What The Traitors teaches us about Family Law
Over half of the UK’s faithful television viewers watched the final episode of series four of the BBC’s most popular show, The Traitors. The dramatic conclusion to this series demonstrated why the show has become must-watch television, not just for its dramatic round tables and shocking banishments, but for what it reveals about human behaviour under pressure: trust breaks down, assumptions replace facts, and decisions are made quickly, and often emotionally, with long-term consequences.
For family lawyers, this can feel rather familiar. Although family law and reality television may seem like an unlikely pairing, The Traitors does offer some takeaways which can be a helpful lens through which to understand the dynamics of divorce and resolving financial remedies upon divorce in England and Wales.
Evidence
A recurring frustration for viewers of The Traitors is watching players make decisions based on their gut instinct, rather than following hard evidence. Poor Jade was a victim of such gameplay throughout series 4, without reason!
Evidence is crucial in any type of proceedings in the Family Court, where judges will be closely examining all the evidence they are provided with by the parties.
It is for this reason that family lawyers advise clients in financial remedy proceedings that they must comply with the Court’s strict requirement for full and frank financial disclosure. Failure to do so can result in serious consequences, such as costs orders being made against the party who has failed to provide full financial disclosure.
In addition, further evidence is often sought by the Court to help clarify each party’s financial position, including mortgage raising capacity reports, pension sharing reports, business valuations, and more.
It is of course only fair if both parties meet their obligations to provide all such information, so that they, and their legal teams, can properly scrutinise the evidence presented to them in order to properly consider the best outcome for the case. No Court can make a final decision based on purely gut instinct like the contestants in The Traitors!
Emotion and decision-making
One of the clearest lessons from The Traitors is how emotion influences our behaviour. Anxiety, anger, and confusion drive decisions that may not align with players’ long-term interests. Who can forget secret traitor Fiona’s outburst which immediately led to her downfall and banishment from the game?
Divorce and separation are extremely emotional for those involved, and even rational individuals can make choices that escalate conflict or prolong disputes between the parties. A key role of family lawyers is to provide help and provide an outside perspective, helping clients slow down, understand likely outcomes, and make informed decisions grounded in the law, rather than emotion. This is why instructing a solicitor at the outset of a relationship breakdown is a sensible idea, as a family solicitor will be able to guide you through the legal processes and which options are likely to work best for you.
The cost of 'winning'
In The Traitors, aggressive gameplay often backfires – just think of Harriet’s “cat among the pigeons” meltdown! Short-term victories can lead to long-term losses. Harriet was arguably the best faithful player, but her aggressive game play cost her place in the game in the course of just one day.
In family law, the same principle applies. Protracted aggressive litigation can result in significant financial cost, emotional strain, and damage to future co-parenting relationships where children are involved.
This is one reason why the family justice system increasingly promotes non-court dispute resolution options, such as mediation and collaborative law. Where appropriate for both parties, these out of court processes aim to reduce conflict, preserve communication where possible, and focus on practical outcomes. Blake Morgan offers a full complement of non-court dispute resolution options, and our solicitors will always consider these options with clients.
Ultimately, family law is not about one party “winning”, but about both parties walking away with an outcome they can be satisfied with and that meets their reasonable needs. Stephen deciding to win jointly with Rachel in the finale of series four demonstrated this – he could have chosen to take all of the money and leave Rachel with nothing, but instead he chose compromise and split the prize money with her.
Case law from the Family Courts throughout the country have shaped how judges’ decisions are made today, and in this modern era, both parties in a marriage will have their contribution to the family taken into account, whether it be financial or not. Rachel may not have been in the financially beneficial position by the final round of the game, but Stephen reflected her contribution to both traitors making it to the final in deciding to win together.
Final thoughts
The Traitors is compelling television because it exposes how people behave when trust breaks down and pressure is high. Family law exists to navigate those same dynamics, but in real life situations with real families and lasting consequences. The key lesson is not that family disputes are a game, but that clarity, perspective, and obtaining proper evidence matter most when navigating relationship breakdown.
Seeking legal advice as early as possible can make a significant difference to the outcome from a separation and divorce. Here at Blake Morgan, we have a team of experienced family lawyers who can guide you if you think any of the issues raised in this article might apply to you. We can go through all the options available to you and help you decide your best course of action. Contact our experts to see what we can do for you.
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