The Traitors: Uncloaked – The show that changed the face of podcasting

Get them, before they get you. Our favourite series of backstabbing, betrayal, and murder has triumphantly returned to our screens this January, bringing with it iconic one-liners and characters (we’re looking at you Linda) but also its riotously successful sister-podcast.  

Hosted by an intoxicatingly enthusiastic Ed Gamble, The Traitors: Uncloaked has yet again proved to be a smash hit, garnering similar viewing attention as it did last year, where an average of 2 million tuned into each episode, earning 7x more viewers than the BBC 2 slot average. The show was one of the first of its kind – a visual podcast brought to life for TV, with the option to stream on BBC Sounds with an extra 15 minutes of content. The Traitors adores teasing its fans with tantalising cliffhangers, making the wait between episodes at times agonising. For those whose appetites can’t wait for more shocks and revelations, the companion show provides just that. Viewers and listeners alike are desperate to see the fallen faithful react to the identities of the traitors, reveals which have provided iconic moments like last year’s memorable meeting between traitor Miles and the legendary Diane. Featuring celebrity guests in addition to returning traitors and faithful from series past, the show provides an excellent space for the fandom to engage with theories, propose strategies and question the tactics of contestants. Fan engagement is so critical to the success of The Traitors, so in providing a space for them to extend their discussion of the episode’s drama and events, the companion show also extends the longevity of the main show’s success. It’s a perfect recipe for creating the live buzz for new episodes and the sense of community at the heart of the show’s fanbase.

The show provides an excellent space for the fandom to engage with theories, propose strategies and question the tactics of contestants

In May of last year, I was privileged enough to attend The Podcast Show 2024 at London’s Business Design Centre. One of the many panels I was in the audience for, was one celebrating the runaway success of The Traitors: Uncloaked. Host Ed Gamble described how the show speaks to the potential success to be harnessed from compatible media, pointing to other spinoff podcasts like Taskmaster The Podcast, and the many which have spawned from franchises such as RuPaul’s Drag Race or Doctor Who. His conclusion was simple; if there is interest in a successful piece of media, there will most definitely be interest in additional content from said media.

The show speaks to the potential success to be harnessed from compatible media

The growth of these podcasts in recent years is an indication of the power of fandom in our modern culture. Our shared passion for these shows binds us together and creates a sense of community around them. Podcasts like Uncloaked simply provide a platform for communities to engage and connect with each other through this shared love, a methodology which will forever provide success for as long as these communities exist.