The Traitors has returned to our screens, with its usual combination of murders, missions and midnight meetings. The number of contestants this year has risen to 25 – ranging from a former British diplomat to even a member of the clergy.

“I just love a good murder,” says the priest, Lisa, in the opening episode, revealing that she’s “had a chat” with the man upstairs about the ethics of taking part. But, she concludes: “Any self-respecting murder mystery needs to have a priest in it.”

Wednesday’s launch saw her joined by a retired opera singer, beautician, landscaper, swimming teacher, window cleaner, financial investigator and British Army soldier.

But although the players are different, and a few key changes have been made to the format (more on those in a sec), the show’s core principles remain.

“The absolute beauty of the Traitors is the game itself,” says presenter Claudia Winkleman. “I get messages all the time from people playing it in theatres, on film sets, in schools, even a Traitors wedding – I agree, too much.”

The presenter says she feels “completely terrified” by the launch of series three – fearful both of accidentally revealing spoilers and also whether audiences will like the show as much as the previous series. “I don’t exhale until January 24th,” she jokes.

“It is such an honour to be in that round table and to see how it unfolds, so I feel incredibly lucky and love it, and you just don’t want people to be disappointed, because the people who like [the show] are so vocal.”