While viewers patiently waited for a new traitor to be revealed, it came as no surprise when another man was revealed to be a new recruit.
Now, with the final in sight, the show is facing several “women's issues” after the three favorites to win the BBC show were also revealed to be men.
With more than four million viewers per night, “The Traitors” is already one of the most successful television shows of the year.
Last week, viewers noticed more than one problem with the psychological crime thriller: It's always women who are murdered and men who murder.
Despite its popularity, the show is embroiled in a sexism row as it approaches its dramatic finale on Friday, with host Claudia Winkleman, 52, even pointing out the issue in one episode.
With the finale of The Traitors on the horizon, the show is set to be hit by several 'women's issues' after the three favorites to win the BBC show were also revealed to be men (Harry pictured).
Jasmine Boatswaine (pictured), 26, is next to be banished at 4/6, while Mollie Pearce, 21, is the second favorite to be killed at 5/1
Two men – Paul Gorton, 36, and Harry Clarke, 22 – and one woman – Ash Bibi, 45 – were initially chosen as “traitors” from the 22-strong cast of the first episode.
Ash was the first traitor to be “banished” after being thrown under the bus by her teammates, and they recruited three more men: Miles Asteri, 36, Andrew Jenkins, 45, and Ross Carson, 28.
After Ross was chosen as a “traitor” in the final episode, Claudia quipped: “A different man. 'Well, it's like before.'
The “traitors” laughed and Harry defended their decision as “strategic” and simply a good “tactic.”
On Monday night it was revealed that the show's favorites are also men.
Harry is the 4/6 favorite with odds of being the last remaining traitor, while Ross is 2/1 and Andrew is 5/1.
Two women are among fans' favorites to be next to leave the show.
Jasmine Boatswaine, 26, is next to be banned at 4/6, while Mollie Pearce, 21, is the second favorite to be killed at 5/1.
It's not just the “traitor's” decision to include men in his team that causes a stir, but also his decision to hunt down the women in their nightly “murders.”
Despite its popularity, the show is embroiled in a sexism controversy as it approaches its dramatic finale on Friday, with even host Claudia Winkleman, 52, pointing out the problem
After Ross was chosen as a “traitor” in the last episode, Claudia quipped: “A different man.” Well, it's like before.
Traitor quotas
Win
Harry – 4/6
Ross – 2/1
Andrew – 5/1
To eliminate
Jasmine – 4/6
Mollie – 5/1
While male Aubrey Emerson (67) was the first person for the chop, he was followed by Kyra Johnson (21), Meg Corrick (22), Tracey Griffin (58) and Diane Carson (63).
Male contestants managed to avoid being “murdered,” although many of them were “banished” to the nightly round tables, where the others can try to decide who is a “traitor” and oust them from the competition.
Claudia said she found the statistics “problematic” and was aware that the older women in the competition did not make it to the end.
“I'd like to sit down and have some conversations about it,” she told BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour last week.
“I don’t want to say anything because what if people hadn’t been watching? I mean, a lot of people haven't done that, and they're listening now and saying, 'Oh, that sounds good,' so I won't name any names, but yeah, it's problematic.”
She added, “But then keep watching and you'll see.” And that's all I can say.”
Paul, who was permanently banned last week after becoming “traitor in chief” and criticized for his Machiavellian tactics, has insisted he did not specifically target anyone based on their gender.
He said it was a “compliment” to be murdered because it meant you were a strong player and a threat and that gender “doesn't even cross your mind” when you play the game.
“We didn’t go into any detail about gender or age at all. “A lot of people were older,” he told Web.
Ash was the first traitor to be “banished” after being thrown under the bus by her teammates
“We got rid of the people we thought were the strongest and biggest threat.”
“There was no other depth… it was pure gameplay… it's a compliment when you get killed because you're too strong.”
“It's almost an insult to people to keep you because you're not a threat and almost a pawn in the game.” “The strongest people we've had to banish or murder is more of a compliment.”
However, some viewers were quick to notice that the series had sexist undertones, portraying women as victims and men as attackers.
“I'm glad Claudia made fun of them recruiting another man, considering they only murdered women other than Aubrey, only recruited men, and the only female traitor was the first to be thrown under the bus. “It seems pretty sexist at this point,” one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another wrote: “The most sexist setup of the traitors.” “The women are murdered and the men are recruited as traitors.”
In the devious game of wit, the “traitors” secretly attempt to “murder” one of the “believers” each night without being discovered while trying to figure out who is doing the duplicity.
The Traitors continues on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.