The Traitors banish their first victim of the series

The Traitors have now banished their first victim of the series. 

During Friday evening’s instalment of the hit BBC series, Netty become the first faithful to be murdered by the traitors. 

It comes as The Traitors fans are certain two of the contestants are a secret couple – after spotting two ‘really obvious’ clues in the previous episode.

Hosted once again by Claudia Winkleman, the hit BBC show returned to screens last night for its fourth series.

Viewers have already learned about some pre-existing relationships among the cast – and think they’ve sussed out one more. 

Namely, suggesting that contestants Ross, 37 and Ellie, 33 are secretly in a romantic relationship with each other.

The pair, both of whom are from London, were seen chatting on the train to the castle.

Eagle-eyed fans thought they saw hints of the pair seeming too familiar for supposedly meeting for the first time. 

Online sleuths highlighted how the pair’s interaction on the train was supposedly flirty.

And when fellow contestant Netty recognised Ross as a years-ago acquaintance, viewers seemed to see Ellie react by grimacing.

Taking their deductions a step further, eager fans proceeded to look up both contestants online.

They discovered how Ross had ‘liked’ a post shared by Ellie on LinkedIn back in July, although it is unclear whether this was before or after filming.

Writing on Reddit, one viewer shared: ‘Their initial scene did have a fake energy. If you live in London and someone else says they do too, especially when you’re young, you wouldn’t be surprised!

‘It’s not like both living in Cornwall or Grimsby or something.’

Another commented: ‘They could be a couple potentially- I did see Ellie react when Netty recognised Ross.’

While a third remarked: ‘She glances at him when everyone is sitting in a group after traitors are chosen just at the end of the edit, just a split second but looks like she’s checking his reaction to what’s being said, it looks really obvious to me there!’

BBC Bosses say it was not planned to have a second pair of contestants on the show who already know each other, as it was revealed in the first episode that there is also a mother and daughter duo in the game.

When conducting background checks, producers did find that Netty and Ross followed each other on social media, but the link was tenuous and they didn’t want to not cast them because of it.

Mike Cotton, Creative Director at Studio Lamberts, told the Daily Mail that neither player was warned ahead of the opening scene, as they wanted to watch their natural reaction on-screen for the first time and see how it played out in the game.

Netty’s stunned look quickly turned to excitement as she jumped into Ross’ arms after exiting the black 4x4s, while Ross was more reserved, making the reunion slightly awkward.

She then points to Ross and screams to the group, ‘I know him!’

Speaking to the camera, Netty added: ‘I get out of the car, and I recognise a face of someone called Ross who I met 10/15 years ago. I had no idea Ross was going to be here.’

He later explained that he was worried people would be suspicious of them.

‘Seeing Netty for the first time, I was like oh can we keep…,’ he said, while pretending to zip his mouth shut.

‘But she is a very honest person, and I didn’t want to betray her, and it was really nice to see her. In the back of my mind, I was thinking this looks a bit suss.’

The pair later explained that they know each other through mutual friends in London, but Netty has since moved to Glasgow, and they haven’t seen each other for over 10 years. 

Meanwhile, fellow contestant Roxy, 32, let viewers in on her secret: she and co-star Judy, 60, are mother and daughter.

Judy explained to the camera that she adopted Roxy when the latter was four, with the pair operating in the game as a secret alliance.

This revelation came after another player, James, told Roxy how Judy was being suspected as a Traitor.

As it happens, Roxy had already unintentionally spilled the beans earlier in the day – but no one appeared to notice.

Viewers realised she had seemingly referred to Judy as ‘mum’ while the group took on their first mission.

The Traitors continues Saturday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.