PETA has urged "The Traitors" host Claudia Winkleman to replace wool garments with plant-based alternatives, citing animal welfare concerns.
The animal rights organization sent a letter to the show's producers requesting that Winkleman, known for her distinctive knitwear on the BBC series, swap sheep's wool, mohair, and cashmere for "stylish and environmentally friendly plant-wool knits."
The show is filmed in the Scottish Highlands, where chilly temperatures often necessitate warm clothing, including the chunky knitwear favored by Winkleman. PETA argues that the wool industry is detrimental to animals.
"Every woolly garment worn on The Traitors promotes an industry that betrays gentle sheep, goats, and other animals, who are pinned down and cut to ribbons for their fleeces," PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen stated. "PETA is urging producers to stay faithful to Claudia's iconic look with fabulous animal-free knits instead."
PETA highlighted that sheep are intelligent animals with complex social bonds and emotions. The organization detailed that when wool production declines, sheep are often sent to slaughterhouses, with their lives typically ending around six years of age.
"Today, animal wool can easily be replaced by natural plant wools made from cotton, hemp, bamboo, wood pulp, soybean fabric, and more," said PETA's Senior Vice President of Programmes, Mimi Bekhechi. "There is no justification for hurting and killing animals for clothing when cruelty-free, stylish options are at our fingertips."
PETA suggested that "The Traitors" could opt for plant-based fashion, allowing animals to remain unharmed.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
"The Traitors" recently concluded its celebrity series, with the grand finale drawing 11.2 million viewers in the UK, marking the largest consolidated television audience of 2026 so far, despite some mixed critical reviews. The show is filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.