Following the premise of De Verraders, the show features a group of contestants participating in a game similar to Mafia (or Werewolf), where an informed minority (known as the "Traitors") must eliminate an uninformed majority (known as the "Faithfuls").

[2][3][4] Since the show launched, it has become a huge success for the BBC, with viewing figures growing substantially each series.

[5][6] Over twenty contestants arrive at a castle in the Scottish Highlands where they will spend their entire time for the duration of the game.

Each day, the group participates in missions to win money for the prize fund which can reach circa.

During the missions, any contestant may seperately win a shield that awards that player immunity from being murdered, but not from being banished.

[7] After the final Round Table, the remaining players stand around a fire pit and vote on whether to end the game.

The UK show was commissioned by the BBC in October 2021 following the airing of the Dutch series earlier that year.

Presenter Claudia Winkleman was initially hesitant to host the programme but after watching the Dutch series became "obsessed" and jokingly "booked a train to Scotland".

[21] The series was generally well received by critics, who praised the programme for being "fresh, yet familiar", likening it to party games such as Mafia or wink murder.

[29][30] Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian says the format "feels like a revival of the early, more innocent days of reality TV", calling it "The White Lotus meets Big Brother 1".

"[29] Isobel Lewis of The Independent was more critical, however, saying it "definitely isn't a perfect reality show, or even the best in its genre right now, but it is pretty entertaining.

[13] To accompany the second series in January 2024, a follow-up television programme and BBC Sounds podcast was introduced, called The Traitors: Uncloaked produced by Listen.

[38] In Australia, the series was made available to stream on 10 Play in March 2023, as a companion to the Australian version aired by the network.

[42] In Sweden, the first series was made available with Swedish subtitles on TV4 Play not long after the premiere of Förrädarna, TV4's own version.

In Poland, in December 2024, the first series was broadcast on TVN 7 in nightime slot and each episode (after it had aired) was made available to watch on a streaming service Player.