Ross and Ellie from The Traitors

Fans of the record-breaking BBC series The Traitors are convinced a connection ties every contestant to another — after various sets of teammates have been revealed to know each other. The theory comes after a photograph surfaced online appearing to show Ross and Ellie together back in 2024! And after eagle-eyed viewers spotted a suspicious family tree in the hallway, which is surrounded by cryptic Latin.

The painting shows the names and faces of each of this year’s contestants, alongside wording which translates to warnings about trusting “your own blood” and “close friends”.

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In the first episode on New Year’s Day, it was revealed Judy and Roxy were mother and daughter, although the contestants themselves were kept in the dark. That’s despite a hilarious slip-up in the first challenge, in which Roxy accidentally shouted: “Stop, Mum”, while rowing a boat together.

It was also revealed in episode one that Ross and Netty know each other from many years ago, sharing a mutual friend. That revelation threw Ross into the spotlight when Netty was the first to be murdered!

But now fans have had the chance to read and translate the Latin written around the family tree in the hall, theories have begun to spread online suggesting there are more connections yet to be discovered.

The wording says: ‘Cave pluribus ut proprio sanguine confidis acutissimi cutelli saepe in mensa tradunutur a manibus fidis’ and ‘Inter amicas intimas latent hostes occultissimi cave ne fiducia tua fiat causa tuae ruinae atque exitii.’

This translates to: ‘Beware of many, even when you trust your own blood; the sharpest knives are often handed over the table by faithful hands‘ and ‘Among close friends lie hidden the most secret enemies; beware lest your trust become the cause of your ruin and destruction.

The Traitors series 4 cast© BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry

The Traitors series 4 cast

It’s lead to wild theories online, suggesting Reece is Amanda’s son and Matthew and Rachel are siblings. Meanwhile after a group photograph surfaced online which appears to show Ross with his arm around Ellie back in 2024, many think the pair from London are a couple.

Super sleuths have also trawled through the pair’s social media and believe they seem to have posted photographs of very similar holidays at the same time.

Meanwhile one fan wrote on social media: ‘Amanda and Hugo, siblings?’ While another said: ‘Everyone is a pair in there. Ross and Nettie are partners. Judy and Roxy mother and daughter. Hugo and Amanda are work colleagues. That’s why he said: ‘you prosecute people’.’

We’ll just have to wait to see if any of these theories are correct! The Traitors returns to BBC One on Wednesday 7th January at 8pm.