The final of The Celebrity Traitors leaked online 24 hours before it was scheduled to air on BBC One after being mistakenly uploaded by overseas broadcasters, reports BritPanorama.
Initial reports indicate that several hundred subscribers to the streaming service Crave in Canada viewed the final before the stream was removed hours later. A screen grab from the episode was shared by one user, while others on online forums confirmed having seen the show.
The leak of this widely anticipated finale posed significant risks for the BBC, as it is projected to be one of the year’s most-watched television events. The broadcaster has urged individuals who might know the outcome of the episode to refrain from sharing any spoilers.
According to The Sun, the Crave stream was accessible for around 90 minutes, during which time numerous fans articulated online what transpired during the final. It was also reported that viewers in New Zealand managed to watch the finale early, as it was available on ThreeNow, the streaming platform associated with Channel 3.
In response to the leak, the BBC issued an urgent statement asking fans to “keep whatever they believe they know to themselves.” The statement emphasized the importance of allowing dedicated viewers to enjoy the finale without foreknowledge of outcomes.
When asked on Radio 4’s Media Show whether he was concerned about the potential for spoilers, Celebrity Traitors producer Mike Cotton stated, “There’s a small group of people who know the result and we rely on the trust of all the people who make this show to keep that secret.”
The Celebrity Traitors has claimed the title of the most-watched TV show of the year, drawing an average viewership of 12.6 million across its initial four episodes. As the series concludes, fans are eager to find out whether traitors Cat Burns and Alan Carr will claim the £100,000 prize for charity, or if faithfuls Joe Marler, Nick Mohammed, and David Olosuga will emerge victorious.
The finale, airing Thursday evening, is set to run for 70 minutes on BBC One, followed by an extended edition of The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked on BBC Two.
