BBC on red alert for The Traitors contestants using 'secret code' to cheat and win £120,000 prize fund

Prospective Traitors contestants are reportedly taking their traitorous behaviour to a whole new level, apparently plotting to use a secret code and swindle the BBC out of the prizepot.

Basically, the premise for the 'social deception' reality series - which has already been confirmed for a third series - sees 22 strangers compete in various missions, with the hopes of winning up to £120,000.

Among the players are the 'Traitors', who meet in secret and decide to eliminate the other players, known as the 'Faithfuls'.

After the first episode of this season dropped on the BBC on 3 January, it was hailed as 'genius reality TV' among the critics.

Now, the BBC are said to be on red alert as some of the 300,000 The Traitors applicants are reportedly teaming up to use a 'secret code' to cheat and win.

Those who have made through to stage two of the application process have reportedly grouped up with the hopes of cheating on TV.

However, one applicant has apparently unveiled the devilish plans to the producers.

A source told the outlet: "The group chats spoke about using code words.

BBC

"If they were chosen as a Traitor, they were going to say 'I’m feeling hotter than usual today, anyone else?'

"Traitors would answer 'yes', Faithfuls 'no'.

"They agreed to split the prize pot. Some were just interested in fame and had fake arguments planned to get more airtime.

"But they gave so much personal information away, they could be pinpointed directly to their auditions."

The BBC declined to comment when contacted by LADbible.

BBC

This year's show came to an end on 26 January as Harry Clark played an absolute blinder to take home the winning cash prize.

At the time he said: "I’d won, but then I had to go back to work and I couldn’t tell anyone so I sort of just wanted to forget about it.

"And now it’s like reliving it and being able to tell everyone that I’ve actually won The Traitors series two."

He also told the Daily Star: "I felt like I was lying even more.

"I had a month where I had to lie to people and build connections on a lie and then I get home and then I’ve got to carry on lying for four months again, just even about being on the show - let alone winning it.

"So it’s been a relief, last night was a massive relief because it’s like, 'Oh okay, I don’t need to lie for a bit now so I can chill out'."