THE return date of The Traitors has just been confirmed by the BBC.
An eerie new trailer featuring Claudia Winkleman, 52, was released by the publicly funded corporation.
The BBC has confirmed that the series will return on New Year’s Day as a new group of players compete for the jackpot £120,000 prize.
In the sneak preview, viewers are immediately transported back to the hit reality show in the dramatic teaser.
The short clip shows a number of hooded figures carrying the lanterns as they return to their infamous castle lair.
As fireworks then emblazon the screen, the bright logo of the Traitors then flashes up.
Claudia’s voiceover cheekily says: “Start the new year with a bang.”
The Strictly Come Dancing host will meet the new roster of strangers in what the corporation calls “the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust.”
However, the producers have promised new twists and turns with “a whole new game.”
It has also confirmed the return of the visualised companion podcast, ‘Traitors Uncloaked’ .
Stand up comedian and presenter Ed Gamble, 38, will also make a comeback.
The episodes of the spin-off will once again be available directly after every episode of the main show on BBC Two and iPlayer.
The first two episodes of the show will air at 8pm on-screen as the the rest of the series will be available to watch an hour later.
As per the last series, the hit reality gameshow format will air Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.
Execs have also confirmed that despite speculation, the third series will be a civilian series.
Further details about the highly-anticipated celebrity edition will be announced in due course.
Series three of The Traitors will launch on Wednesday 1st January 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
