Harriet Tyce’s dramatic turn underscores older women’s hold on The Traitors

Wednesday’s episode of The Traitors was described as explosive, with Harriet Tyce dominating proceedings and her behaviour called “nothing short of Shakespearean.”

The instalment also included Matthew’s recruitment deal with Traitors Stephen and Rachel being “confirmed”, James stealing a shield, and Rachel revealing her “FBI training”. Harriet dropped the secret writer and criminal barrister revelation, confronted Rachel in a gothic chapel, publicly “prosecuted” her at breakfast and offered largely vibes-based evidence at the round table. She was the first Faithful in the show’s history to ask to be banished simply to prove a point.

The episode reinforced a recurring trend: a woman over 50 repeatedly becomes the season’s viral, “mother” figure. Past examples cited include Amanda Lovett, then 54, who was a Traitor in series one; Diane Carson, 63, a Faithful in series two; and 70-year-old Linda Rands, a Traitor in series three. In the current run, Fiona, 62, who was revealed as the Secret Traitor, and 52-year-old Harriet both seized the spotlight.

Harriet even asked the cast to “call her bluff” and vote her out to prove she was a Faithful. Her claim that there are “four, maybe even five, Traitors” was said to be off the mark and verge on farce, but she left the round table with the parting words: “Do not let this sacrifice be in vain.”

Key Topics

Culture, Harriet Tyce, The Traitors, Fiona, Amanda Lovett, Diane Carson