'I'm a BBC Traitors superfan - but I'm fuming over one thing in the new series'

There's no bigger reality TV spectacle today than The Traitors, and if Shakespeare were still around, he'd be its number one fan.

The previous series had all the elements of a Shakespearean tragedy, culminating in a finale that is widely considered one of the most unforgettable moments in reality TV history. The pivotal moment saw the show's Traitor Harry reach the final with just one obstacle between him and the prize pot: his close friend, Mollie.

The nation was on tenterhooks as Mollie geared up to banish Harry after suddenly doubting him, but he managed to sway her at the eleventh hour, causing her to erase his name from her blackboard and substitute it with another contestant's. This meant Harry swooped in and nabbed the entire prize pot, leaving Mollie empty-handed due to her misplaced trust.

A third series kicked off last night (January 1), with viewers treated to all of the usual twists, turns and treachery that makes The Traitors such an exemplary show. Meanwhile show host Claudia Winkleman is a draw all on her own, acting like a pantomime villain while sporting a gorgeous wardrobe that has me trawling Vinted for lookalike red leather gloves and turtlenecks every single year.

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But all the pomp and ceremony can't distract me from a glaring issue with this year's series. In a brutal twist that kicked off episode one, we witnessed the 25-strong group forced to eliminate three people, with the decision put to them on who would go.

The three who left the show prematurely were among the personalities that shone the most in the minutes prior, meaning viewers were utterly robbed of some of the most entertaining cast members. Market trader and landscaper Jack, 24; outreach manager Fozia, 50; and the mysterious ex-British diplomat Alexander, 38, were all out of the door before the train had made it anywhere close to Ardross Castle.

Naturally, with The Traitors being, well, The Traitors, there's always a chance we could see them make an unexpected comeback - and I sincerely hope that's the case or the producers have made a big blunder. Of course, in past seasons we've witnessed shock evictions occur in the opening moments, but to boot out three in one go was as heart-wrenching as it was dramatic.

Later on in the episode, viewers also had to bid farewell to Yin, who became the first Faithful of the series to be 'murdered'. The 34-year-old's sharp analytical mind caught the Traitors' attention, but it also provided some fascinating on-screen moments as she got stuck in to weighing up her peers.

While it's an inevitable aspect of the game that contestants are gradually eliminated, if the biggest, brightest and most interesting personalities like Jack and Yin exit stage left before the game truly begins, it does make their casting in the first place feel a little... pointless. Perhaps that's part of the fun?

The Traitors continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer