Last night, in a shock twist, the last three women faithfuls, Vanessa, Oyin and Kelley grasped victory over the treacherous Nick and Ben, in the finale of the RTÉ One hit show 'Traitors Ireland'.
The series has been an audience ratings hit since the first episode clocked up an impressive 46% share and since then, that viewership figure has risen and risen.
We will not get our hands on the official figures for the finale until later this morning (we will of course publish those as soon as the anxious number crunchers release them), but if the semifinal, on Monday night is any barometer, it should hit that mark which was a 58% share.
This is a staggering share for an entertainment show on a Monday night on liner television, and it demonstrates that a programme that revels in lies, cheating and deception has ironically, lifted the country’s mood since it kicked off on RTÉ One on 31 August.
Here are five reasons why the show has been a hit with audiences.
1. Format
Darren Smith CEO from Kite TV who brought the format of the show to RTÉ, said that he first came across The Traitors when he got a tip off from industry friends during Covid-19 that "this was a show worth watching".
The Traitors format was created by producer Marc Pos, and it seems unbelievable now that he struggled at first to get it made with around "50 rejections" from TV networks.
It took Mr Pos six years to sell his Traitors format before he eventually landed it on RTL4 in the Netherlands in 2021.
Since then, the Traitors has become the breakout global success in the reality format market, with over 30 territories now having produced localised versions.
It's simple, yet ruthless concept, involves a group of strangers split into either deadly secretive Traitors or the loyal Faithfuls with both groups chasing the winning pot of gold.
Tense breakfasts, missions ranging from physically grueling to weird and wonderful, and exhausting round table conferences all feed into the show's drama.
It is also interestingly, a technology-free zone which leads to it feeling like an old school style programme from the times when TV entertainment shows were king of the schedules.
2 Casting
The casting was excellently executed.
Siobhan McSweeney was an inspired decision as she is known worldwide from her role as Sister (George) Michael in Derry Girls.
Having McSweeney, who brought killer wit and a killer wardrobe to boot, will help introduce Traitors Ireland across other territories too.
Internationally, the choice of hosts is a significant factor in the enduring success of 'the Traitors' format.
In the UK, BBC’s Claudia Winkleman and her tartan knits helped install the show as a hugely popular fixture in the New Year TV schedule.
In the US, season 3 of The Traitors marked the biggest audience TV for an unscripted reality series, and host Alan Cumming is at the heart of the action there. Along with the host, the casting decisions of the contestants have been gratifying to see.
Firstly, there is Paudie, the retired prison offer. His breakthrough success as DADDY has been swift.
Along with his (secret on camera) son Andrew, Eamon the Garda, Katelyn the business consultant, and Faye, along with Oyin, Nick and Ben, this cast has clicked with viewers.
Many of them have already reached first name fame status, driving online chatter and analysis on the official ‘Uncloaked’ pod hosted by Kevin McGahan.
3. Scheduling
RTÉ’s event-style scheduling decision was a smart move.
Running across Sunday through Tuesday nights at 9.30pm, three consecutive nights kept audiences hooked and avoided weekly drop-offs.
The first show launched on 31 August with 600,000 live viewers, plus strong RTÉ Player numbers of 139,000.
With the TV producers in a fight for audience numbers linear television across the world, these are enviable figures.
The decision to screen The Traitors Ireland at 9.30pm, and to broadcast Prime Time at a later slot was a significant choice too.
It is a broadcasting model used for shows aiming to make a big impact, and viewers are used to it from hits like I’m a Celebrity, Love Island and of course The Traitors on the BBC and it has had the desired impact here too.
4. Production
The series has been beautifully and painstakingly produced.
The format acquired by Kite Entertainment and RTÉ brings with it a programme bible that gives clear instructions on the look and the mechanics of the show so there is a consistency across every version of the show.
The setting in Slane Castle was a clever choice, and the look of the show is thrillingly creepy, glossy and polished.
From the details in the missions, to the editing in the confessional review interviews, every beat in the shows has been carefully crafted and executed.
A little shoutout to the sound team, as the soundtrack rocked, and every whisper under a cloak was crystal clear and crafted to perfection.
Darren Smith CEO of Kite Entertianment explained today that when they were preparing for the show within the boundaries of the international format, they "leant into the Irishness, with our amazing cast, our host, our castle."
He added that when they want to bring an international format to screen in Ireland, "in the office, we call it that we are putting a fada on it."
He explained that "we keep the origins of the idea, the core bits of it but then we put an Irish nod to it."
5. Vibes
Finally, the positive vibes.
TV producers can plot, scheme and edit their shows for months on end, but they cannot control that final connection with the viewers once their shows are launched. That is the secret sauce that makes a show fly.
Traitors Ireland managed to be exciting, excruciating and addictive viewing.
Watching the psychological impact on the players led to passionate conversations between fans which kept the show alive in the four nights gap until the next episode.
TV gold moments included Paudie’s struggle with hugging, later declaring that "I’m a hugger' with Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Show, that sealed his place in Irish television archives.
From Christine’s coffin lid moment in Episode 9, to Joanna’s agonising round table eviction, the producers delivered iconic tv moments.
Thrilling, polished and unforgettable, Traitors Ireland has earned its place as one of RTÉ’s biggest recent hits.
Roll on season two.
