# Woke BBC bosses tried to BAN the words 'murder' and 'kill' on The Traitors > BBC executives wanted to replace 'murder' and 'kill' with 'eliminated' and 'exited' for The Traitors but refused to back down. - Title: Woke BBC bosses tried to BAN the words 'murder' and 'kill' on… - Summary: BBC executives wanted to replace 'murder' and 'kill' with 'eliminated' and 'exited' for The Traitors but refused to back down. BBC's entertainment executive… - Keywords: bbc, traitors, murder, kill, syeda irtizaali, bbc policy, entertainment, uk television, news, Woke, bosses, tried - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16215091/BBC-bosses-tried-BAN-words-murder-kill-Traitors.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-10-16T15:45:25+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: bbc, traitors, murder, kill, syeda irtizaali, bbc policy, entertainment, uk television, news ## BBC bosses tried to ban 'murder' and 'kill' BBC executives wanted to replace 'murder' and 'kill' with 'eliminated' and 'exited' for The Traitors. > BBC bosses tried to strip The Traitors of the words 'murder' and 'kill' amid fears they could upset viewers ## Syeda Irtizaali defends the terms Syeda Irtizaali, the UK entertainment executive behind The Traitors, insisted audiences wouldn't confuse it with real crime. > Our audiences are not going to get confused with a real-life news story and this camp old show ## The Traitors' dark theme The Traitors uses murder mystery themes with contestants being picked off in a game of deception. > The themes of The Traitors are murder mystery. I wanted to go even darker ## BBC policy advisers' pushback BBC policy advisers suggested 'eliminated' and 'exited' as less sinister alternatives to 'murder' and 'kill'. > They said, can we say eliminated and exited? Because what if there's murder on the same day that the show goes out? ## Syeda Irtizaali's background Syeda Irtizaali left BBC in March 2026 after five years to become Netflix's unscripted television director. > Syeda Irtizaali left her role at the BBC in March this year after five years at the corporation and is now director of unscripted television at Netflix ## The Traitors' success The Traitors became BBC's biggest hit with over 15 million viewers last year and returned this autumn. > It has since become one of the BBC's biggest hits, spawning a hugely successful celebrity spin-off that attracted more than 15 million viewers last year ## Celebrity contestants This year's celebrity contestants include Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Jerry Hall and James Blunt. > This year's celebrity contestants include Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Jerry Hall and James Blunt ## BBC's initial filming plans BBC initially wanted to film The Traitors in Costa Rica with bikinis and hot tubs. > They wanted to make it in Costa Rica with sort of bikinis and hot tubs ## Syeda Irtizaali's push for Scotland Syeda Irtizaali pushed for a Scottish setting to give The Traitors its identity. > I said, no, we have to make it in the UK. Can we make it in Scotland? Because it's great with castles ## Claudia Winkleman's role Claudia Winkleman, known for Strictly Come Dancing, was nervous about appearing too cold on the show. > Claudia, then best known to viewers as the co-host of Strictly Come Dancing, was really worried about appearing too cold ## Early series drama The first series sent two contestants home at the beginning to signal it was a different show. > We sent two people home at the beginning to signal it was a different show ## Richard E Grant's blunder Richard E Grant admitted he was a Traitor to other contestants, believing it was a joke. > Richard E Grant, 69, spectacularly exposed his own secret identity just moments after being chosen as a Traitor ## Syeda Irtizaali's view on chaos Syeda Irtizaali said The Traitors handles chaos better than most shows. > What is so brilliant about that show is that it can handle anything ## More chaos to come Syeda Irtizaali hinted at even greater chaos unfolding during filming this year. > By the way, that's not even the biggest chaos that happens this year ## Key takeaway BBC's entertainment executive Syeda Irtizaali defended using 'murder' and 'kill' in The Traitors despite BBC policy advisers' push to avoid the terms.