When Irish actress Ruth Codd posted a TikTok video on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, sipping wine with the caption, "I thought my favourite comedian was following me around because they wanted to be my friend, but they were actually trying to murder me for 24 hours straight on national television," she didn’t expect to become the center of a spoiler storm. But within hours, fans of Celebrity Traitors were furious — accusing her of giving away the game. The backlash came just as the BBC was scrambling to contain a far bigger leak: the entire finale had been accidentally uploaded to Canadian streaming service Crave, leaving millions of viewers wondering who to trust — both on-screen and online.
What Ruth Codd Really Meant
Codd, 33, known for her roles in The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher, wasn’t revealing her own elimination — she was referencing comedian Alan Carr, 54, who’d spent the November 5 episode sizing her up before choosing to "murder" singer Paloma Faith, 41, instead. In the episode, Carr approached Codd, lingered, and even mimed touching her cheek — a classic Traitor tactic to throw off suspicion. But he switched targets at the last second, plucking a hair from Faith’s cheek as the signal for elimination. Codd clarified in comments: "I was talking about Alan. Not me being gone. I’m still here. And yes, I’m still terrified of him." Still, fans weren’t convinced. "If you’re still in the game, why hint at anything?" wrote one X user. "That’s not a clue — that’s a confession."
The Crave Leak That Shook the BBC
While Codd’s post ignited social media chaos, a far more damaging breach was unfolding on the other side of the Atlantic. On November 6, 2025, Crave, the Canadian streaming platform licensed to air Celebrity Traitors, mistakenly published the full finale 24 hours early. The episode remained live for 90 minutes before being pulled. According to BBC, the leak exposed the identities of the final Traitors — Alan Carr and singer Cat Burns, 23 — as well as the fate of the remaining Faithful: rugby player Joe Marler, 34; actor-comedian Nick Mohammed, 44; and historian David Olusoga, 44.
The BBC issued an emergency statement: "We kindly ask anyone who thinks they know the outcome of The Celebrity Traitors to keep whatever they believe they know to themselves. Please avoid sharing potential spoilers so that the millions of fans who have been faithfully following every twist and turn of the series can enjoy the final this evening." The plea came too late. By midday, Reddit threads were flooded with screenshots. One user posted: "Cat Burns is the last Traitor. Joe Marler wins. Alan cried. It’s over."
Who Knew What — And When
The controversy deepened when it emerged that Ruth Codd had already revealed her suspicions in a BBC Sounds podcast, The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, recorded October 17, 2025. In the episode, she named Jonathan Ross, 64, as her "suspect number one," and correctly identified him as the first Traitor caught. She also guessed Cat Burns was a Traitor — "Good for her," she said after learning the truth. "Fair play." Her accuracy didn’t help her avoid backlash, though. Fans pointed out: "She knew the Traitors. She’s still talking about it. That’s not just a clue — that’s insider knowledge."
Meanwhile, Joe Marler had already tipped off viewers in the episode before the finale. "I’m 90% sure it’s Alan and Cat," he said, staring directly into the camera. "They’re too close. Too quiet. Too... coordinated." That clip went viral on X, making the Crave leak feel almost inevitable.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about one reality show. It’s about the collapse of trust in the age of instant sharing. Celebrity Traitors thrives on suspense — the slow burn of suspicion, the gasp moments, the betrayal that lands like a punch. When a streaming platform leaks a finale, or when a contestant posts a cryptic wine toast, it doesn’t just ruin the experience — it devalues the entire production. The BBC spent months building this season’s tension. Viewers spent weeks dissecting every glance, every whispered word at the Roundtable. And now? It’s all been reduced to memes and screenshots.
And here’s the twist: Codd wasn’t trying to spoil anything. She was reacting to the show’s own manipulation — the way it makes you question every friendly gesture. That’s the genius of Celebrity Traitors. But when the line between performance and reality blurs, even innocent comments become dangerous.
What’s Next
The BBC has launched an internal review into how Crave’s system failed. Meanwhile, Crave has issued a public apology and promised to overhaul its content delivery protocols. As for Codd? She’s staying silent. No more TikToks. No more wine. Just a simple Instagram story: "Trust no one. Especially not me."
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Ruth Codd actually reveal her elimination in the TikTok post?
No, she didn’t. Codd clarified her comment referred to comedian Alan Carr’s moment of hesitation before eliminating Paloma Faith, not her own exit. She was still in the game when the post went live. But viewers interpreted her phrasing — "murder me for 24 hours" — as a hint she’d been voted out, triggering widespread backlash despite her explanation.
How did the Crave leak happen?
Crave, a Canadian streaming service licensed to air BBC content, accidentally pushed the finale to its platform 24 hours early due to a technical error in its content scheduling system. The episode remained accessible for 90 minutes before being pulled. The BBC confirmed the leak was internal to Crave and not caused by a data breach or insider leak.
Who were the final Traitors in Celebrity Traitors?
The final two Traitors were comedian Alan Carr and singer Cat Burns. They faced off against Faithful contestants Joe Marler, Nick Mohammed, and David Olusoga. Jonathan Ross was the first Traitor caught during the series, eliminated in Week 3 after being voted out by the group.
Why was Ruth Codd’s TikTok post so controversial if she didn’t spoil anything?
Reality TV thrives on ambiguity, and Codd’s post used language that mirrored the show’s dramatic tone — "murder me for 24 hours" — which fans interpreted as confirmation of her elimination. Even without explicit spoilers, the post felt like a wink to insiders, violating the unspoken rule that contestants stay silent until after broadcast. The timing — right after the episode aired — made it look intentional.
What impact will this have on future seasons of Celebrity Traitors?
The BBC is expected to tighten non-disclosure agreements and impose stricter social media bans during filming. There’s also talk of delaying international streaming releases to match the UK broadcast window. For fans, the leaks have damaged trust — and the show’s core appeal: the shared, live experience of not knowing who’s lying.
Who won Celebrity Traitors?
The winner was Joe Marler, the English rugby player. He correctly identified Alan Carr and Cat Burns as Traitors during the final Roundtable, earning the prize pot. Alan Carr and Cat Burns were both eliminated after their identities were exposed, with Carr breaking down in tears during his final moments on screen.
