Viewers of The Traitors love to discuss their wild theories for how the game will play out.
But The Guardian newspaper has perhaps the most outlandish theory of them all.
One of its columnists has been taken to task for declaring that the Claudia Winkleman-hosted show, like the rest of Britain, is simply racist.
The controversial article was prompted after black contestants Judy and Ross were voted off by their castmates who wrongly suspected they were traitors.
Writer Athena Kugblenu argued in an article for the left-wing publication that the result proved that ‘racial bias’ was at play and reflected the ‘reality’ of living in this country.
She wrote: ‘If there is one thing that has impacted the experience of Black people in this country, it’s the accusation of acting and looking suspicious.’
Ms Kugblenu, 44, then compared the banishment of Judy and Ross to cases of wrongful stop and search by the police.
Despite acknowledging widespread black representation in public life, she argues ‘we may be guilty of letting this representation conceal our everyday experiences’.
A Guardian columnist has been taken to task for declaring that The Traitors, like the rest of Britain, is simply racist
Ms Kugblenu, 44, compared the early banishments of Judy and Ross to cases of wrongful stop and search by the police
The writer added: ‘These reality shows serve only to remind us that if our presence was up for any kind of national debate, it’s an argument we might not win.’
But failed to mention that Hugo and Amanda, who were both faithful and white, were also voted off by their fellow contestants.
Non-white contestants Netty and Maz have also been murdered by the Traitors.
Writer and comedian Simon Evans told the Daily Mail: ‘We have heard it all before. This is a mishmash of various complaints and grievances and also acknowledgements that incredible progress has been made since Britain was actually, evidently racist.
‘Black people read the news, host Mastermind, and are if anything (as was recently discussed heatedly) over-represented on TV commercials.
‘But if two black people get voted off in a row on a TV show then apparently there is still work to be done.‘
Three non-white celebrities – singer Cat Burns, historian David Osuluga and actor Nick Mohammad – made it to the top five of the Celebrity Traitors in December
‘This is not a helpful, productive or healthy lens through which to view TV game shows or society at large.
‘It is – like capitalising ‘Black’ – part of a general trend of importing American racial history and dynamics into a country with a completely different set of problems and until five minutes ago, a much more functional attitude to race.’
He also drew attention to the fact that three non-white celebrities – singer Cat Burns, historian David Osuluga and actor Nick Mohammad – made it to the top five of the Celebrity Traitors in December.
Mr Evans was not the only one to take exception to the article . One online commentator said: ‘How do black contestants voting for other black contestants fit into the race-baiters narrative?
‘Are white people not to eliminate people based on their race? Let us know who we are allowed to root for.’
Another waded into The Traitors racism debate, writing: ‘This sort of sh** takes the good and fun out of everything, I can’t. If two white people were eliminated first no one would bat an eyelid.’
