Claudia Winkleman has teased more twists and turns in store for The Traitors series 2 (Picture: BBC)

The Traitors is returning to BBC in the New Year – but one aspect of the hit show will not be back.

Claudia Winkleman’s twisted reality series had the nation hooked in 2022, clocking up millions of views to the point where it would’ve been criminal if it wasn’t renewed.

Fans of the game show are counting down the days until its second outing premieres, with series 2 launching on January 3, which is the perfect way to kick off 2024 if you ask us.

However, Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia, 51, has teased some changes the second time around, with one huge plot twist already axed.

Speaking in a Q&A ahead of its premiere, Claudia was probed for hints on what’s new.

‘I wish I could,’ she replied. ‘I think I’m allowed to say the armoury has gone and now there’s a kitchen. That’s it!’

Viewers will remember that contestants got the chance to visit the armoury last series, with one person each time winning a shield that kept them safe from being murdered by the Traitors.

As for what replaces the armoury, Claudia remains tight-lipped.

She has, however, teased more ‘epic’ challenges in store.

‘The missions this year are epic. The producers are so clever as the missions are incredibly important as it is a chance for the contestants to switch off from strategising and plotting,’ she shared.

‘They get fresh air, they run around, they work as a team. The scale this year is beyond.’

Claudia also promised there would be some ‘stand-out’ moments to come, but refused to spill the beans.

‘I can’t say anything else,’ she tormented.

Series 1 clocked up millions of views on BBC One and iPlayer (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Mark Mainz)

Faithfuls Meryl Williams, Aaron Evans, and Hannah Byczkowski were successful in taking home a whopping prize (Picture: PA)

Ultimate Traitor Wilfred Webster was ousted in the nail-biting finale (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Paul Chappells)

Reflecting on series 1, the presenter admitted the next round of Faithfuls and Traitors will have an advantage to some extent – but not as much as they assumed.

‘It definitely gave them some tips and you can see some arrive and play the game immediately,’ she said when asked if the new hopefuls will have an upper hand after watching series 1.

‘But the game itself is so strong that however prepared you think you are, you’re not.’

Claudia went on to say that she had no idea how big the show would become, with the series welcoming an average audience of 5.4million and 1.5million in the gripping final.

‘When it did well we just couldn’t believe it. It floored all of us and made us extremely happy.’

The former radio presenter has confessed that while she’s ‘so excited’ to go again, she’s ‘terrified’ that people won’t like series 2 as much as series 1.

The armoury will not be back for series 2 (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Llara Plaza)

We can assure her that won’t be the case, though, especially as she’s teased an ‘extremely tense’ game which, at one point, left her ‘shaking’ after a roundtable.

It’s all the drama, Mick! We just love it.

Series 1 of The Traitors saw Faithfuls Meryl Williams, Aaron Evans, and Hannah Byczkowski triumph in taking home a cash prize of £101,050 after successfully banishing ultimate Traitor Wilfred Webster in a nail-biting finale.

Hoping to replicate their success will be a fresh set of 22 strangers who filmed their stint in the psychological reality competition at a beautiful castle in the Scottish Highlands.

In the game of detection, backstabbing and trust, £120,000 is on the line as the Faithfuls must oust the Traitors before they can be killed in the dead of night undetected.

We’re so ready for more backstabbing! (Picture: BBC)

Claudia has teased that the missions will be even more ‘epic’ second time around (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Llara Plaza)

For the lucky ones who survive to the end, they have the chance of winning that life-changing prize pot.

But if a Traitor remains undetected, they’ll steal all the money.

The Traitors will launch on Wednesday 3rd January 9pm on BBC One, and episodes 2 and 3 will be available on iPlayer immediately after.

Going forward the show will air Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

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Claudia Winkleman has teased more drama in series 2…