The Traitors delivered its first major shock of the season as Judy became the opening contestant to be banished from the castle following an overwhelming and ultimately incorrect group vote.
In one of the most decisive roundtable moments the show has ever seen, a staggering 16 players voted in the same direction, sending the 60 year old child liaison officer out of the game despite her repeated insistence that she was a Faithful. The result left several contestants visibly stunned once the truth was revealed.
Judy’s banishment has already sparked debate among fans, with many pointing to it as a clear example of herd mentality taking over inside the castle. Once suspicion began to build, it proved nearly impossible for Judy to shift the narrative, even as a handful of players publicly defended her.
Among those standing firmly by her side was her secret daughter Roxy, who refused to believe her mother could be a Traitor. Former senior police officer Amanda also spoke in Judy’s defense, expressing confidence that her instincts told her Judy was innocent. Despite those protests, the momentum at the table proved too strong.
After her exit, Judy remained remarkably composed and reflective. Asked whether she would change anything about her approach to the game, she admitted that while she wished she could have stayed longer, she had no regrets about how she played.
“I didn’t have a strategy,” Judy explained. “I just thought there was no point in changing myself. I wanted to play the game the best I could, enjoy it, and have some fun. That’s exactly what I did.”
Knowing she was the first to be banished was not easy, she acknowledged, but she said she took comfort in leaving with her integrity intact. “It’s hard,” she said. “But I went down gracefully. I knew I was going, but I still felt proud of how I handled myself.”
Judy also revealed that she is now fully backing her daughter Roxy to go the distance in the competition. “I’m willing her on,” she said. “I know she’s got it in her to go all the way.”
One moment that stood out for Judy during her brief time in the castle involved fellow contestant Sam, who led much of the charge against her. She recalled becoming defensive once she realized he was targeting her.
“That was when my back went up,” she said. “I thought, ‘no, I’m not having this,’ so I came back at him. That’s just who I am.”
Despite being confused about why she became such a strong target, Judy said she cherished the experience overall, praising the friendships she formed in such a short time. “I’ve had an amazing time,” she insisted. “The bonds we built were incredible. I loved every minute of it.”
The fallout from the roundtable was immediate. Many contestants appeared horrified when host Claudia Winkleman revealed that they had banished an innocent Faithful. Claudia did not hold back, telling the group, “You banished an innocent Faithful. She was just being herself. What a striking win for the Traitors.”
Roxy struggled to hide her anger following her mother’s exit, warning that the vote could have serious consequences. She suggested that if Sam is himself a Faithful, his actions may have directly benefited the Traitors. “Mum’s game might be over,” she said, “but mine is just starting, and it’s going to spur me on.”
Judy’s departure followed closely after another blow to the group, with Netty becoming the show’s first murder victim. The 42 year old single mother reflected honestly on her early exit, admitting she may have played too loudly too soon.
“I said I’d observe at the start, but I didn’t stick to it,” Netty confessed. “I was asking everyone what they thought and sharing my opinions. If I’d known what was coming, I might have stayed quieter, but I don’t know if it would have saved me.”
Describing her exit as bittersweet, Netty said she made peace with how her journey ended. “I didn’t get the time I hoped for,” she said, “but I think I had the time I was meant to have.”
With one innocent banished and another murdered, the opening chapter of The Traitors has already exposed how quickly fear, suspicion, and groupthink can derail even the most confident players. And if this first vote is any indication, the road ahead inside the castle is going to be brutal.
