Published: 26 January 2024
In this nail-biting psychological reality competition, Claudia Winkleman greets 22 strangers as they arrive at a beautiful castle in the Scottish Highlands to play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, in the hope of winning up to £120,000.
But hidden amongst them are the Traitors whose job is to secretly murder a player every night, without getting caught.
It’s up to the others, the Faithfuls, to try to detect who the traitors are, and banish them from the game, before they become their next victim.
For the lucky ones who survive to the end, they have the chance of winning that life-changing cash. But if a Traitor remains undetected, they’ll steal all the money.
The Traitors returns on Wednesday 3 January from 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and episodes 2 and 3 will be available on iPlayer immediately after. The show will air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.
LW
Meet The Players
Andrew
Age: 45
Job title: Insurance Broker
Location: Talbot Green
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I loved last year’s show, I was really immersed in it and just loved the format. I like the game play and thought I could be good at it. Over the last couple of years, I've been going through a personal growth journey where I've been trying to learn a lot about myself - I've grown a lot. I want to step out of my comfort zone. I've been a Steady Eddy all my life I suppose, never taking any risks or challenges.
You only have one life, and I know that more than anyone because I suffered a serious accident many years ago. Your life is short, and it can get taken away at any moment. I live my life as best I can and take as many opportunities as possible that come my way. I never thought I'd get on the show in a million years. I'd like to inspire thousands of people out there who've maybe had a traumatic experience or suffered with their mental health. I want to inspire people and give them hope. To tell them that if you keep fighting and believing you will get to your dreams.
What did you think of the first series? Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I'm not being biased but of course I like the Welsh, so I'd have to say Amanda. I liked Amanda's character and she was quite ruthless. Also Wilfred was great, he was very good from the off. He was a fantastic Traitor from day one right to the very end. There were loads of great people but those two stood out a lot for me.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I’ve got a larger-than-life personality, and a lot of people say to me “Once seen, never forgotten.” I'm a big guy and I obviously have my scars, so I think people look at me and think I'm quite intimidating until I smile and start talking to people. I'm an approachable, down to earth guy. I'm very level-headed, passionate and competitive – this is due to my sporty background. I like to win but I’m also empathetic and understanding. I like helping other people too, so I think I'll be good in the castle for the contestants who are struggling or getting a bit stressed. I think I'm good at keeping calm in a busy environment from my security days.
Do you have a game plan?
I sort of have a game plan. After watching the contestants last year, I think you've got to have a game plan going in there, but I do like to adapt to the situation in front of me. I have worked in close protection security, so I looked after a lot of VIPs in London. This meant I had to be on my toes, be alert, and be able to adapt at the drop of a hat. So yes, I do think you've got to have some form of game plan when you go in, but I think you've got to be able to change that as the game develops.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
I am looking forward to the missions. I mean, I'm a competitive guy, I’m physically fit, I'm good at solving puzzles and I'm really excited about the challenges.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I'll be fine. I think I'd be good at both roles. As a Traitor you have to take the emotion out of the situation and allow yourself not to get too close to people. I’ve got a motivating factor, a drive and that’s my family and to make a better life for them and myself, that's what I'll always come back to. We’re only there to play a game at the end of the day, we're not there to make friends. Even though we will make some lifelong friends, at the end of the day we're all in there to win money. I'm good at switching off my emotions which is good for a Traitor, in the back of my mind I'll always be thinking about what’s driving me and my motivation. Also, I don't crack under pressure, and I don't give anything away.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes. When I’m playing a game, it’s unfortunate but I'm quite a good liar! It's not a very good thing to say, I know, but it might come in handy.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I'll do whatever it takes, within reason. I don't mind throwing people under the bus, it’s me or them at the end of the day. I’ll just think of my family, my son, I want to make them proud and I want a better life for them. I’m a nice person deep down and when my family are watching on the TV, they will know the real me. They know me, they know my morals and that I'm a nice person. On The Traitors, you’re just playing a game, a game that you have to get totally immersed in.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I'll just get close. I'm very good at getting people to open up to me. For many, many years I've had lots of people tell me things, secrets that they haven't told their family, friends or parents. People say that I make them feel comfortable, so they open up to me. In every job I've ever had, in the bank, in the insurance world, I’m like the agony aunt. I always give everybody exactly the same respect, I treat everybody exactly the same way whether they've got a million pounds or nothing at all. So, I'll get close to people and I think I’ll form relationships, get talking to people, ask lots of probing open questions. I’ll be very good at watching and reading people, just looking for little mistakes that they might make and finding out who the Traitors are.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I am quite good! Personally, I’ve had quite a few people lie to me over the years. People in work who I’ve caught out lots of times and always been right. I'd rather people be open and honest to me, but I'm still quite good at spotting liars, I think.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I’d pay off a couple of debts and the usual boring stuff. But my dream is that I’d love to help people. I would like to set up some form of business. I love the gym, I love coaching, I love physical stuff. The gym is my safe haven. It's been my happy place for the last 20 odd years. I'd like to do something like personal training but also help people with their mental health. My NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) qualification means I'll be a qualified coach. I want to try and intertwine the two, look after people’s physical health and mental health together. I'd love to get out of bed in the morning and change people's lives.
I believe I have an inspiring story; I was pronounced dead on the side of the road 23 years ago and I was in a coma for nearly five weeks. My parents were told I’d never walk ever again, I had brain damage and that there's a chance of me not waking up from my coma. My parents were told that if I did wake up, I’d never walk, talk or use my arms again and I may not recognise them. They were told to prepare for the worst. There's lots of things that happened to me, and the doctors call me a miracle patient.
I met the man who saved my life last year. I met him and I shook his hand and said thank you for saving my life. There are not many people out there who get a chance to see somebody who saved their life and say thank you. It was a very emotional thing.
I’ve had hundreds of people messaging me to say that they found my story inspiring and that’s led them to open up and start talking to their family. I want to inspire people, I believe I can inspire thousands and hopefully, with this exposure, millions of people. I think I’ve only just scratched the surface of this, and I want to continue that really.
Anthony
Age: 45
Job title: Chess Coach
Location: Birmingham
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
When I saw the show, I thought to myself – this has me written all over it! It’s like a real life, live game of chess. That's what it is. Instantly, I was intrigued by that, and I just felt it was for me. I've never applied for a game show or anything before but this format, is 100% me.
What did you think of the first series?
When I started to watch series one, I thought that this is a game where basically everybody's expendable. Like a game of chess, every piece on the board is expendable, the only thing that matters is the king, that's it. And ultimately, the idea is to checkmate and win the game. For me, it was like in a chess tournament where you've got to control your emotions and psychologically manage yourself. I was completely intrigued by it.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I have watched the UK, US and Australian series, and there are different elements in different people that I think that were really good, but you can't actually take the same thing and use it this time because everyone's situations are completely different. One thing is that you have to think on your feet as things are forever changing and there’s always potential chaos, but I believe that's where I'm at my best. I believe you can plan but only so much. The name of the game is survival, whether you're a Faithful or a Traitor it doesn’t matter. In series one Wilfred got very close, he almost got there and what was really key was that he managed to get there almost undetected. You have to be able to stay in the shadows at the right time, gel with the group at the right time and create allegiances at the right time.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
My life experiences and being able to manage my emotions. That's something I've discovered I'm actually pretty good at, being able to keep my emotions in check. I think that's something that's going to be really key, because if you don't keep your emotions in check, you might say the wrong thing at the wrong time and rub people up the wrong way. I believe it's something that I will definitely be able to bring to the game.
Do you have a game plan?
I have a loose game plan, a very loose game plan. The key to the game plan is flexibility because things are going to be forever changing, every day is a brand-new day. You might have a plan that you’ve got to throw right out of the window. The ability to adapt accordingly is going to be key because we don’t know what we’re up against. There will be 21 other personalities in there that you have to work with. Something that Wilfred said that stuck with me was that he never actually initiated anything about another player, he just jumped on the bandwagon and did little things at the right time. That means as far as I'm concerned, as soon as my eyes are open – it's game time!
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Depending on what the activity is I'll always give the best I can. There'll be areas that I think I could be pretty strong in but then some that I won't. If I'm faced with a mission that I think I'll be really good at then I won’t hesitate to put myself forward but if it’s one that isn’t really my forte, I'll happily play the role of an assistant and let them lead. I’ll fit in wherever I need to.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
If I get a tap on the shoulder, then a big smile will appear from ear to ear, definitely. I will then need to control my breathing and remember that I need to control things from now on!
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes, I think you have to have one for this game. If I'm sat opposite you then you’re going to be reading my body language. You've got to use everything you've got, you've got to be careful where your eyes go because if not, somebody's going to catch you out or get suspicious of you. I'm looking forward to it whichever way it goes because it’s really a challenge and you have to really be on the ball.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
All the way! That’s where I’m prepared to go. At the end of the day, I'll quote it again ‘everybody is expendable’.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
If I'm a Faithful, then the plan changes. Again, if I liken it to a game of chess, the Traitors make the first move and have the upper hand. As long as they survive the Round Table then they get to influence the game. As a Faithful, it’s going to be really tough in the beginning because you’ve got to navigate who the other Faithfuls are and also not become a danger to the Traitors, trying to identify them but not becoming a major threat. As the game goes on and the numbers get lower, I think you then have the advantage as a Faithful. If I am a Faithful, I'm going to try and feel people out really quickly and stay enough in the shadows so that I'm not identified as a threat.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I believe you have to engage with people and create bonds with them in order to be able to spot them lying. Eventually, they always give themselves away. You might notice something odd but it depends on what situation you’re in as to whether it’s the right time to reveal it. No matter what your role is, it’s going to be difficult. The name of the game is survival, and you have to have your wits about you. The person that smiles at you could be the very person that writes down your name at the Round Table.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think I'll have to be careful with my natural personality. Naturally I'm the charismatic person that would go around the room and chat, which could put fear into some people. I'm going to have to tailor my personality accordingly at the right times. Believe it or not, I believe the role of a Faithful is harder, you’ve got to manage yourself so well. I want to survive until the end, if I have to push you off the plank then I will. It's you or me! You have to survive the Round Table and survive being murdered at night, so any human shield that's required, I'll have to use.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
If I treat it again like it's a chess tournament, I don't think about the prize money. I'll just do what I need to do every day and if I get the end result, then I can think what I'm going to do with it. You can’t get caught up in the prize money, there's a lot of gameplay to get through before we get to that bit. I'm here for the game and it's game time.
Ash
Age: 45
Job title: Events Coordinator
Location: London
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I was looking for an adventure. I've spent my life moving around, moving cities, moving countries, doing different things but lately I've been in the same place kind of doing the same thing. I'm happy where I am, I'm happy with the way my life is but I do need a little bit of an adventure.
What did you think of the first series?
I absolutely loved it. I'm familiar with the game a little bit, based on a board game that I've played before, so it was even more exciting watching it. Last Christmas, I had friends visiting and we ended up watching it twice because we loved it that much.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Obviously, Amanda. I think she was doing so well. I really, really thought that she was going to get to that final, but she just got unlucky. I think she should have allowed a little bit more scrutiny on her earlier, I think that could have helped her but I thought she was brilliant. I also thought Hannah was brilliant, but she was so determined that Wilfred was not a Traitor!
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I hope I'm going to be different. I'm quite an adaptable, resilient person because of everything that I've done, everywhere I've been, and all the people that I've met. I think I'll be really good at keeping my composure. Even in my day job, I’ve worked in some very stressful situations. We quite often get called “The Swans” because on the outside, we look calm but underneath the water is another story.
Do you have a game plan?
This is going to sound weird, but I think the best way for me to win is to be a Traitor. I know being a Traitor means you’re lying but my strategy will be to tell the truth – because the best lies come from truth. I'm going to be honest about the kind of person that I am. I think if I can just stay with that baseline, I could probably get quite far... I hope.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I'm going to be quite happy. It's not about wanting to be deceitful and wanting to lie to people. To me, it's that I want to play this game and I want to win. The best chance I have to win this game is to be a Traitor. I think it's important for me to build really strong alliances with my fellow Traitors, because there's strength in numbers. If we can have a good game plan with each other, that will be the way forward.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
I think so. Yes, definitely. When I need to have!
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
It's a game, and if I need to wipe the floor with you to win, then that's exactly what I'll do. That sounds so horrible! I don’t mean to be horrible, but you know, it's a game and I'm playing to win.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
Generally speaking, I can be quite good at sussing people out because I do trust my instincts. I think my experience of working in public facing jobs for 20 plus years, moving around and meeting so many people, you do get to learn little things. I may not be able to necessarily articulate them, but I know I can pick out certain behaviours. I do know that I'm probably going to be quite vocal, which might put me in the spotlight. I think if I can figure out who the Traitors are, I would make them think that I'm on their side because they're more likely to keep you around if they think you're an ally. Rather than pick them out and throw them under the bus straightaway.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I'm quite good at spotting people I don't trust, it could be about someone's energy. Human beings do things without realising they're doing them. Micro expressions and little physical behaviours. It's easier to see other people’s faces than it is to see your own, right? But I'm quite good at keeping that poker face. So, I know I'd be ok... I think. I do want to make friends with people, but not because of the game, because I genuinely love people. I hope that translates. As human beings we’re really good at subconsciously picking up things that people say and do. I think because of my genuine love of people, my genuine love of wanting to make friends and being close to people, will work in my favour.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I'm going to need to be really good at missions. If you don't earn that money people don't want you around. I'm probably better at the mental agility than I am the physical but even then, with the physical as long as you're seen to be trying your best, that’s it.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
It's interesting, I'm really scared because I don't know what to expect. I’m really nervous about that. As a Traitor or as a Faithful, those nerves will show and hopefully they'll come across as “Oh, hey guys, I'm a Faithful, I'm one of you.”
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
This is really boring, but I'm getting old, and I live in London. This is my home, I'm never going anywhere, I’m never moving out of Walthamstow. This would literally be my only chance to get on to that property ladder. I don't have what a lot of people have, I don't have family to fall back on, I don't have anybody to give me anything. I don't have anything to inherit. I don't want to be renting when I'm 60 years old, renting with housemates... although that would still be kind of fun. I’d also like to help my mum sort out her house out.
Aubrey
Age: 67
Job title: Retired Shop Owner
Location: Loughborough, Leicestershire
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
When I watched it last year, I thought to myself: I could do that. That was it. Then I think Claudia had announced that applications were open and before I knew it, I was on the link. I’d never ever dreamt in a million years that I'd be where I am now. So that was it really, no other reason. Oh and, to speak the truth, the location is beautiful, that castle is fantastic, and why not at 66?
What did you think of the first series?
I loved it, it was fab. When it first came on, I thought it might’ve been a bit ridiculous with people walking around in cloaks but then it got going and it got so intense, I loved it. I'm under no illusion that it's going to be a walk in the park.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Well, I wouldn’t choose a Traitor because I think they all shot themselves in the foot! Although I thought Alyssa was really good at her role – she won’t be as good as me though, obviously.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
The thing is, I won’t really know until we're in there and with these people so, who knows. I would like to bring a bit of fun and a bit of style. That’s who I am, and I hope people like it!
Do you have a game plan?
My game plan is to get on with everyone and to try and befriend everyone. If you're not going to be friendly with people, they're not going to like you, are they? But I know there will be obstacles in the way. As I say, you never know until you’re there and mingling with everyone.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
Fabulous! I did say that's what I wanted because I love the cloaks. I think I'd be good as a Traitor, but if I'm not, I'm not going to be heartbroken. You could be recruited at another point. What will be, will be!
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Oh, yes. In fact, I bought a new car the other week and I know the dealer and his words at the end of it all were “You should play poker, you’ve got a poker face.” I don't give things away easily. I've got a moustache and, unless I'm smiling, I think it makes me a look a bit more serious.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
As I say, the goal is to win. That's my goal. I want to win. But if I don't win, all I can say is I will do my best and I can't do any more.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
To be a Faithful you've got to be observant. So, if I'm a Faithful, I'll have to watch people. You've got to be observant and alert, watching for signs. I would say I'm cunning, as cunning as a fox. I am a bit like that but not in a nasty way!
How good are you at spotting a liar?
Good, I think. But sometimes people just come out with nonsense, don't they? But then again, that nonsense could be the lie, so who knows.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think you've got to get on with everybody. At the Round Table you’ve got to work out who’s going to be the leader. There is going to be a pack and I've got to be a part of that, I've got to go in and be in that team.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Oh, yes! I'm very fit. I love going jogging and to the gym. I’m looking forward to doing those - in my lycra.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
First of all, I’d count it! Over the years, I've met lots and lots of people. I often go to Mykonos; I've been going there since 1980. I've met people from every corner of the world, and I've visited a lot but there are some friends that are from New Zealand, a place that I've not yet been. So, the answer to the question is I'd travel more. I’d also give some of the money to the Mykonos Animal Welfare charity.
Brian
Age: 33
Job title: Photographer
Location: Glasgow
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I watched the first series and, obviously, really enjoyed it. I like that it's different and it's a sort of mystery, whodunnit, type thing. I am also familiar with the format because every Christmas I play a game called Werewolves with my family which is quite similar. I also want to test myself. Whenever I’m watching TV, I always think “I could do that” even for shows like SAS: Who Dares Wins, although in retrospect I’d probably last two minutes and then start crying. I felt the same way when watching The Traitors and now I get the opportunity to see if I will be any good!
What did you think of the first series?
I absolutely loved it. I loved the twists and turns and there were moments that genuinely took me by surprise. Usually I get bored easily, but this felt very fresh. I also love watching people, finding out about them and seeing how they react to certain situations; I used to watch Love Island for that reason. When I'd tell friends at football that I watched it they’d take the mick out of me, but I'd tell them that it’s not about the daft games, it’s about the politics and how people react in new situations.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Wilfred was really fantastic. Although near the end, it got to him and he crumbled a bit. Choosing Kieran to be a Traitor, I don’t think he should have done that and he could have got to the end with someone else. But he played the part really well, his acting was great. Amanda also played really well because she was herself and was everyone's friend. That's what I'm going to try and do I think, be in the middle of everyone. Be outgoing, but not too outgoing. Be outspoken but not too outspoken... if I can.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I'm wanting to go for the experience, so I really am going to enjoy myself. I don't take life too seriously so won’t take anything to heart. It's easy for me to say that now because I'm not there yet! I’ll be trying my hardest in the missions to win the money, I always try as hard as I can. This might sound big-headed, but I think I'll be quite entertaining because I'll just be mucking about. I think the fact that I don't take life too seriously will allow me to bring a little bit of light heartedness to a situation if there's anything crazy happening.
Do you have a game plan?
My game plan is to not have a game plan and take everything as it happens. I don't know what I'm going to be yet so can't have too much of a game plan as it might change. If I'm a Traitor, I’ll need to forget that I’m a Traitor. I've got a bad memory, so I'll make sure I take notes all the time. Looking at other people's game plans and trying to break down other people's strategies. At night I'll be a crazy man scribbling but during the day I'll just take everything as it comes. If I have too much of a game plan and it gets thrown off course, I'll think, “Well what the hell do I do now?!” So, literally just take things as they come really.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yeah, I’m excited to do those. The physical team challenges, like last year's barrel challenge, I'd be really good at. I'm not necessarily a leader or a follower, I'm kind of in-between. I think it's because I'm bossy, but I don't like to be held accountable – I've actually never said it like that before. I'm confident enough in my ability, but maybe overconfident. I'm definitely driven, and I can push myself to do things.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I'd love it because I would then be more in control of my fate. It would mean that I'd be on the show for longer, which would then mean I'm in with a better chance of genuinely having the full experience – there's more chance of getting to the final. Although I do think that there's more chance of winning if you're a Faithful, but if I get the touch on the shoulder, I'd be absolutely buzzing. I really would be.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
My face kind of says it all. I've never played poker before, I've always wanted to play as I'd love to see how I’d be. I’ve played card games with family and had to lie about what hand I've got, and people have said “We know you're lying.” But that's because it’s a silly game. With higher stakes I'd like to think I'd have a good poker face. Although, if someone was talking to me one on one and called me out, not around the table, I think I'd panic and not know what to do to play it off. So, I do think I've got a good poker face but I might crumble under the pressure!
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
You have to think of it as a game, you may need to throw someone under the bus at some point. Even when I was watching series one you see that you might have to take out one of your friends so that others think “Well, he would never do that”, sometimes it needs to be done. It’s hard to say at this point because I don’t know how it’s all going to work and who everyone else is.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I'm OK. I think I’d be good at it but then watching series one I remember lots of things Tom was saying and doing made it look like he was a Traitor, and he wasn’t. So, things like that would totally throw me off. Even when I was watching, knowing he was a Faithful, I understood why everyone thought he was a Traitor. I do think I'd be good at spotting liars, but you just never know what everyone is going to be like.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think you need to be hyper aware of how you're acting, but I guess this can be a positive or a negative. So not be too forthcoming, but also not being too quiet because if you're too quiet people might think that you're nervous and you're a Traitor. If you’re too forthcoming that can actually show that you are a Traitor as well, firing out accusations all over the place. Trying hard during the missions too because everyone will want to win as much money as possible. I think the main things will be being very aware of how I’m acting to other people, observe others and take notes when I'm alone at night like a mad man!
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
Nothing too crazy, but I’d definitely take my girlfriend and her family away on holiday. They took me away on two holidays a few years ago and that was really lovely because I'd never had a holiday like that before and I'd love to do that again for them. I’d also like to put money towards the house as well.
Charlie
Age: 34
Job title: Mental Health Area Manager
Location: Bristol
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I loved series one, I love the game and it’s just a little bit of me, it literally is my personality. I like to analyse everything. Everywhere I go I'm constantly thinking, looking at people's body language, trying to work people out. To the point that sometimes I have to switch off my brain! Obviously, the prize is great! I love the adrenaline too even though I'll get nervous as you know anyone would. I loved the missions too, they were so cool. I loved the hay bale one... I hope they use the hay bales again!
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
I think it depends. I'm trying to remember the ones from series one, I wouldn’t want to do anything like the Ferris wheel being upside down as I'm not very good at being anything other than stood or sat! I loved the mission in the church with the riddles, that was such a good idea. Anything like the bell ringing challenge I wouldn’t be too excited for because I wear hearing aids. But I'm good with other people and I like to think I'm observant, not just with people but also with my surroundings.
What did you think of the first series?
I watched the whole series in about two days, literally. I was watching them back-to-back-to-back. The casting was amazing, I think all the characters gelled so well together and the Traitors were really well picked. I admire anyone that could be a Traitor because I think I would struggle to do it, I'm not going to lie. It's a lot of pressure but I think that being a Faithful is just as hard because you’ve got to constantly defend yourself. I thought it was great and I was totally addicted to it. As soon as I finished the last episode I went online and applied for series two. I feel like I’ve been waiting for a show like The Traitors for years. I love a good murder mystery. I drive everyone mad when I'm watching TV because all I do is try to guess what happens all the time, which is pretty much what the Traitors is about isn't it? It’s constant mind games.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Do you know what, everybody! I loved the Traitors' game plans. Wilfred and Amanda were really good even though Wilfred did throw Alyssa and then Amanda under the bus. It was just so gripping.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
Well, me! Obviously, I'm quite clearly Bristolian so I’ll bring my Bristolian accent. I am quite bubbly all of the time. I’m quite considerate and I think I'd be a great team player. I do like to counsel people as well. I think I would like to make everyone feel okay, but at the same time, I do love analysing people. People misjudge me a lot of the time because I'm a bit nuts and constantly jumping around and being a lunatic. I don't know whether people realise how insightful I actually am and how much I pick up on things.
Do you have a game plan?
I think I'm going to adapt to my surroundings and adapt to the people that are there. I'm going to really trust my instincts with people. I am going to play the game because that's what it is, a TV programme. The aim of the game really is to not look like you're a Traitor enough to be to be sent home. But then you don't want to be off the radar because you'll get murdered, you have to find that middle ground.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
Scared, I think! I mean, I’ve tried to prepare for it just in case it does happen. But I think I’d be a little bit worried.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
I feel like my face will go red if I'm lying! As much as I like the idea of having a good poker face, I don’t know whether I actually would have with everyone watching me.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I think this game is serious. Like I said, initially, it was a little bit of fun and just to have a laugh but when you look at the potential prize money, that's life changing stuff. I think everybody's struggling at the moment with the cost of living crisis and I think that's why we’ve got to take it seriously. So, when it comes down to it - I'm in it to win it.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I’d just ask as many questions as I can. Pull on my experiences at work to suss people out. I’ll try not to be influenced by what other people say as well, make my own mind up.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
Good, I think. It's the hesitation, the instant hesitation, how long have you taken to answer? Where's your eye contact? Even just if there's lots of people in a room, where are you looking? I’ll be constantly looking at things like that.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think you need to get on with people. You need to be trustworthy. They're going to ask a lot of questions and you've got to keep your cool. At the same time, it's a high-pressure environment and I'm quite an emotional person in a way. It's going to be interesting, but you have got to keep your cool a little bit and remember that it's not personal, it’s a game.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I'm going to get married. I've been with my boyfriend for 11 years and we've been engaged for nine, so I think it's about time that we actually got married! I also want do stuff to my house. I own my own house but would love to do some home improvements, and maybe even go on a holiday. I mean, why stop there? I could keep going!
Charlotte
Age: 32
Job title: Recruitment Manager
Location: Warwickshire
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
Because it looks quite challenging. You don’t see many shows like this, so when I saw it on TV I thought it was really refreshing to watch something different. So, I applied for the challenge, I wasn’t even thinking about the money. Personally, I’d prefer to be a Traitor but if not, I definitely want to try and catch one. I applied on Christmas Day last year while I was with my family and they were encouraging me, I started it and then left it. I went back to it in the first week of January and now here I am! I wasn’t quite expecting this.
What did you think of the first series?
I loved it. It’s just so different to everything else. To have such a diverse group of people, it was really good to watch and I think that’s what attracted me to it. I’ve not applied to any shows before, but I knew this would be interesting.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Yes, I liked where Amanda was coming from. She was successful to a certain level with her motherly approach. I’m 32 so I can’t really go with that one! If you look at people like Meryl and Hannah, they kept their cool and got on with everyone, that to me is the best approach. I’m a people person, even in how cutthroat my business is, being horrible to someone isn't going to get you anywhere.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I think I’m really good at pretending I don’t know what’s going on, when actually, I have a very good idea. I play the ditzy one and I make self-deprecating jokes constantly, and I don’t get embarrassed easily either – which I think is good. I used to play poker tournaments and they used to just think “Who’s the bimbo at the end of the table?” but I’d still make it to the end.
Do you have a game plan?
My plan is to be underestimated and kill with kindness. I feel like you need to assess your group first, you need to get to know everyone and work them out. I wouldn’t play the same gameplan as everybody else.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
I’m looking forward to them. I’m quite an adrenaline junkie so for me, being pushed out of my comfort zone is something I really enjoy. That’s another reason why I’m doing his show. It’s the sort of thing you don’t come across on a normal day. So, for me, the missions are probably the thing I’m most excited to do, the physical aspect of just pushing myself that little bit more. Being an adrenaline junkie, there is nothing that will scare me. For me, I don’t take anything too seriously and the more fun you have, the better you’re going to do. The minute you start stressing and panicking, that’s when it will fall apart.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think my heart will jump out of my chest and I'll have to keep my composure. To be honest, there won’t be anyone at that table that won't be panicking. I really would love to be a Traitor but if it did happen, I’d probably panic and then try to focus on the calm. The only problem is there’s lots of people trying to catch you!
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes, just act like you don’t know what's going on and that you're a bit silly, just play dumb. Honestly, the best thing about women who do well in business or play poker tournaments when you're the only one around the table, is that you’re underestimated. Underestimated people are the ones that do the best. We all love an underdog, don’t we?
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
Honestly, we will all still be friends afterwards so I may as well just go all the way and take it all. At the end of the day, you don’t want to make it to the end and have any regrets. For goodness sake, there’s £120,000 to play for so let's get on with it!
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
If I am a Faithful and I think I know who the Traitors are, I wouldn’t call them out. Unless it was at the Round Table and I was going for a majority, I'd do it then so that I didn’t look dodgy. Even if I had some solid evidence, it would be better to have that person on side as a friend. I’d rather do that because they won't get rid of you and then when it comes to the final moments, you can get rid of them. I’d rather do that because that’s the only way you’re going to stay safe as a Faithful. Otherwise, they’re just going to eliminate you.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I don’t know, I’m a bit 50-50 on this because I’ve caught people out with stuff like this before, but I can also be quite gullible – maybe not in this situation though. I feel like with my friends, if they tell me something, I take their word as fact. But then, with strangers, I'm not so sure. I’m in recruitment, it’s tough and it’s full-on. If I sit and think about if I've even been caught off guard at work - never. So perhaps it’s just my mates that wind me up and I believe them!
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I feel like you need to build relationships with everybody. Even if you don’t like them, just suck it up and get on with it. Don’t be too opinionated, but don't be too quiet. If you do think someone is a Traitor, be their friend, wait until the end and job done! Honestly, I don’t mind the Traitors getting rid of the other Faithfuls because that’s just another person I won’t have to share the money with. I think a lot of people are hellbent on what is morally right, even though the show is called The Traitors.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
You’re going to laugh. We read this newspaper article, me and my wife, that you can now get your dog sent on a private jet to other countries. You can have up to twenty dogs and they don’t have to go into the hold. I thought we could get a motor home and go across America eating all the amazing food and bring my dogs Lady and Lolly. That’s as much as I’ve planned so far. I’m sure I should be doing much better stuff with it, but life’s too short!
Diane
Age: 63
Job title: Retired Teacher
Location: Lancashire
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
Mainly because my children said I could never do something like this! We started watching series one together and l just loved the idea of the challenge. I thought it would be great to have a go and see if I could do it.
What did you think of series one?
To be honest, I applied after only watching one and a half episodes! I didn’t want to keep watching in case it put me off. My son put me in for a Tough Mudder once, we were raising money for Alzheimer's because we had lost my dad suddenly. I just kept googling it and ended up getting myself so worked up that I didn't sleep the night before! Even so, when I did it, I ended up loving it and I was buzzing for a good week. I have ended up watching series one now because I was just completely hooked. I loved it and luckily, I want to try it even more now.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
In terms of game plans that I admired, that’s tough. I couldn’t believe that Wilfred managed to stab all his mates in the back, I don’t know if I could do that! But I think the bottom-line is you can’t get too close to anyone as you're going to have to turn on them. I used to work in a PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) and I taught some very difficult kids. I learnt there to maintain some level of distance because they could act out. So, I’d like to see if I could use this. You have to remember that it is just a game. Lots of people cried last year but I'm hoping I can go without.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yes, hopefully. I’m physically active because I do a lot of running. Some of the missions from series one I thought I'd be quite good at, like the laser mission. I have a group that I do lots of outdoorsy stuff with and I challenge myself quite regularly. But if we have to do anything like the bridge mission, that will put the fear of God in me! I sort of have the mindset of “If someone else can do it then I’ll have a go.”
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
Humour, I hope, and I'm very good at motivating. I've discovered over the years that I can either raise an atmosphere or bring it down. I’m hoping I'll be motivating and energising for people. Those are my best qualities.
Do you have a game plan?
No, not really. Last series, the players used anything they could find against each other, like when Maddy mentioned she was an actress. I thought that was a rubbish reason to get rid of her because it was so obvious that she was a Faithful, but they stuck with it.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
Awful! To be honest, I think the Traitors have a better chance of getting further. If I did end up being one, I don’t think I’d be very good, I think I'd be very obvious. I’d just have to get on with it. Also, as a Faithful when you have to banish someone that you’re friends with, you’d feel bad, but I think you’d almost feel less bad doing that as a Traitor.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Not hugely, I think I would blush. I thought that last series the most obvious tell was their eye contact, but having said that, I thought Wilfred’s eye contact was horrendous and he kept his head down which I thought would’ve given him away, especially when he betrayed Alyssa. So, I'd have to make sure that my eye contact is not suspicious.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I think if you take it on, you must be prepared to go the whole way, I’d like to think I could do it. Although there were people last series, like Andrea, that I would have struggled to get rid of. I totally admired her, she'd lost her partner, she was having a go and doing her best. I think I'd really struggle if it was someone I admired like that. You have to be very careful about who you get friendly with. I might find it hard, but I'd still like to say I’d be able to go the whole way. You’re put into this and you've nothing else in your life other than this game for potentially three weeks, it’ll be so easy to let it take over.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I'm reasonably good. I won't be telling anybody I'm good though! Just in case I’m completely wrong, that would be a bit embarrassing. Like series one, Hannah was so confident in Wilfred being a Faithful saying, “I could put my life on it” and she turned out to be wrong. So, I won’t be telling anyone if I'm good at spotting liars... just in case.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
Just to be me. As a teacher at a PRU I've had to use tactics to get control of a classroom. I'd use humour a lot, and you had to know when to pick your battles. I know from last series that Wilfred was saying he was going to bring people on side and try and cause ripples, but I won’t do anything like that.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I've not even thought about winning it to be honest. My house building work has doubled in budget so I'd have to say it would partially go on that. I would also love to take my children, and grandchildren, on a holiday. We haven’t seen much of each other this year so a nice holiday for us all would be great.
Evie
Age: 29
Job title: Veterinary Nurse
Location: Inverness
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I’d watched the previous series before and everyone I know has watched it and loved it as well. It was a real topic of conversation at work, and it’s filmed 30 minutes up the road!
I’m 29, so it’s the last year of my 20s and I think I may be having a bit of an existential crisis about turning 30, just overthinking it a bit too much. When I turned 29, I said to myself, “I’m going to do 30 things before I’m 30 that I’ve always wanted to do.” I ran the Edinburgh Marathon this year, I’ve visited Scottish islands and I do a lot of hiking. Working my way through my list I still had two more things to complete. I’d left two free to see what would happen, see if something came up, if I decided on something half-way through the year that I wanted to do then I'd do it. When I had one remaining, The Traitors series two came around and I said, “OK, that’s going to be my last thing. That's going to be my final 30 before 30.”
What did you think of the first series? Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I thought Wilfred was great! I know he got a lot of hate for backstabbing his fellow Traitors but I thought he was just brilliant. He really got it right in terms of understanding why you are there and understanding the premise of the game and ultimately, that you’re not there to make pals, although you probably are going to make friends, you’re there to potentially win £120,000. He was outstanding and I really wanted Wilf to get it. I thought he was fab. I also really liked Meryl, she was so funny and just got through being totally clueless of who the Traitors were even right until the very end!
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I’m fun. I know people that say “I’m fun” aren’t usually fun but I do think I’m fun. I think I’ve got a lot of energy to put towards the missions. I also think I look like a Faithful. If I got cast as a Traitor, I think I’d be an amazing. Although watching my acting might be funny!
Do you have a game plan?
I want to be a Traitor. I think I would make a good Traitor because I look like such a Faithful. I don’t think people think I’m very mischievous, but I think that shows that I’d be really be good at it. So, I think my gameplan is to let people believe those preconceptions of me, I’m blonde and I’ve got the dimples, and I work with animals and I’m sweet. But there is a bit of an edge to me, and it’s an edge that has actually been carved out by my career, by veterinary nursing, because it is so tough. It’s really difficult, there are a lot of emotional tolls and there’s a lot of adapting to environments, stress, long hours, everything. The Traitors is a psychological pressure cooker, but I honestly do think you could apply that to working at the vets, you really could.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
I think I’d be great. There’s not anything that scares me really. And for fun, I’m out hiking all the time. I’m up in the Scottish Highlands, I’ve lived here all my life. My ideal weekend is things like chucking myself up a mountain, or camping, or biking, getting dirty, or doing open swimming. So, I feel like I'd be really good at the missions. I’ve not got much fear. The only thing is spiders absolutely terrify me. Spiders are not my thing. But for £120,000 I would get into a vat of spiders, there’s an override in my brain and I think I would just do it.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I’d be alright with it! I think I understand that it’s a game. In real life you have to tell little white lies all the time, little deceptions, and you lie to yourself all the time, like “My diet starts Monday” or “I’m only going out for one thing.” However, I feel like in real life you stop yourself from the big lies, you stop yourself from big strategic manipulations. This game just allows you to be as naughty as you want to be. Literally, it encourages you to be as devilish as you can, and you might get a payday at the end of it. That’s amazing, sign me up for it!
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes, I do.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
All the way to the end, that’s it. £120,000, I mean that’s not pocket money is it, that’s a lot. There’s never going to be a chance for me to do it again. So, I’m here to play.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I think showing up in the Missions. Some of the patterns from the Traitors are people that they know, or believe are Faithfuls, they keep them in because they’re good at Missions and I do think I’d be really good at those. I think I’d be good at winning money for them. I can put myself in that environment, I can put myself under stress and in the mud, and in the water and up the hills as well, so I think I would be a good Faithful. I think I would keep myself under the radar too. Watch me say all of this now, and then I’m not actually that good! Imagine... no pressure.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I’m pretty good at trusting my gut. If I felt something was off, I’m quite good at spotting that. Again, in veterinary nursing, quite a lot of the time if you’re dealing with a client that is grieving or has faced some kind of emotional toll, a lot of the time they’re not actually telling you, you’re reading it off someone’s face, you’re reading it off their body language. I think I’m quite good at that, so I think I’d be able to use this skill and try and determine if something is off.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
You need to be determined enough to win the money – can you tell I’m skint? We’re in a cost-of-living crisis here! In my job I have to meld with a bunch of people, so I think I can relate to people, I can empathise with them, I feel like I’m quite personable and people do end up chatting to me. I think I could make a good teammate for sure.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
Well, because I’m in animal charity work, I want to move to a different location, have a small holding and rescue a bunch of animals. Working in the SSPCA, there’s so many animals that need to be homed and at this point I already have two dogs from them, I had a snake and I’ve had a hamster, but I think I would really love to set something up that was a bit more permanent. You know, there’s always three-legged dogs or one-eyed hamsters and a bunch of chickens that need to be homed so I think I’d love to live out my spinster dreams with my small holding for all of them.
Harry
Age: 22
Job title: British Army Engineer
Location: Slough
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I just thought it was a great opportunity. It’s a life changing experience and not many people get to say that they’ve been on TV! It will be such a great experience. Don’t get me wrong though, the money at the end would also be life-changing.
What did you think of the first series?
I don't normally watch much TV, but I got properly into the first series, I think I finished it within two days. I thought it was mental. It was good all around, so crazy to see how it can switch within a day. One minute you’re in the firing line then the next minute it switches over to someone else.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I liked Wilfred, obviously, he was great. But I think towards the end he sort of cracked and you could see that – he could have won it easily! I say easily, but I’ve never experienced it. Watching from the outside, the way he went about it was really good until the very end. I pretty much liked all of them, Hannah was really good too and in fact, all of the winners.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
Laughter, I think. Happiness and being myself. I can approach anyone, talk for ages and chat someone's ear off. My Mum says it, I’m the clumsiest but smartest guy she’s ever met. When it comes to work, I know exactly what’s going on, but when it comes to actual life and the real world, I find something new out every day. Every day is a learning curve for me to be honest. I think I'll bring a chilled out energy to the group, the one who can escape it all and remember that it’s just a game. Morale, too. That’s something I do with my job now, I'm a big morale person. Even though it’s Monday, it’s a step closer to Friday, do you know what I mean? I’m one of those people.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yeah, and I can't wait! The first skill I’d bring is definitely no fear. I have no fear. I find it funny because I say I have no fears but if a spider was crawling across me, I’d flip out. I’ve never had any fear; I'd jump from an aeroplane, skydive and jump off cliffs. I’ve done all of it at work so I'm sure I’ll be fine up in Scotland. I’m also used to working in teams and every day I’m in groups, whether they are big or small, trying to solve tasks, bouncing off each other. I think I’ll be really good at working out the strengths of people and putting them into positions that they’ll work best at.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
Happy. 100%. I want to be a Traitor so bad! I know everyone says it, but I’ve always said I feel like I’ve got a Jekyll and Hyde in me where Monday to Friday I’m a Corporal and as soon as it hits Friday, I’m just Harry and I don’t want to think about work for the weekend. I also have five brothers and sisters so I can tell little white lies and I make myself believe them first and then it just becomes the truth.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Pretty much, I’m just always smiling! So, when I’m lying, I’m smiling but even when I’m telling the truth I’m smiling. I’d say I have a good poker face in that sense.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
All the way, 100%. Traitor or Faithful, either way I’m going all the way to the end. I’m going in there to win it. Especially as a Traitor, I’ve already thought of how I would’ve handled situations from the last series. I’ve thought of everything. It sounds so bad, and I feel guilty already, but at the end of the day it’s a game and I’m sure everyone will be happy when it's all over. I’ll buy them a couple of drinks!
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
It’s pretty simple, I’ll just be 100% honest. I’m going to have no lies, no secrets about my life, and instead, open up and speak about my life and my experiences. I think that’s where some people went wrong last time, they held a lot of things back. If you lie, even if you’re not a Traitor, you’re in such close proximity that the knowledge that you’re capable of lying might make them just assume you’re a Traitor anyway. If I’m just truthful then there’s never a situation where someone can call me out on anything I’ve said or start subconsciously thinking I’m a Traitor. So, my Faithful plan is to just be 100% Faithful about everything.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
In my day-to-day work, you obviously have some liars who say they’re feeling ill, but they’ve just been on the beers the night before. Someone’s lying and saying they’ve got this appointment here when they just can't be bothered to turn up to work. In everyday life I feel like I spot out liars, and in relationships as well. I’m a good talker for relationship advice for my mates, and I have sort of steered them in a direction where you can just tell if people are lying. You can tell the way people backtrack on things, they either add or subtract things from the story so it sounds like they’re covering something up. Last series you would see people backtrack or leave things out, like they have a girlfriend who is also on the show, it’s just crazy you know.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
Strength, definitely. The one thing I have seen in the last series is that a lot of people broke down when they got accused of being a Traitor. That’s the main quality I think I would hold is that I have the strength in me to be able to say, “Look, you’re wrong and this is why you’re wrong. I’m 100% Faithful .” You need to be headstrong about being the game, it’s just a game, you’re not being horrible to people. I’m there to win at the end of the day. Especially if I’m a Faithful, I'm there to win it for all of us. When I’m playing as a Traitor, I’m playing for myself 100%, whether the Traitors are a group or not, I’m playing as the ultimate Traitor. As a Faithful it’s more of a team and I'll get to the finish line for them. I’ve lived like that a lot; I have brothers and sisters and I feel like I’m very much that big cuddly bear when it comes down to it. I want to be that person who takes everyone on my back so we can make it to the finish line. That’s what I want to take into the game, “Everyone, follow me, we’ll be alright, we’re going to make it and we will work it out.”
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I’ve been thinking about it, but I don’t have it all worked out or a cool answer to give. I’m still only 22. I think that my happiness really comes from making everyone around me happy, so I would want to use some of the money to treat my family and my girlfriend. The other thing is I would like to replace my car. On top of that, I’d also like to use it to start my new chapter in life.
Jasmine
Age: 26
Job title: Sales Executive
Location: London
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I just think I’ll be great at it. I work in sales so I’m a professional truth embezzler which is kind of my tagline, and why I wanted to go on to The Traitors. I also think that ultimately, I have the personality to do well. I’m very personable, and people tend to want to befriend me a lot which is how you get people on side. It’s a game of making allies, isn't it? You don’t want people to vote you out.
What did you think of the first series?
I loved it. I thought it was amazing, I think because it's like nothing I've ever seen before. It was just really, really cool and exciting and new and fresh.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Probably Amanda, she was unreal. She was just so undetectable, it was crazy. I think she was sick!
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I think I will bring humour and excitement. I think the game can feel very serious at times, so I’d want to bring some jovialness. I also think that I’m quite genuine at heart, and in a game of backstabbing like The Traitors, I think it will be refreshing to see someone on the screen who is just normal and not a backstabber.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
So much so, yes because I’m so adventurous. I’m just a really sporty person. I’ve played rugby ever since I was six. I’ve always loved the outdoors and everything sporty. I’m an adrenaline junkie, abseiling – I enjoy anything like that. I think that’s where I’ll excel so I’m looking forward to the missions. I think they’ll be so exciting.
Do you have a game plan?
I do have a game plan per se, but it kind of chops and changes. I think my game plan is to just be myself. I think the people that have done well on the show before are people that have their own personality laced within what they’re trying to do. So, I’m not going to try and make up this fake persona and try to be someone else. I think the biggest game plan would be to try and befriend and betray. However, I’m not going to do it to the extent that I upset people and make them want to eliminate me. It’s got to be subtle.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think I’ll be fine. I would be comfortable being a Traitor. It’s a game at the end of the day and everyone knows it's a game. It’s not that deep. It's not typically who I am as a person but I just want to win the money, and so does everyone else.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
I would say that I have. I’ve been told that I have. So, yeah, I think so.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
If I had to curse out someone’s family on national television, I don’t think I would do that. But within the game, I don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t do. If I have to eliminate someone, if I have to steal the big pot of money, that’s absolutely fine. I know that in the last series, when Wilfred made it to the end, he actually just really struggled with the whole idea. He’d built himself up for three weeks but when it got to crunch time, he felt really guilty. I think I’d be ok; I think that’s what I’m here for. Especially for the second series, people are expecting a little bit more. Everyone else is out to get the same prize. So, if I limit myself and say “I wouldn’t do this or that” then I’m putting myself at a disadvantage against someone else who’s more willing to backstab me.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I think my game plan as a Faithful would just be to try and be as open and friendly as possible. I’m naturally very empathetic so I’m a person that people can confide in and go towards if they want advice. I think it will come organically for me too because if they feel like they’re in a safe space, they might share things with me. I’d then be able to read people and start to weed them out.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I’m good. Whenever news will come out of the friendship group, I always think “I literally could have told you that.” I am very rarely surprised. I think I’m quite good at reading people and I’d say I’m very intuitive.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I would definitely help my parents. We went through some tough financial times, and I would just love to be able to pay off their mortgage and do up their house to the standard that they’d want to live in forever, because I think that will be the home that my mum and dad retire in. Other than that, I am going to go shopping. I am going to treat myself and then I’ll invest the rest, I'm not going to throw it all away. It’s a lot of money to have nothing to show for it in twenty years’ time, that would be a shame. So, help my parents, go shopping a little bit and invest the rest.
Jaz
Age: 30
Job title: National Account Manager
Location: Manchester
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
A bloody great question to hit me with! I think it was my in-laws to be honest, they were halfway through an episode of series one and said to me and the missus, “Have you watched this? Sit down with us and watch this right now.” We watched it, looked at each other and said, “This is just amazing.” I liked everything about it. Obviously, we then watched the whole series and it totally resonated with everything I’ve been through. After watching, I never thought there was going to be A) a second series, B) that I was going to apply, and C) I was going to be selected. It’s like the stars have aligned themselves. I’m a bit cheesy and I think everything happens for a reason but, genuinely, everything just feels right.
What did you think of the first series?
It was exciting and it was intense. I got to the point where I was thinking “Why is everyone crying? It’s a game show.” But then you realise that when you're in it, you’re away from your family and you start to understand why their emotions are so heightened. I really loved the game aspect of the show, both the physical and mental sides, I thought it was amazing. Everything was great, from the music, the setting of the castle, also Claudia was wicked. The cast, they also were such a mixed bag.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Probably Wilfred, that little rascal was really good. When I was watching it, I was thinking “If only I could be in his position...but get to the end.” To be honest, that’s what I would like to do. Hopefully, be a Traitor and get right to the end.
Do you have a game plan?
Half and half. I think if you go in with a game plan then you won’t last. If I’m a Traitor, I feel as though I’m going to go in with the mindset of a Faithful so people can see my body language, they can see my eye contact, they can see everything about me and go “This guy is a Faithful. So, there’s no point even questioning him.” And that’s it, just take them out one by one.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
Just pure energy. That's one thing that I know I’ll be able to give because I’ve never been given this opportunity before, this is once in a lifetime for me. So, what I’m going to bring is something that I’ve probably never brought to anything I’ve done in my life before. Not to sound cocky or obnoxious, because I would like to consider myself quite humble, but I’ve been very fortunate to achieve certain accolades and things in my life, but nothing, apart from the missus and my wedding day, has meant more to me than this. So, I’m looking at really going for it.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yes, definitely. I’ll hopefully be able to tackle some of them well, or at least I hope so. There are some things that I hope they don’t choose for missions, random things like a Sudoku puzzle or something. To be honest I would rather do physical missions than mental ones. I’m going to put all my fitness into it. I go to the gym, I play football twice a week and I do other sports as well, all sorts.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
Absolutely buzzing. I’m ready to be one, it’s just perfect. I feel like I’ll be able to play it well. I’m hyping myself up now, I need to calm myself down!
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes. I think so. You just have to think of some really hard things that you’ve done in life, things that you’ve been put through, and you just think of that, and your mind goes floating away to something totally different.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
All the way, without a shadow of a doubt. The thing is everyone wants the money, for all sorts of different reasons, so that’s just going to cloud my vision if I start to get emotionally involved in everyone’s story and then I’m going to be torn between all the other players. But for me, I want to go all the way. The last man standing.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I’m terrible, if I'm honest. Well, to be fair, I might be alright. I'm not amazing at that because when you meet someone for the first time, it’s hard to understand what their personality is like. Who are they as a person? Is that how they act when they're telling the truth? Is that how they act when they’re telling lies? If it’s someone that I'm familiar with I think I'd be able to tell when they’re bending the truth or when they’re blatantly lying... it’s all in the eyes. I’d like to think I could spot a snake a mile off!
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think being a team player, being personable and getting everyone onside. It’s important to form a clique, I suppose this applies if you’re a Traitor as well. Form a clique of the strongest and most influential people, or the people you believe hold a lot of importance and who others rely on. You have to get in amongst the group and stick closely with them. That’s what I saw from the last series, that’s what Wilfred was trying to do, he formed that little group. If I was a Faithful that’s what I’d do.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
It’s a bit cheesy but my Mum has always wanted to go on the Orient Express. After everything we’ve been through as a family, I feel like my Mum deserves it. My wife has also been such a pillar of strength and I feel like she definitely deserves to go. Also, my Mother and Father-in-Law have just been everything to me and it would be something that we could all do together to celebrate, it would be phenomenal. I couldn’t even put it into words how I’d feel.
Jonny
Age: 31
Job title: Ex-Military
Location: Bedfordshire
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
It’s my cup of tea, I love that sort of thing. I did a lot of research on the show and also looked at the Dutch version too to try and figure it out a little bit. I’m definitely lacking in those sorts of adventures and that sort of mindset from being in the Army, there’s an excitement to it. It’s about getting myself out there, I’ve got two young kids, and it would be nice to make them proud as well.
What did you think of the first series?
I actually started with the Dutch version. Whilst the idea itself is amazing, it was much better to watch than I was expecting so that’s saying something. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through it, and it was interesting to see the people who were like “I’m really good at people reading, I’m amazing” and then they just ended up deflated. I enjoy people watching as well, so I found it really interesting in that respect.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I’m an observer. I like to sit back and take it all in. I’m very good at reading situations so I have sort of accumulated a few different approaches of what people did in other series. What stuck out to me the most was if I was to be a Traitor, I’d put myself in the mindset of not being a Traitor, and just completely ignore the fact I am one. I thought that was quite a strong approach, in that sense. Other than that, it’s the whole teamwork, muck in, work together. It’s as simple as that.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I’m quite enthusiastic, I’m quite hyper and I’m quite clumsy. I’m a character, basically. Everyone my entire life has said “Jonny, your life is like a film mate. The things you end up in.” I like to light up a room. I’ve had a lot of darkness around me a lot of my life and I think I’ve learnt to use humour to combat it. You create your own stress, and you create your own environment. I like to create a nice environment and I’ve always tried to lift the morale.
Do you have a game plan?
No, I’ll make it up as I go along. I know that sounds unorganised but it’s a very organised way of thinking in my head. I think very differently and that’s the way I approach things. I’m fresh into it and if I was to be a game player, it would be on the spot based on the situation that was in front of me.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I’d be quite excited, but I also wouldn’t underestimate it because you’re going to make friendships with people and there will be some hard decisions to be made. Because I am empathetic, I do care about people, as much as I love to wind people up, I do still care. I’d enjoy it because it is just a game, and everyone knows that, so that would make me feel a bit better about myself if I was Traitor and maybe it would allow me to be a bit more brutal.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes, I’d say I’ve got a good poker face. I learnt a lot in the military. So, I’ve very much got that mindset. I learnt “Bullshit baffles brains” - that’s my favourite saying. I have lived by that and it's so true. I have done so many different jobs since I left the army and it’s always worked.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I’m very black and white in the way I think. I know what I’m signing up for, everyone else knows what they're signing up for. It’s a game. Everyone knows they could potentially be backstabbed and it’s going to be messy. Because everyone is aware of that, it makes me feel more comfortable about the situation. I know that if I made friends with someone and they had to backstab me in the game, I wouldn’t fall out with them, because it’s just the game. If other people can’t see that, then they wouldn’t be the type of person I’d be friends with anyway.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
It would be similar to the Traitor plan in the sense that, I’m an observer. I would try and figure people out. I’m intuitive as well, I kind of just have a knowing, I just have a feeling sometimes and nine times out of ten it’s right. Being a Faithful is a completely different ballgame. I think it’s more of a chilled-out environment, but at the same time you have to be continuously observing and also being careful about what you say to people as well.
Are you good at spotting a liar?
I’d say so, in some cases, but I don’t want to say for sure because it could go all wrong. I won’t actually know until I’m in the situation because it’s so hard to know what it will be like in there. Normally, I’m good at working out when someone’s not telling the truth, I just think “Hmmm, I don’t like them, and I don’t know why” and usually there's a reason to be suspicious.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I would say by remaining your true, entire self because if you’re not, people are going to start doubting you. For example, in the last series, Maddy was a Faithful but hid her acting experience, and when she revealed it, everyone started to doubt her. I’m mindful of that but I also did have a bang to my head so I can be a bit scatty sometimes and I’m worried that because I’ve done so much in my life, people are going to start hearing more and more as I spend more time with them and think I’m just talking rubbish. I'm worried because I know who I am, but no one else does.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
100%, yes, I love a challenge, anything that involves a challenge I enjoy. Obviously, I’ve got disabilities, but I don’t see that as a disability, it’s other people who do. I’d crack on with anything physical, I’m happy to do it. I feel completely normal in the sense of what I can and can’t do. I also enjoy psychological things, I’m a problem solver, I like to figure things out. I’m a good leader but I also know when to step back when someone else has some good ideas, I can be a good team player as well. I know I’m just throwing out keywords here, but I mean it!
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I’m going to start with myself because normally, people won’t. I’ve done a lot of travelling in the army and I’ve travelled around the world, but I realised that I haven't actually travelled much of the UK and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’m very outdoorsy and I hate being indoors all day, so I've thought about getting a top-of-the-range camper van to go out and about in. Sounds like a typical midlife crisis. Single, divorced bloke... but I’ve genuinely always been like that. The other thing that is important to me is to be able to make a difference to my kids' lives. I’d love to do as much as I possibly can for them and of course, money helps with that. That, for me, is my ultimate drive.
Kyra
Age: 21
Job title: Apprentice Economist
Location: Kent
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I applied to go on The Traitors because I watched the first season with my family, we watched it all together. Me and my sisters are really close. We then watched the American version and I went through a stage where I was like “I really want to be on a game show” but then I got scared and didn’t want to do it. Then I just plucked up the courage and decided to do it. The main motivation behind it is that my sister is getting married soon, we come from a lower-class background, and I'd love to win something to help towards her wedding – and hopefully honeymoon. I am also very physically active as well, so this can push me both mentally and physically. Why not try to play and have fun with it at the same time?
What did you think of the first series?
I really loved it, it's like nothing that I've seen before. It was sort of like a game I used to play called Among Us. Because it was nothing I'd seen before it did kind of throw me, I was having a battle with myself about whether I'd want to be a Traitor or a Faithful - I think a Traitor. I really think that as long as you remember that it’s just a game, then it can be something that you enjoy.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Wilfred was really, really good but at what expense, right? I would sit and watch thinking “Wait, he’s so believable!” Looking back on it though, would I be impressed if I had the same approach? I think that he's inspired me in the sense that you have to be very emotive but also very emotionally intelligent. I think I'd play a lot differently.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I'll bring something that a lot of people won't have seen before, which is someone very young who’s outspoken and not afraid to speak their mind or stand up for themselves. I also like to push my boundaries. I’m successful at my job and I have the ability to be articulate and socialise with other people, so I think I’ll be good in the game.
Do you have a game plan?
I do, but I think that in a game like this you also have to be adaptable because once someone latches onto your game plan or becomes suspicious you have to be able to react in order for it to be believable. In my workplace and my household, I'm always the little star, the little sister, a little baby, the innocent one that everyone always wants to look after. So, I'm going to try use that to my advantage at key moments, hopefully. It depends on what I am, to be honest, whether I'm a Traitor or whether I'm a Faithful. But if I am a Traitor, then that will be my approach and I think people will be caught off guard and wouldn't suspect me, hopefully, because I seem so innocent.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
I am physically active. I love games, I love puzzles, I love riddles, I love the mental aspect of them. There is one thing I'm not good at which is swimming. Anything swimming related I'm going to let them know from the outset and ifthere is, then fingers crossed they won’t choose me! I think everyone has their weaknesses and you’ve got to consider the group dynamic and other people's weaknesses as well. I’m happy to fill in for other people if they’re okay to fill in for me, obviously. Anything else I'm willing to put my mind to and take on. I really do like being fit and being active, there's nothing that I would shy away from. I think I'll bring a can-do attitude and really push forward no matter what the mission is.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think if I am a Traitor, I’ll feel a mix of emotions, there’s an element of power which is nice, but on the other hand, I really think that it'll be a lot of pressure. There are so many emotions involved so I think it will be very psychological. I think being a Traitor plays more on your mind, because it's like, “Oh, my God, I'm actually deceiving these people.” I imagine 90% of people will want to be a Traitor so I don’t know if I'll be one.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes! I think that’s why you have to be adaptable. You have to have a good poker face and not let people in, but you also have to be open enough so that people trust you. I think it’s a tricky balance but one that you need. I’m good at meeting new people and I make friends really easily, but I'll obviously try and keep my cards close to my chest. I need to remember my own game plan, remember why I'm here and keep myself grounded to that and I think I'll be okay.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I think if you have a cutoff point, then you shouldn't apply for The Traitors. I think the whole aim of the game is that you could be a Faithful or a Traitor and you're meant to play whatever role that you’re given and remember it’s just a game. Taking that into consideration, I will be doing anything that I can do to win for the Traitors and shock people. I don’t think anyone can be mad at that, no one should take that personally. I don't really have anything that I wouldn’t be willing to do, because it's an element of the game. I don't really see it as real life. I'm going in with my alter ego and will go full punch.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
If I'm a Faithful, I feel like I'll be really good at spotting liars and I'm a good judge of character. I think I'll be able to spot people who are trying to influence and manipulate others, it’s also easy to identify when that’s being done to you. Being in a household full of women, and also my work, has allowed me to become a good judge of character. I like sussing people out, I like discovering things and I like being part of a team. I think I'll get to know everyone, do the best I can and make sure that the Faithfuls win.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I feel like I'm a good judge of character in general, but I don’t know if I’ll be good at that in the game. I think it’s quite hard to lie consistently, unless you’re a compulsive cheater! I think when you have similar traits to other people, you can pick up things a lot easier. I also think when someone is lying to you, you find out the truth eventually. I do know that I will be suspected as a Traitor at some point because everyone is going to get that – it's The Traitors. Once I suspect someone is lying, I'll keep looking for clues, I'll keep digging and take it from there. It’s about trusting my gut.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
Being likeable and being able to be vulnerable with people, having team spirit and also being relatable. I think that’s what’s going to get you far as a Faithful. A sense of empathy will get people to trust you. I think one thing that I'm going to try and bring this year is calling people out. I noticed last year that a lot of decisions were made based on people's characters rather than facts. I think people are sometimes tricked by the fact that someone's likeable, rather than the idea that this person could actually be a Traitor.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I'm really close with my sisters so I’d like to contribute some money to my sister’s wedding and maybe even her honeymoon. Secondly, it would be to help the rest of the family. I’d give some money to them so they’re financially stable as well, that’s the dream.
Meg
Age: 22
Job title: Illustrator
Location: Herefordshire
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I just love it. I loved watching series one with my mum, we were hooked. We were gutted that they were only showing three episodes a week because we just wanted to binge it. My mum suggested that I'd be good on it, I didn’t think I would be but agreed that I'd think about it. When I saw Claudia Winkleman’s post saying that applications were open, I said “Screw it. Why not? I'll give it a go. I probably won’t get very far.” I thought I'd just apply and see what happened and now obviously I've got to this point and it’s like an actual fever dream.
What did you think of the first series?
Oh my god, loved it. I loved every single second of it. At times I was screaming at the TV, especially when Wilfred threw Alyssa under the bus, but he played the game so well. I just loved everything about it.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
To be honest, I’m just going to wing it when I get there because I feel like you can’t really plan. I know Amanda didn’t really have a strategy either, she just winged it. So, I feel like I admire that because that’s probably what I’m going to do. I know a few people were making notes and writing things down at night, so I might try that.
Do you have a game plan?
No, absolutely not at all. I feel like nothing can prepare you for what they’re going to throw at you to be honest. They might be like “Meg, you’ve got to jump out of a plane now.” And I'd say “Oh my God, ok! Bring it.” I’m just not going to overthink anything, go in with no expectations and do what I need to do.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
Probably just people laughing at me to be honest. I mean, if I’m terrified, I’ll just start singing Florence & the Machine and people will be like “Get her to shut up, she’s too loud.” Because I just burst into song at any moment, my mum will sometimes have to tell me to shut up, or people catch me at traffic lights, which is embarrassing!
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yes. I‘m looking forward to doing the missions because I’m very competitive when I get going. I’ll have my eyes on the prize, I'm like that in anything really. I’ll give everything a good go.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I don’t know. I’ve said to my mum that I want to be a Faithful. I’m not a great liar so I'd rather be a Faithful but if I get chosen by Claudia as a Traitor, I'll probably just go with it and try my best. If I’m a Faithful, I’ll give the Faithfuls my all. If I’m a Traitor, I’ll give the Traitors my all. I think the hardest bit for me would be in that moment around the round table if I get chosen, having to sit around the table and be as cool as a cucumber, that would be the hardest bit for me.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
It depends on who it is that’s looking at me. If it’s my dad, absolutely not. If it’s anyone else, yes!
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I wouldn’t go to the lengths of throwing somebody under the bus, unless they were going to throw me under in that same moment. If I’m going down you’re coming down with me, that’s how I’d see it. In all fairness, if you are a Traitor there’s a high chance you aren't going to win the money, I think the Faithfuls have more chance. Even just thinking about the possibility of winning is like OH MY GOD. I scream my head off at my monthly pay packet let alone that amount of money. I wouldn’t throw somebody under the bus so that I could win more. If we have to go halves on it, or thirds, or even quarter the money, that’s better than walking out with nothing at all.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
To be honest, I’d just speak as I find. If I spot something a little off, I'd keep it in the back of my head for a bit. If someone says something that doesn’t ring right with me I'd be thinking “It could be you then!” I’d probably plant a few seeds with other people to see what others thought. Point out a few things that someone has said earlier or some facial expressions that I've seen.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I’m fairly good. If my friends are lying to me in the moment, I can tell. Just the other day I asked a friend how she was and she said, “I’m alright” and I said, “You are not fine, tell me what’s up”, I just knew it. So, I'm good but maybe not to the extent of a game of The Traitors, but with my friends at least.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think you need to have a good balance with the other Faithfuls. You need to talk a bit, but not talk too much. I feel like you need to be on the same wavelength with absolutely everybody. I’m going to try and be as neutral with everyone as possible because I feel like if I was to tell one person something that I haven’t told someone else, it could provoke a “She didn’t tell me that, why not? Is she a Traitor?” So, I’m going to try and be neutral with everyone which I normally am anyway.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
It depends on the amount of money, but I know for a fact I want to help my parents pay their mortgage off. I'd like to send a bit their way. Also, they really want to go on a motorhome trip around Scotland, so I’d definitely put some money towards that. We’ve got a little pup, so I’d have to stay and take care of the pup but they can go. I’ll have seen Scotland by then anyway! I also want to go on a holiday with my friends and buy a new pair of dungarees because mine have absolutely had it and I can't afford an expensive pair, so I’d want to do that. Buy the most expensive pair of dungarees ever!
Miles
Age: 36
Job title: Veterinary Nurse
Location: Birmingham (now lives in Worcestershire)
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
Basically, I’ve done everything that I feel like is the cookie cutter thing to do, you know? I went to school, went to college, got my qualification, found my husband, had a family. I just thought I’ve done everything so “correct”. When I saw the show, I thought it was quite clever, quite different. It was nicely done. I like that the show has normal, everyday people. There are going to be times when you’re going to have beef with people, because we’ll get so involved in the roles that we’re playing. It’s just that, I'm playing a role. As long as my nearest and dearest know that then that’ll make me feel a bit better – it's not real life.
What did you think of the first series?
Really good. I was late to the game, I’ll be honest, everyone was like “Have you seen it, have you seen it?” But when I watched the first episode, I was hooked. Me and my husband both watched the first episode then probably watched three more, before we were like “Right, we need to go to bed. We’ve got jobs to do tomorrow.” I just loved the twists and turns but also the game face-ness of it all, it was quite interesting to watch, and I really enjoyed it.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Amanda’s. Just because she was genuine, she was very genuine about what she was doing but did everything she needed to do. That's exactly what my motto would be if I was in her position. I think you have to be yourself but also knowing that you have to play the game and tell the porkies, that’s the game. Amanda just played it in a really sophisticated way, I liked her and I liked her style. Even though she didn’t make it all the way to the end, I did think the way she did things was quite nice.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
If anything, it has to be humour. Humour is my number one really, so I find the funny in everything. Obviously respectfully. Humour’s probably the first thing that I bring forward because that’s my norm, even if I’ve been cooped up that’s what I fall back onto to make myself feel comfortable again. I’m happy to laugh at myself...and others.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yes, I’m more of a tactical skilled type of person as opposed to let's go run and sprint for four hours. That kind of thing...I’m out. I’ll hold the oranges at the end, the running part is maybe not my forte! I do a lot of team-based things really well. I’ve always worked in a team. The mind games are a bit more me, that’s why I thought this was a nice thing to go for.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think it would be hard, because obviously you make relationships which make it hard to lie to these people. At the same time, you’ve got to be a good Traitor. When you think of people like Wilfred, he was playing the game well and you admired him because it was so hard to do. I think I would feel the same way. It’s bittersweet but I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. I’m in that role so I’m going to do that role properly, I want to do it well. I’m very much aware that it is just a game, it’s about trying to get that nice balance of being genuine and playing the game. I don’t have to lie about who I am, or my thoughts and beliefs, but I also have got a job to do and that’s why I think I’d be comfortable as a Traitor or a Faithful, really.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
My friends say I do. I haven’t told them, obviously, that I’m doing the show. It’s funny because I know when my husband's lying but he doesn't know when I am, he thinks I'm quite good at it. My mum says my poker face is good and that I’d be great on the show. I had told her I was doing something on TV and she said “As long as it’s not something like Love Island” I said to her “Mum, I do not have the body for Love Island.” I am also married with children, so that’s definitely not the show for me!
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I am good. I can tell when someone is being genuine or not. Even when they’re telling me what they want me to hear, not the actual truth. I’m the person people want to meet their partners. I’m that guy. My friend recently got a girlfriend and asked me what I thought. A good judge of character is very rare, so that’s my superpower.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
All the way. I mean there’s no point doing it if you’re not giving it your all. Last year people respected Wilfred because he wanted to go all the way, even though they might think he was cutthroat. The only thing I would say is, I wouldn’t want to be greedy. I think the greediness sometimes makes you fall at the last hurdle. It’s trying to get that nice balance of wanting to get to the end, but not falling at the last hurdle due to greed. So, I would totally go the full way.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
Genuine, honest and keeping my cards very close to my chest. I’m one of these people who will probably water an idea rather than plant one. Because I’ve got quite a bit of humour and whatnot people think I’m quite ditzy and will think that the humour is me not paying attention to something, but really, I’m taking it all in. I kind of hide behind that a little bit. I think that’s probably what I’ll do, just water other people’s ideas.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
Loads of plastic surgery! No, I’m joking. What I really want to do is get our forever home. I’d like to pay off our debts and get into our forever home and really settle our roots. Whilst everything is fine as it is, it would be lovely to go forward with that and live somewhere in the country.
Mollie
Age: 21
Job title: Disability Model
Location: Bristol
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I watched the first series and I just loved how different it was. It’s exciting and there’s missions too. Although there’s teamwork involved, there’s also the sneakiness behind it all. I don’t feel like I’ve ever watched something as unique as this show. It had you gripped the whole time, so I just loved it. I thought it was such a great idea.
What did you think of the first series?
I think it took me a couple of episodes to get into it, just because once you know the people you feel way more attached. You can’t believe they're blaming that person when they’re so clearly a Faithful. It’s so interesting to watch it all unravel and how quickly people start to not trust anyone in the game.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I would love to say Wilfred because I think he was amazing. How many people could do that? He was so good. But I feel like it does take a certain type of person to be able to be that sneaky. Meryl was great as well, she kind of stayed out of it but agreed with people when necessary. She was always involved in a way but never the person who came up with the ideas, I thought she had a good game plan.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I think maybe a bit more excitement around it all, I’m super excitable anyway and looking forward to the missions and stuff. I love an adventure, so I feel like I can really throw myself into those. Hopefully, just a bit more fun as well with the game, obviously it can be so serious at times.
Do you have a game plan?
I want to make as many friends as possible. The more friends you have in there, the better. As I also work as a Healthcare Assistant, you do get close to people because you’re there for them and looking after them, but you have to be careful not to get too emotionally attached. I’m quite good at building that relationship but also separating myself in a way which I feel like will be really good in the game. You have to turn on people at some points, and that person could be your friend in there.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yeah, I definitely think that I’m going to enjoy the Missions. I’d love to push myself as much as possible. I’ve always watched game shows and thought “I could do that” but when you get there, could you actually do it? I think I’m going to be ok with it, but there are going to be fears that come up that I’ve never even thought of before. Half of these things people will never normally do. I’d really love to push myself, and I feel I'll be quite good at the physical challenges. Looking at last year, I'd love to try being buried alive and jumping out of a helicopter. I’d love to try that and see how scared I really am. I have always said that I'd love to do that but when you’re up there I know it’d be really intimidating.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think it’s going to change things for me as I have thought of myself as more of a Faithful. I think you’ve just got to get into the game, get into the mindset that you’re still a Faithful until the evenings and when you meet up at night. I think your mindset, whether you get tapped on the shoulder or not, is to be a Faithful in the daytime. You’ve got to convince yourself that that is who you are, so that you can then convince other people.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
I think I probably do, I'm quite innocent looking. I feel like my age, and the fact that I can come across quite innocent, will be really good for me and people will think I wouldn’t be able to be a Traitor. I’d say I’m quite good at deflecting the attention as well, so if it was on me I could point it in another direction.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I think it’s hard to say now because you’re not in it, but as soon as you get in there and you see the prize money you think “You know what... I'm winning.”
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I think just deflecting the attention from you to someone else. As much as you want to find the Traitors, someone going home is one less person to worry about as well. You’ve got to think that as long as your name is not being brought up at the Round Table, then that’s a good thing. You obviously want to get the Traitors out because then they can’t murder you at night, but with another Faithful gone you’re a step closer to the end. You’ve kind of got to get the numbers down as best as possible and try your best for a Traitor.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
My brother was quite naughty growing up, so I’ve always been able to pick up on when he’s lying and then we go upstairs and I’d be like “You just told Mum and Dad a lie, didn’t you?” and he’d always say yes. Growing up he misbehaved a little bit in school and wouldn’t tell my parents, but I always knew. So, I feel like I can always recognise the signs.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think it is majorly the friendships. People can say “I’m not going to make friends in there” but you will do, that’s who you’re around for potentially three weeks, those familiar faces. You kind of have to have a little bit of trust in people to be able to get through it. I think the friendships will be a major thing. I also think doing well in the missions because that will mean the Traitors want to keep you in, so that helps too.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I’d love to go travelling in the future, so I'd definitely feel more relaxed about that if I won because at my age, you kind of have to choose between getting your own place, moving out, travelling but then having nothing to come back to. It would be so nice to have that and go and live my dream of travelling and come back and still be secure enough to put a deposit down on a house, that would be amazing.
Paul
Age: 36
Job title: Business Manager
Location: Manchester
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
There are two answers for this. First and foremost, all of my friends and family said, “You need to watch this show, you need to go on this show.” That was before I had seen it and I still don’t know if that’s a compliment or not! When I watched it, it was about people that are really good at lying, what were they saying?! So, there was that but then I watched it and just fell in love with it straight away as it’s properly up my street. I love the activity side of things, especially the mission where they were walking across the drawbridge blindfolded, I really loved that. Then the Round Table with people’s emotions running high, I thought this is definitely something I could get involved in and, you know what, I might be able to succeed in.
What did you think of the first series?
I got addicted! We were latecomers so everyone was already talking about how good The Traitors was and we got hooked straight away and started bingeing it, a couple of episodes every night type of thing. We’ve started to watch the US and Australian series too, but I also don’t want my thought process to be altered by stuff before I go in!
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Ivan, although I think he went too early. I thought he was good and that he’d go far but the slight issue he had was that he let everybody know his strategy and that he was into that sort of stuff. I think the person that I'm probably most like is Wilfred. A bit affable, everyone wanted to get on with him and that’s maybe the angle I’m going for. I think it’s about blending in a bit more like Amanda and Wilfred. If you can combine Amanda, Ivan and Wilfred with a bit of me on top, maybe I can go a little bit further? That’s the hope anyway.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I think humour is a big one for me. I love comedy, if I could be a comedian that would be my dream job. I've done stand-up and did it down south at the Comedy Store in London and it’s just mind-blowing. If I can get comedy in there then I think it’s a really powerful tool to bond people and maybe diffuse situations when they get so tense. Maybe I can be a little bit of a comfort blanket and a distraction in that way. I guess last year there was no one in there that was exactly like me which is a good thing. Hopefully, I can have my own little niche.
Do you have a game plan?
I keep thinking that I should have a game plan but then I also think, maybe I should just freestyle it. The problem is, if you have a game plan and you try and stick to it but it doesn’t work you might get yourself in a bit of trouble. I think as soon as you tell someone that you’ve got a game plan then you could be picked out. I’m going to have a rough guideline of what I’m going to be like inside there, but then also I’m such a winger, I have no idea what I’m going to do or what I’m going to say, and if I did have a game plan the chances are I wouldn’t stick to it!
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
If I was going to have a game plan it would be for the Missions. Hopefully people will go “We need Paul for the Missions”. I love my riddles and I enjoy my sports, I feel that’s where I can add a lot of qualities like leadership. I know it sounds so cringey, but I’m obsessed with doing escape rooms and board games and all that kind of stuff. So hopefully I can really shine in the tasks and people will want to keep me around because I’m making money. I’m looking forward to the tasks, it’s the thing I’m looking forward to the most actually. The tasks and then the Round Table.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
Well, if Claudia touches my shoulder, I'm never washing that top again. I hope that happens because the more I think about what the show is, it is about the real Traitors, right? To participate in the show fully is to be a Traitor I think. It’s great to be a Faithful and find the Traitors but I want to be the one that people are trying to find. I would just try to be, calm, normal and just like me. If it happens, I'd be buzzing.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes. People think that with a poker face you always have to be stern, be stoic and not show emotion, I disagree with that. I think if you can show happiness when you’re really sad or sadness when you're really happy, those are better qualities. Reading people is another strength that I think I will bring when I go in, because I think I can see it in people’s face when something has changed. I fancy myself here a little bit. I’m in the corporate world and that type of environment happens quite often; where you’re sat in a room and you're being grilled and you’re defending yourself. I've been in that situation quite a few times before. So, I think this is perfect.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
It’s easy for me to say this because I've not been there but I think I'd do anything, whatever it takes. I'd even say swear down and not even mean it...
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I've got to be myself all the way. At the start, I actually don’t care who's a Faithful and who's a Traitor, I just need to build a pack. If you’ve got four or five players that can get you through the first Round Table you can be reading the other people. I think it’s more important to find a group first and then start picking people out. If you go in there as a lone-wolf people might think you’re not trustworthy and want to get you out. I think my personality means I can gain trust quick, or I hope so anyway. I am actually a nice person, promise. Swear down.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I can see it a mile away. I've told enough myself and I've lived long enough to see the changes in people. I feel like I can spot a lie quite quickly and I'm not gullible. I think the best way to describe it is I think people get a bit disarmed around me because I am affable, I think that can make people slip up.If I think someone is telling a lie and I think they're a Traitor, do I try and become their friend, so they keep me around?
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I think you’ve got to be, or at least come across, as the most genuine, open-book person you’ll ever see. Hannah from series one is an amazing example of that because she was called out once at Round Table and said, “Just send me home then”, from there no one ever questioned her. It will be interesting to see where my personality might fit, or what version of me I should be on the show as not many loud characters made it to the end.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
It'll have to be a house. For myself, my partner, our little boy and our dog - I need to get us all a house! We’re renting at the moment and mortgage rates are just chaos, so if I can win the show or be part of a group of people that win the show then that is life changing for us. The family, the house, nothing glamorous really, there's no cars, parties or holidays, it’s: we need a roof over our heads and then that will set us up for the rest of our lives. Or a Ferrari...
Ross
Age: 28
Job title: Video Director
Location: Lancashire
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
Just to throw myself into the deep end of something, I’m so used to being behind a camera that it’s actually very nerve-racking for me to be in front of one. This is something new and I'm well up for the challenge. I’m quite good at the old Among Us game and I thought this looked like a lot of fun. I’m also really looking forward to having a break from social media, my phone, work and the rest of it. It’s a good excuse to tell my business partner that I just can’t work for three weeks, it’s a nice excuse to do that.
What did you think of the first series?
I watched all of series one and I loved it to be honest. I thought it was quite refreshing, it was dramatic, funny, intense, really quite intense. Altogether, a very well put together show.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I’d have to say Aaron. He was just super genuine and nice. Maybe a few things got to him a bit much but in general, he was very open and honest. I think that’s the best policy really and he seemed like he was having fun. Sometimes being honest is the best gameplan.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I think I’ll bring a little bit of liveliness. I’m definitely not going in it to take it too seriously. Obviously, it is a game, and I am in it to play but, I’m not really there to play a game to be honest with you. I’m just in it to have a little bit of fun and hopefully, provide a little bit of energy to the camp. I’m very much a mother hen, if it’s all too much for someone I’ll take them under my wing and make sure they’re alright. I don’t take life too seriously. I’m saying all of this but I might get in there and actually it’s the most intense experience in the world and I crumble! But I don’t see that happening.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think I’d be a bit gutted because then I’ve actually got to play a game. I feel like it would put me on edge a bit and I might not be able to fully be myself. If I’m probing, I can have a bit of fun with that but if I’m having to lie to people, it sets me on edge a bit. But, you know, at the same time it’s a game and I’ve done it before in Among Us, this is a bit of a bigger scale, but I could definitely do it again!
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
I think so, I play a lot of poker, so I’d like to think I have. I tend to smile a lot, but that’s whether I'm questioning someone else or I’m being questioned, I have a little Cheshire Cat grin and that’s just my face. So, I don’t know. Other people might interpret that in a different way. If I start laughing because someone says I’m a Traitor, they’ll go “Well, he’s definitely a Traitor” and I won’t be able to not laugh. So, I don’t know how it will go...
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I mean, I can throw a few people under the bus if needs be. It’s a game at the end of the day isn't it, it’s not life or death.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I’d befriend everyone. I’d try and charm everyone and try and get their secrets from them, that’s the whole thing, isn't it?
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I'd be good. I’m quite good at reading people and their personalities. I’ve got to do it with my job. Not spot liars as such but I’ve got to work with a lot of different personalities and sometimes mistakes happen. People lie about it, and I’ve got to kind of filter through that. So, I do think I'd be pretty good.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
It’s a tricky one because I do think if you’re too nice and you’re too loving, people can see that as a threat and then target you because they think you’re weak. If you’re popular they might want to get you out, if you’re pointing fingers too much, they might want you out. You don’t want to point fingers because that’s when you get stabbed in the back. You have to almost play the silent game and figure out who your friends are. It’s a tricky one as a Faithful, it’s probably tricker to do that than be a Traitor and get to the end.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
Yeah, I can’t wait for the Missions. Unless it involves spiders! I’m quite active, I guess, I could roll a barrel up a hill, I’ve never done it before, but I’m sure I’d be pretty good at it. I’ve got semi-decent balance; I can think on my feet, I’m quite a good problem solver, good at mental arithmetic, if there’s any mathematics ones I’d be there. I’m really good at spelling if there are any spelling bees, that’d be right up my street. You never know, I’m sure it's not going to be that, but I’d be really good at those. I think that’s pretty much it really, can’t wait.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
If I won, I don’t actually know. Maybe a mini holiday and then save up for a house? A bit boring, well the holiday isn’t, but you know, all the adult stuff.
Sonja
Age: 66
Job title: Volunteer Business Mentor
Location: Lancashire
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I wanted to do something this year that would challenge me and test all of my abilities. Whether that be physical or mental, and I could use some of the experiences I've had in the past. I just want to be challenged, excited and I want some adrenaline. I’ve had a difficult few years so have thought right, let’s go for it and do something a bit crazy and exciting. I wouldn’t do anything except The Traitors. It's so interesting, complicated, thoughtful and devious. It's right up my street! It’s the first thing I've ever applied for, and here I am.
What did you think of the first series?
Absolutely loved it, I thought it was fantastic. I was expecting it to be like other things I'd seen, mildly interesting but it was gripping. Claudia was just amazing too. I love the way the paranoia sets in and how what seems to be a simple game turns into life changing, emotional situations, genuine feelings of animosity, fear, doubt – the whole thing was just fascinating to me. I'm qualified in social science, that’s the study of how societies interact. I was absolutely fascinated after series one, I’ve watched all the other versions as well.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I thought Amanda was very good. Very practical, pragmatic and didn't promote herself too much. Wilfred, I loved because he was tortured, you know, and Theo was hilarious. So not one person in particular but I just thought they were standout characters who were amazing.
Do you have a game plan?
Yes, I have a game plan. My game plan is to knit my way to the finals. I'm an avid knitter. What I hope to do genuinely is knit while I'm thinking. Also, you can knit recycled fishing nets and recycled plastic bottles, so it's great for the environment. I actually want to teach some of the other tortured souls how to do a bit of knitting while we're there too.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
In my career, I've been a business negotiator. My last role, until I had to stop work during the pandemic, was as an International Vice President for a big global company. So, I'm used to big stakes, big ticket negotiations in very challenging environments with cultural variations. I think that will serve me well.
Most importantly, my son, Dan, who died two years ago, was severely disabled with autism and other disabilities, and was nonverbal. Dan died at the age of 41. So, I spent 41 years understanding nonverbal hints and cues from Dan. I think those three things and my knitting hopefully, will take me to the final. I can say I'm really, really motivated to do this because of Dan. It is actually very difficult to get the right things, the right services, and the right care for people like Dan, and I want to promote better care for people who can't actually speak up for themselves. I would like to start a charity, after The Traitors, aimed at knitting in the community for young people to be together.
Dan was so very brave. He had so many headwinds, but he was just fearless in everything he tried. I said to myself that I need to do something completely fearless, at least once a year. This is my first one... so who knows where it will go?
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I’m really hoping I'll be a Traitor. I think I've got the mental resilience to cope. Having looked at the programme, I can see it's much more challenging than you think it's going to be. But I think I've got this toolkit of ways to negotiate with people and ways to get the best out of people. I think when you negotiate, it isn't about doing a good deal just for your company or yourself. It's about a win-win. So, everybody gets something good.
I think I'm going to find a way to get the best information out of people without upsetting them, and just be totally devious and use that information to murder and manipulate. I think I'm a bit of a crowd pleaser as well, not intentionally, but I seem to amuse people, often by mistake, but who cares. I think that accidental crowd pleasing might serve me well in my undercover activities. I'm looking forward to it, I just want to be a secret guided missile and knit two, pearl two, kill one!
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
Yes, I think I have. In doing such complex negotiations with my job, I've had to not let up. You’re with people day and night, away from home, in a foreign country often in negotiations, and you can't let anything slip. I remember having to have my game face on, every minute of the day.
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
It is a game so obviously I'm going to be two-faced. I'm going to lie convincingly but I'm not going to upset people. Even if I wrongly point someone out at the Round Table, there’s many ways to do that without being upsetting, harmful or hurtful. I am going to definitely go all the way, there is nothing really that I won't do other than upset somebody to win. There are many ways to beat somebody and mislead somebody without upsetting them.
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I'll just be devious really. I'll turn it on its head, I'll be the most devious Faithful you can be. I think there are almost as many opportunities as a Faithful to mislead people, to lie, to misrepresent and to confuse. I would hope to be able to identify the Traitors and make them think I am safe and not to be worried about, you know? I think my biggest challenge might be being slightly older than some people, they may not consider me a major contribution to the Missions. I'm going to do them, I’ll fling myself everywhere, they can dangle me off anything, I’ll jump off anything, I'll do it all but I'm not sure I'll do it as well as others. I’m going to be fearless and chuck myself out there.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I'm pretty good at spotting a liar. Because I know myself when I'm not lying, but misleading and moving a situation to place a better advantage for me. I know the things I have to watch out for that I’m doing. It's very hard to sustain a lie. I tend to lie by omission, by omitting key facts people will fill them in themselves, and then you haven't actually lied and it's easier to remember. I think my tells would be that I say way too much. I might give a bit too much detail, more information that you need, and you only really need to say a couple of words if you’re telling the truth.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
I’d have to be equally devious if I were a Traitor. I don't see it as the warm, cosy sort of wooly cardigan part of the game at all, I actually think you've got to be very much on your mettle. People turn on a sixpence, you know, and also the Traitors are there to compel other people and some of them have been excellent at doing that. So, I think I need to be sort of mildly friendly with everybody. I don't want anybody to be my best buddy and I don't want anybody to think I'm absolutely terrible. I'm going to be a big presence there and I bet a lot of people will say “I want to sink into the background” but I will be present and noisy. I want to feel a bit comforting to most people, even the baddies, the Traitors.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you’ll spend it on?
I would like to start my charity. Bringing the knitting of recycled materials to young people in difficult situations. It would be fantastic to have Tom Daley and Harry Styles as charity ambassadors too, both lovers of knitwear and excellent role models. I would also like to take my sister on a cruise.
Tracey
Age: 58
Job title: Sonographer and Clairvoyant
Location: Inverness
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I just loved it. I thought it was the best game show I've seen in such a long time. I've never wanted to apply for a game show ever. Every day after I watched the series, I kept checking when I could apply for series two. I just knew I wanted to be on it and it just hit something with me, I thought “I want to be on this”. It was mainly the psychology of it and meeting people that you don't normally meet in your normal life.
What did you think of the first series?
I was absolutely addicted to season one. I loved it, I was so invested in it. I kind of didn't hear about it until after the whole thing had gone out, so I literally binge watched the whole thing in three days. Nobody could talk to me. Nobody could ring me. I just loved it. My Mum is a psychologist, so the whole time I was growing up I kind of got the way that she views people and looks at people and I think that’s what this show is all about.
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
I thought Amanda was really good because she was quite motherly, and I'm quite motherly as well. I really resonate with her. Wilfred, I thought he was hilarious. I think he's got such a fantastic extrovert personality and I think he was so funny to watch, I loved him. Although he did get a bit paranoid three quarters of the way through, I was watching saying “No! Pull it back Wilfred!”
I thought all of the Faithfuls had their own little quirks, I did feel for them. Maddy I absolutely loved. Maddy Marples!
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
I do have quite a strong extrovert personality and I am a little bit loud. I've always been told off for being too loud in life. So, I think I think I'll be quite eccentric, some of my views and the things that I've done in life are quite eccentric. I'm very spiritual as well as working for the health service. So, I'm a bit of a weird combination.
Do you have a game plan?
As far as a game plan goes, I am going in without one. I'm just going to live moment to moment and do what feels right, trust my gut instinct. I'm just going to enjoy it. I’m winging it because I live life like that. My brother, who's a doctor, says to me, “I don't know how you get through life; you literally have no logic whatsoever. You do everything by gut feelings.” And I think if I had a game plan, it would kind of take me away from that. So, I'm just going in blind.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
I cannot wait, I actually love them. I used to be in the Air Force and that's the bit that I miss. Doing the mad exercises and jumping out of helicopters and being winched into the sea. I love doing crosswords and playing board games. I love doing treasure trails, I just love anything like that. I don't know if I'm a natural leader or I'm bossy, I’m not sure what the difference is. I think I'll be kind of gathering everybody up and getting us to work as a team, I hope.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think I'll be terrified, just terrified. Although you've got to go with whatever opportunity life gives you. If I'm going to be a Traitor, then I will embrace it 100%. You’re going to get close to people really quickly. I used to go on detachment with people in the military, and they'd be like your best friend for two whole weeks, you couldn't possibly ever live without them and then when you get home, you never contact each other again.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
This is not a good thing to confess but I'm actually really good at lying. I think because I have quite a happy-go-lucky personality and people just trust me. I am good at lying. I don't do it all the time, by the way, just when I have to. I’m good!
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
Winning is the game, isn't it? I am really competitive in real life. I hope that I will be in it to win it. The only thing that would be my downfall is that I do really like to be liked. I think if I came under suspicion or felt that people were talking about me, that would be the thing that would get me the most. Then I would be straight into the group going “Hi, is everyone okay?”
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I think it would be easier to be a Faithful because you could just genuinely be yourself and you would need less of a game plan. You wouldn't have to watch what you were saying constantly. Or thinking that you’ve told a lie and trying to remember it. As a Faithful you could just literally be yourself and enjoy it for what it is and make sure that people didn't suspect you for any reason.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
When I was a young spring chicken, I was so gullible. I would just take in what anyone said to me at face value. But now I'm older, I feel like I genuinely can spot people a lot more for what they are, and I use my gut instinct a lot as well. Sometimes I will just get a feeling that something isn't quite right, and I can tell by their eyes too. That’s how I'd be able to tell with the kids. So, I think I would be quite good a spotting a liar. I’ve got very good instincts.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
You just have to be the perfect person, don't you? How hard is that going to be? You can’t be too loud, can't be too quiet, can't be too extroverted or weird. I think it's going to be quite a fine line to tread, but you just have to treat it as a big party... all day.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
I would really love to retire. When I got divorced, I bought the house because I wanted to keep me and the kids in the family home for stability. I had to re-mortgage and consequently still owe loads of mortgage. I sometimes think “Oh my god, I'm going to still be working in the NHS when I'm 70, they’ll be wheeling me in!” I've given the NHS nearly 40 years, so I feel like I would try and pay loads of mortgage off and then retire.
Zack
Age: 27
Job title: Parliamentary Affairs Advisor
Location: London
Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?
I think I am very good at reading people, mostly because of my career and I want to see if that is the case. I think it also helps that I come from a small, very tightly-knit, Jewish community where socially everyone just knows each other's business. I suppose I applied for The Traitors to see if I’m as smart as I think I am! The money would be a huge bonus for my girlfriend and I who are trying to find a flat, and obviously in the cost of living crisis, it’s not great. Fundamentally it’s a bit of a selfish sort of reason, I think that I could win it if I’m a Faithful, I’ve already said that I do not want to be a Traitor at all because I’m never going to win. But I reckon I could win as a Faithful, essentially I’m just trying to see if I’m as delirious or as sane as I think I am!
What did you think of the first series?
I thought it was great. I know it came from a Dutch show and they did it in the USA and Australia, but I thought it was very eccentric and ground-breaking. I’ve played games like Mafia and Werewolf with my friends. So, I loved it, and I thought it was amazing. My friends and I started watching it together and we loved it and were hooked immediately.
Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?
I like to think I’m quite a physical person, I go to the gym about three times a week. I don’t feel like I do though, I feel awful!
Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?
Wilfred for sure. He kind of went for the ultimate Traitor move which was to sell his Traitor buddies down the river. I thought that was brutal, but it was so effective. When he chucked Alyssa under the bus it took all the pressure off him. Although, he did mess up at the end by choosing Kieran to be by his side, that was probably one of his bad moves. If he had tried to recruit Hannah it might have worked out better. I think he was great and the standout for the series. I actually rewatched it and I was watching him in the first episode; he was so on it from the start, it was so Machiavellian -he was a schemer.
What do you think you'll bring to the game?
If I’m a Faithful I think I’ll bring a lot, I think I’ll bring a lot more than being a Traitor. I’ve got a massive mouth so I can’t really keep anything a secret. If I am a Faithful I’ll bring my perception, I’ll bring an understanding of what people are thinking and lies they might be weaving without them really realising it because of my career. I ultimately find out what MPs are thinking so I feel like I could do it with the average person who hasn’t undergone that scrutiny or the media training before. I feel like I’ll bring that area of expertise to the show and hopefully, the Faithful team. I’m really pushing to be a Faithful and now they might say “Sorry mate, you’re a Traitor!”
Do you have a game plan?
My game plan, regardless of which team I'm in, is to strike up close friendships. I’d like to think I give quite a good first impression, I’m quite charismatic, and I do strike up quite intimate relationships quite quickly, so I’d like to lean into that a little bit. Try and get two, three, four people from different age groups and backgrounds and have their backs but kind of be secretly puppeteering from the background so they do the things I want them to do.
If you are a Traitor, how do you think you'll feel?
I think I'll feel quite happy. You have the power in your hands, you’re probably going to get through a few Round Tables and have a bit more fun being there for a bit longer. I just don’t think I could win with it though. I know that I would give it away, I smile so much. If I’m at the Round Table and someone accuses me of being a Traitor I’m probably going to just smile and laugh at them, rather than passionately defend myself. I think I'd be better as a Faithful.
Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?
I’ve won a few poker tournaments, so I do hope so. But no. I do this stupid thing where my lips just curl up, I can’t help it!
If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?
I think I'd be cutthroat. I’d like to think I wouldn’t factor in sentimentality, even though I said close friendships were a big part of my game plan. I’d like to think I could take out emotion. It makes me sound like a really horrible person but I’m a compassionate person. It is a game and I think I’ll be able to have the guile to recognise that. I think I’d be even more brutal than Wilfred...
If you're a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?
I guess it's tricky. I was really thinking about the first couple of episodes and how I’m going to act and behave to try and avoid getting the boot on the first episode. I think the best way is to sit in the middle in the first few episodes. If you’re absolutely certain someone is a Traitor, I think you should be loud about it. I think you should call it out straight away because if you’re right and you trust your gut feeling the odds are they can’t vote you off because they’re not going to do that, so you have protection, you basically have immunity if you figure it out immediately. But on the other hand, you don’t want to raise suspicions so it’s probably best to keep quiet for the first couple of episodes before you know for certain who is who. I guess I can lean on my understanding of facial expressions and tonalities and the way people talk and look. I’m really bigging myself up and I know I’m going to bottle it! Hopefully, I'll stick in the middle, I'm not going to be dead quiet, not going to attract any attention and say nothing, but I’m not going to say everything or give my hand away.
How good are you at spotting a liar?
I think I'm good, absolutely, yeah. I think I can spot if someone is pulling the wool over my eyes.
If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you're going to need to make it through to the final?
You’ve got to be likeable, definitely. You can't be robotic, you need to show emotion, you need to be able to plead your case when someone’s pointing the finger at you which a lot of people didn’t have last series. You’ve got to be smart in the way you play it. You can’t play it like Maddy who was just accusing Wilfred at every turn, kind of giving her cards away. Although she was right! Which gave her the protection. I think it’s about being likeable, intelligent and effective in the way you play your cards. I think passion goes really far and it’s good to show your emotion. For example, Wilfred broke down in tears a few times and I think that might have been a reason why people didn’t get suspicious.
If you win the prize money, what do you think you'll spend it on?
It's going to be a boring answer, but a deposit on a flat. The real answer, that my girlfriend doesn’t know, is I want to spend it on a Mazda MX-5, because I love cars and racing. It’s going to sound like a really nerdy answer, but the Mazda MX-5 has perfect balance, so I want to take it round tracks around Europe – that’s my dream. But the flat is my answer, and as far as my girlfriend is concerned that’s what I’m saying. I have to say the flat, my girlfriend will break up with me if I didn’t say it!
First published 02/01/2024
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