Hit BBC TV series, The Traitors returns in 2026, bringing in the New Year with its fourth series. The cast, which has been revealed ahead of the first episode, features Scottish crime novelist and barrister, Harriet Tyce. The Sunday Times and million-copy bestselling author rose to acclaim with her first novel, Blood Orange which was a Richard and Judy choice, and has been optioned for development as a TV series, chosen by the producers of Line of Duty and Bodyguard, Quibi and World Productions.
Tyce studied English literature at Oxford University before completing a law conversion course of City University. She practised as a criminal barrister for nearly ten years before pursuing creative writing and crime fiction, bringing her expertise to her books.
Following the popular Blood Orange, she published The Lies you Told (2020), It Ends at Midnight (2022), and A Lesson in Cruelty (2024). She also wrote the introductory chapter to Holding Tight, Letting Go (2022) by her friend Sarah Hughes, celebrating their friendship and exploring Hughes life with terminal cancer.
Tyce’s next novel, Witch Trial which is set to publish in February 2026 also utilises her knowledge of the criminal justice system. Set during the trial of two teenage girls accused of murder, it explores evidence and truth, human judgement, and the prosecution of witches in Scotland.
In the upcoming series of The Traitors, Harriet Tyce will be taking part in the ultimate, gripping game of trust and judgement in Scotland. Kicking off on New Year’s Day from 8pm, the series follows the immensely popular Celebrity Traitors, which aired in the autumn and attracted 15 million viewers.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Harriet Tyce said: “I spend my life making up horrible ways for people to die and killing people on the page.
“The idea that I might get to actually plot to kill people or to track down a murderer, but without actual blood being shed, it’s the closest that I’d get to that experience in real life. So quite honestly, what’s not to like?
“I write books which are all about people not being who they seem, and The Traitors is like the quintessence of people not being who they seem. I might bring an ability to see patterns in people’s behaviour.”
Claudia Winkleman returns as host to welcome, Harriet Tyce, and 21 other new contestants to Ardross Castle near Inverness. The first episode airs 8pm Thursday 1st January, followed by episode two on Friday 2nd January at 8pm, and episode three on Saturday 3rd January at 7.45pm.
