The story of The Traitors
This article explores the origins of the hit reality television franchise 'The Traitors', tracing its inspiration back to a 17th-century Dutch shipwreck. It discusses how the psychological dynamics of trust and betrayal were adapted into a global game show format.
Why it matters
Understanding the psychological and historical roots of popular media provides insight into why certain reality formats achieve global success.
The latest season of The Traitors has taken the country by storm, but what is the story behind the franchise's success?
Róisín Cullen explores the origins of the hit series, the psychology behind the games, and what it can tell us about how we interact with others in real life.
The story of how The Traitors became a global franchise starts with a shipwreck off the coast of Australia in the 17th century.
In June 1629, the flagship of the Dutch East India Company wrecked on islands near the western coast of Australia.
This led to mutiny and a drawn-out massacre as the crew split into rival factions.
Nobody knew who was in favour of the mutiny or who to trust once ashore.
Nearly 400 years later, Dutch TV executive Marc Pos became fascinated by the story of the ill-fated vessel after reading a book on The Batavia.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in