Claudia Winkleman has revealed that she is not entirely responsible for the all-important selection of The Traitors ahead of the show’s latest season.

The former Strictly host, 53, said that all is not as it seems to be on the show, and while it looks like she alone is picking, there is a secret moment behind the scenes when BBC bosses step in to help too.

The host said: ‘It’s nerve-racking, but I don’t choose them alone. I interview all the players and some are absolutely desperate to be faithful.

‘Anyone who convinces me otherwise is in contention.

‘I then go into a small room with the bosses and an enormous tin of biscuits and we pick.’

On the off chance you’ve yet to acquaint yourself with the BBC show, the contestants are split into Faithfuls and Traitors and eliminate each other in a brutal game of cat and mouse as they fight for a cash prize.

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Claudia Winkleman, 53, has revealed that she is not entirely responsible for the all-important selection of The Traitors ahead of the show’s latest season

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The former Strictly host, 53, said that all is not what it seems to be on the show, and while it looks like she alone is picking, there is a secret moment behind the scenes when BBC bosses step in to help too

The start of each season, regardless of whether it is the celebrity or civilian edition, begins with Claudia walking around the roundtable and subtly tapping the Traitors on the shoulder after interviewing the players.

She admitted: ‘The walk round the table is very tense.

‘I can’t tell you how many times I walk around it, but I really try and build the tension, which is hideously mean but also quite addictive.

‘I try and wear clompy footwear to add to it. It gets a bit flamenco. Alan [Carr] recently said I walk round the table like a carthorse and he’s bang on.’

The revelation comes as the hit BBC show, hosted once again by Claudia, is set to return on New Year’s Day, much to the delight of viewers across the United Kingdom.

Set in Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the civilian edition offers a top prize of up to £120,000.

Ahead of its imminent release, Claudia says the new series is packed with unexpected twists that left her screaming – despite being an old hand on the BBC show.

The Traitors series four dropped a new trailer teasing a sinister twist – as a mysterious Red Cloak figure is unveiled.

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Claudia admitted: ‘Alan [Carr] recently said I walk round the table like a carthorse and he’s bang on’

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The Traitors series four dropped a new trailer teasing a sinister twist – as a mysterious Red Cloak figure is unveiled

Claudia confessed to The Mirror that she screams during an unexpected change in the upcoming episodes.

She said: ‘Did they keep the bit in when I scream?’

‘At one point, all the hairs were standing on, and because you think, “yeah, I’ve seen this, it’s going to go down this route.”  And all I can say is that it absolutely doesn’t.’

Claudia went on to explain that while the celebrity version saw contestants keeping to their polite selves, according to the upcoming civilian series, the roundtable is believed to get heated.

She admitted that the game gets ‘brutal’ and the contestants play with their hearts.

A clip from the upcoming trailer revealed a major bombshell – that for the first time, the show will feature a new red Traitors cloak.

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Claudia went on to explain that while the celebrity version saw contestants keeping to their polite selves, according to the upcoming civilian series, the roundtable is believed to get heated

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The Traitors airs on BBC1 at 8pm on New Year’s Day and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

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The ad featured a Christmas dinner table as a Grandfather Clock chimed and a candle was put out.

An ominous red figure then approached, holding a lantern in their hand.

Speaking in a voiceover, Claudia said: ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas… I’m joking.’

Twists are believed to start right from the beginning as all 22 contestants are said to survive the first episode unscathed.

The red-cloaked Traitor put down the lantern before facing the camera and putting their finger to their lips.

A source told The Sun: ‘Nobody knows what the red Traitors cloak means, what that player will do, how they will fit in or even if there is just one of them.

‘But one thing is for sure, a different kind of Traitor in play will entirely change the game, again. The new twist creates distrust and treachery like never seen before.

‘Bosses know that viewers and players alike know the game inside out so they have to keep everyone on their toes.’