Fans of the BBC's hit show The Traitors were left utterly petrified by what many are calling the series' most terrifying challenge to date during the episode aired on January 15, 2026.
A Cabin of Horrors
The nerve-shredding task saw contestants placed in a dingy, atmospheric cabin where they had to decipher the names of deceased individuals to win money for the prize fund. The tension was amplified by spectacularly horrifying special effects, including blood appearing to run down the walls and hands thrusting up from graves to deliver bags of cash for correct answers, with £10,000 up for grabs.
Viewers quickly flooded social media to express their shock, with many mistaking the intense scenes for a Halloween special. Fan @danidelle23 tweeted: ‘I didn’t expect to be lowkey terrified watching tonight #TheTraitors,’ while @kamfinsa posted: ‘What the hell have I just seen? Hands coming up out of graves? Blood running down walls? Wtf? #TheTraitors’.
Viewers React to the Scares
The reaction was overwhelmingly one of fear mixed with admiration for the production values. @kirv96 joked the episode felt more like a ‘three-part BBC horror-drama’, and @AllThatJazz_i praised the ‘brilliant’ and ‘actually very scary’ set design.
One viewer, @LadyJacs, summed up the national sentiment, stating they were left ‘jumping out of my skin’ by the relentless scares. A particularly memorable moment for the audience came when contestant Stephen, seemingly frozen with fear, anxiously asked if the people in the graves were ‘okay’.
Harriet Tyce Reflects on 'Awful' Outburst
In related news from the Traitors camp, recently banished star Harriet Tyce spoke to Metro about her regret over a heated confrontation in the previous episode. The barrister and crime writer, who was ejected on January 14, said she feels ‘ashamed’ of how she lost her temper with fellow Faithful Roxy and launched an attack on Traitor Rachel at the breakfast table.
‘Unfortunately, and I’m not proud of it at all, I did lose my temper and I really wish I hadn’t,’ the 53-year-old admitted. She confirmed she has since met and messaged Roxy to apologise, saying: ‘“God, this is awful. I’m so sorry… that I shouted. I really wish that I hadn’t”. I was so deep in the game though.’
The Traitors continues to be available for viewers to watch on BBC One and iPlayer.
