ITV is plotting to steal the BBC's hit show Traitors

Revealed: ITV is plotting to steal the BBC’s hit show Traitors as part of a swoop on a £1BILLION studio

The BBC could lose its hit show The Traitors to rival channel ITV, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The commercial broadcaster is close to securing a deal to buy the company that makes the Bafta-winning programme – and if they do, they will be able to decide which network airs it.

Bosses would be happy to deny the BBC one of its biggest ratings hits if they can pull off the deal to acquire All3Media for £1 billion.

When it launched last year, The Traitors – which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman – instantly became one of the jewels in the BBC’s crown. 

Its first series, made by All3Media subsidiary Studio Lambert, attracted an average audience of 5.4 million and encouraged more young viewers to sign up for iPlayer than any other show.

The BBC could lose its hit show The Traitors to rival channel ITV, The Mail on Sunday can reveal

An industry insider said: ‘The Traitors has been one of the biggest television success stories in recent years. It is also something that ITV bosses think would fit in so well on their own channel.

‘Because they would own the company that makes it, they could do whatever they wanted with it.

‘ITV know just what damage it would do to the BBC, but they have a business to run and they want to get the viewers watching their channel.’

It is the latest battle between the two broadcasters. They are currently at war over the poaching of each other’s stars. The BBC has made audacious bids to give Holly Willoughby a prime time slot on the channel, while ITV has signed BBC names such as Graham Norton, Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball to front projects.

The first season of The Traitors, which was set in a Scottish castle, aired in November 2022. It showed 22 strangers fighting to win £120,000 by back-stabbing and lying to one another. It was so popular that a second series was commissioned in February.

If ITV acquired All3Media it could see Strictly Come Dancing host Ms Winkleman presenting an ITV programme for the first time in 15 years, as she is employed by the production company rather than the BBC. ITV is also keen to take Gogglebox, which is also made by Studio Lambert, from Channel 4. Industry insiders say that if ITV pull off the deal, it could prove a turning point for under-fire boss Dame Carolyn McCall, who has been embroiled in scandal since Phillip Schofield admitted lying about an affair.

Source: Read Full Article