The Traitors 2024 thrown into chaos as ‘applicants plot to use a secret code and conspire against the BBC’ in order to take home the £120,000 prize fund

BBC bosses could have a group of clever contestants to look out for in the next series of The Traitors.

Among the 300,000 people who have applied for a slot on the programme, some have conspired to plot against the BBC.

According SunSome applicants, who are in Stage 2 of the process, have banded together and plan to use a secret code if they appear in the program.

But one traitor has already betrayed their mini-alliance by revealing the plan to producers Studio Lambert.

A source told the publication: ‘The group chats were talking about the use of keywords. If they were chosen as Traitors, they would say “I’m feeling hotter than usual today, anyone else?” The traitors would answer “yes”, the faithful “no”.

‘They agreed to split the prize. Some were simply interested in fame and had fake arguments planned to get more airtime.

‘But they revealed so much personal information that they could be traced directly at their auditions. One was a surgeon, so it was easy for the cast to select candidates by name and cast them out.

Rest assured, all the scammers have been “kicked out” because they compromised the integrity of the show.

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.

Nearly 7 million viewers watched the season two finale in January and now producers are said to be racing against time as they try to narrow down just 22 hopefuls in time for filming, which will begin in a matter of months.

A source said Sun: “(Filming) has to start in spring because during the summer months the daylight hours in the far north of Scotland are too long.”

“Which is a big deal because, as anyone who’s seen the show will know, a lot of it has to take place at night.

“So if they miss the opportunity to film, that causes problems.”

Before going on to say how excited the producers were that so many hopefuls applied to appear on the show.

Presenter Claudia Winkleman recently revealed that she initially turned down the job of presenting The Traitors, but the “exceptional” Dutch series changed her mind.

The television host, 52, appeared on the fifth season of the acclaimed podcast. Plate with Waitrose for its new episode earlier this month.

Speaking to podcast hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, Claudia said she was asked to host the show three or four years ago but turned it down “for licking her eyebrows”.

“And because of my innate laziness,” Claudia added, before saying that she had recommended many other presenters who might take on the gig, which was filmed at Ardross Castle.

However, determined to keep Claudia in the hosting race, a BBC boss encouraged her to watch the Dutch version of the series, and soon the Strictly Come Dancing presenter was offering to book her own train to Scotland.

She said: “I thought, ‘I’m so sorry I can’t go to Scotland for three and a half weeks, but thank you so much for thinking of me. And why don’t you ask the following people? Thank you.” you, bye.”

And they said, “Just before you flat out say no, can we send you the tapes of the Dutch version?” And I was like, “Yeah, okay, I’m not really going to be able to…” and then four days later, “Have you seen it yet?” I was like, no… I’m taking a nap.”