halfway, I think shifting halfway could be convenient in the more advanced game, as you have built some trust,' Kalise explained. 'If you have been consistent so far, it’s probably difficult to identify... [but] what can backfire for some converted Traitors is that if they have been making consistent decisions, and being a Traitor makes them shift that decision pattern, so they become instantaneously unreliable.'
He emphasised that a sudden, unexplained change in voting or behaviour in the late stages of the game is a major red flag for other players. 'You can change your patterns unless you are very open and explicit on why you are changing your decisions... but if it’s not, it’s extremely revealing.'
Lessons from Past Players and Cast Reactions
Kalise pointed to a precedent from the celebrity edition, where comedian Nick Mohammed saw a similar strategy backfire after altering his consistent gameplay pattern. The expert stressed that The Traitors is fundamentally a game of psychology and trust, where signals to other players are paramount.
Meanwhile, other axed contestants offered a different perspective. Murdered Faithful Reece Ward supported Matthew's aggressive tactic, believing it backed the Traitors into a corner. Banished Traitor Fiona Hughes praised Hyndman as a 'strong character' who had played a 'wonderful game' up to that point.
When asked for the perfect winning tactic, Professor Kalise advised that the first week 'should just be chaos, not giving any signal,' before players must settle into making rational, consistent decisions to build and maintain trust.
The Traitors continues on BBC One and iPlayer at 8pm on Wednesday, 14th January 2026, where the consequences of Matthew Hyndman's high-risk proposal will begin to unfold.
