The drama is heating up on The Celebrity Traitors, and pop sensation Paloma Faith has sent shockwaves through the fandom with a cryptic social media post that might have just spilled the tea on who’s next to face the chop from the castle. Fans are buzzing with speculation, and one name is on everyone’s lips: YouTube star Niko Omilana. Could Paloma’s slip-up spell doom for the beloved influencer?
The third series of The Traitors, hosted by the ever-charismatic Claudia Winkleman, kicked off with a bang on BBC One. In the premiere episode, comedian Alan Carr was selected as a Traitor alongside TV legend Jonathan Ross and singer Cat Burns. Their first task? A devious murder in plain sight. Alan, in a move that left viewers reeling, chose to “poison” Paloma Faith by touching her face after handling a deadly lily. Just like that, Paloma became the first casualty of the season, leaving fans devastated and the singer herself heartbroken.
Taking to social media, Paloma expressed her disappointment but didn’t stop there. In a now-infamous Instagram Stories video posted last night, she dropped a bombshell hint about who might be the next to be banished from the game. “I love you Niko, I’m sorry,” she said, tagging YouTube sensation Niko Omilana. The cryptic message, paired with her emotional tone, has fans convinced that Niko is in the crosshairs.
The clue lies in a pivotal moment from Thursday’s episode. As the celebrities said their goodnights before heading to bed, Paloma shared a warm hug with Niko, jokingly remarking that she might be murdered. Little did she know how prophetic her words would be. Fans now believe this hug could be Niko’s undoing, especially after Paloma’s Instagram hint. Could the Faithfuls misinterpret this moment of camaraderie as a sign of treachery?
The Traitors fanbase on X is in a frenzy. One fan tweeted, “NOOOO Paloma the suspicion is going to be on Niko now.” Another wrote, “Nobody mentioning that Paloma said Niko hugged her… they’ve bottled it.” A third added, “I have a feeling they’re gonna vote Niko off because of what Paloma said.” The sentiment is clear: fans fear Niko’s charm and popularity won’t save him from the banishment vote.
“If they end up voting Niko out first because he hugged Paloma, I’m gonna crash out,” one distraught viewer posted. Another chimed in, “So glad the show is back, but oh my lord, if we lose Paloma and Niko in the first week (kinda), I’m gonna be livid. Two massive characters gone that quick would be sad.” A fifth fan held out hope, saying, “Hopefully they can save Paloma in this challenge. If not, Niko is done for when they remember he hugged her.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Paloma seems to be nursing a grudge against her on-screen “murderer,” Alan Carr. Since her dramatic exit, she’s dropped several hints that their real-life friendship might be on shaky ground. In an Instagram Story posted during Thursday’s airing, Paloma tagged Alan with a single, pointed word: “f**k.” Ouch.
During her exit interview on BBC Two’s Uncloaked spin-off with Ed Gamble, Paloma showered praise on her fellow castmates but conspicuously left Alan out. “I liked feeling how physically competent I was with the Trojan horse. That was such a thrilling group achievement and hard work,” she said. “Also, meeting people I’d never crossed paths with before. Celia is just an absolute dream. And I love, love Niko. He’s amazing. It was so nice to meet Cat as well. Ruth Codd was one of the funniest, most brilliant people I’ve met in a long time!” The omission of Alan spoke volumes.
Paloma’s final jab came in an Instagram post showing her sitting by the grave where she was “buried” on the show. Captioning it, “Honestly. GUTTED. No words @bbc @bbciplayer #traitors,” she made no mention of Alan, further fueling speculation of a rift.
For those new to the phenomenon, The Traitors is a gripping reality game show that premiered in the UK in 2022, based on a Dutch format. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the series pits 22 contestants against each other in a high-stakes game of deception and deduction. A select few are secretly chosen as Traitors, tasked with “murdering” one Faithful each night to eliminate them from the competition. Meanwhile, the Faithfuls must work together to uncover and banish the Traitors through daily votes. If the Traitors remain undetected, they claim the prize—up to £120,000. If the Faithfuls root out all the Traitors, they split the winnings.
The show’s blend of psychological strategy, intense challenges, and shocking betrayals has made it a fan favorite, and the celebrity edition has only upped the ante.
With Paloma’s exit and her cryptic hint about Niko, all eyes are on the next episode. Will the Faithfuls misread the hug and send Niko packing? Or will the YouTuber’s charm and quick wit keep him in the game? One thing’s for sure: The Celebrity Traitors is delivering drama at every turn, and fans are on the edge of their seats.