The Traitors series 4 Murdered and Banished contestants have their say as they leave the castle

The first player murdered by The Traitors was Netty.

Was the castle as you expected? How did it feel walking in for the first time?

It was everything and more. Seeing the flag flapping up in the sky, walking on the gravel and Claudia. It was all amazing. It was the best thing. Even just being in the kitchen and seeing the sweetie jars - I loved it. It was brilliant.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

Everyone was super friendly. The madness of seeing Ross was mind blowing. I just had no idea, and then I was overthinking that. I was so excited to be there, it was just a case of; grab a person, hug them and everyone was so warm and just as excited as I was which was lovely.

When you saw Ross, what went through your mind?

It didn't make any sense to me. I think in the first instant, because it has been so long since I'd seen him, I don't think I even remembered his name! I was so excited - for me it was an added bonus. I know he thought oh no, this is not going to be good for the game, but I just thought - this is amazing!

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

I got to relax being a Faithful, I did get to just be me and I think that was easier. Obviously, your time in there is more vulnerable because you can be both murdered and banished. However, I was happy to be a Faithful.

Did you have a strategy, and did you stick to it?

I think originally, I said I'll observe and see what's going on, but I absolutely did not stick to it! I was like ‘what do you think?’ to everyone and ‘this is what I think’. That's what I felt like I needed to do. I do like to talk to people, and I like to get involved.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

Bittersweet. I didn't have the time that I had hoped to have, but I think I've had the time I was meant to have. I've had the experience that it should have been for me, and I get to watch it as a viewer now, not knowing what's going to come.

Would you have done anything differently?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If I knew what was coming, I probably would have stayed a little bit quieter. But I don't know if that would have stopped me being on that short list of names anyway. So, you can't really think that way.

What will you take away from being a player on the Traitors?

It's been one of the most fun experiences and journeys. It’s a massive group of people that I would never have crossed paths with in my life, and hopefully from that some lovely friendships can grow. It's really nice to do something for myself that’s mad and exciting.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

Meeting Queen Claudia was lovely. The rowing, that was a good fun Mission, seeing 100 coffins and you don't know if you’re getting in them, what's going on, and then the madness of being caught on the anchor made me chuckle. That Mission was really good fun, and it brought us all together in that little group, but it was all awesome and amazing. Everything.

The first player banished at the round table was Judy, who revealed she was a Faithful.

How did it feel meeting all your fellow players and walking into the castle?

It was incredible. I was pinching myself and thinking, is this really happening? It was just amazing. Everyone was lovely. Such a range of people, a really different mix but what we all had in common was that we were all nervous. I thought, let's just take it step by step and see how it's going to go.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

I was going to go into it saying I want to be a Faithful, because that's just me, just how I am. But then something takes over, and you think to yourself, oh, I could be a Traitor. But I basically went in saying, I'm just going to be me. I'm not going to change.

Did you have a strategy, and did you stick to it?

No, I didn't have a strategy. I just thought there's no point in changing myself. I'm just going to play the game the best I can play it and enjoy it and have some fun, and that's what I did.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

It’s hard, but I enjoyed exactly what I did, and I was there playing the game the best I could. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough, and I knew I was going down, but I went down gracefully.

Would you have done anything differently?

No, I don't think so, but I would have loved to have stayed longer of course.

What will you take away from being a player on the Traitors?

I've had an amazing time. It's been incredible, and the friendships that we've built up is incredible. It’s a unique situation that we've all been in together and I've loved every minute of it.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

I think for me it was when I knew Sam was coming for me - my back went up as usual and I just thought, oh no, I'm not having it, so obviously I had to come for this person, which I did.

How difficult was it to keep the secret that you had a daughter in the show?

We had a bit of a strategy together, me and Roxy. I wanted to distance myself, but she kept gravitating towards me. She had my back.

Roxy’s still in the game. Are you backing her for the win?

You know what? 100%. I’m willing her on, and I know she’s got it in her to go all the way.

The second player murdered by The Traitors was Ben.

Was the castle as you expected? How did it feel walking in for the first time?

Oh, my word! It was just amazing. The castle was just as grand as you see it on television, and walking into it was just incredible. It was like walking into the television, it was unbelievable. As soon as we got in there everyone was darting off to the different rooms. It blew everybody away.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

They were all lovely. Every single one of them had been brilliant from minute one, right to the end. We all knew we were playing a game, and everybody was so supportive. Everyone was from different walks of life with different occupations, so it was so lovely to meet everybody and come together as a nice group. I had lots of great bonds with people like Hugo, Reece and Jessie. She really opened up to me all about her stammer and so I had a real connection with her.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

No! I wanted to be a Traitor from minute one. I embraced my role as a Faithful, but I tried to give out a clue for the Traitors to recruit me, because I wanted to be a Traitor so bad.

Did you have a strategy going in and did you manage stick to it?

I didn't have a strategy as such; I just wanted to embrace the whole process of everything.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I'm absolutely gutted to be leaving the game so early, because I was totally under the radar. I played the dithery old guy who sounded clueless, but I wasn’t really. My name never got brought up, until the Traitors went and murdered me.

Would you have done anything differently?

Yes, I wouldn't have said what I said about Ross to everybody, where I said “If I’m not here tomorrow, Ross has bumped me off” because that was a get out clause for the Traitors, as getting rid of me would make everyone look towards Ross.

What will you take away from being a player on the Traitors?

There were thousands of people who applied for that show. I was one of 22. That to me is an immediate win. I'm a super fan of the show and I try to watch all the series from different countries as well, so to be on it was an absolute pleasure for me. I’ve never done anything like it before in my life and I want to do it again!

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

The whole lot! The whole experience has just been amazing for me.

The second player banished was Hugo, who became the first Traitor banished at the round table.

Was the castle as you expected? How did it feel walking in for the first time?

The castle was better than I expected, and it was bigger than I expected. I was really intrigued to get to know if I'd ever see that turret, and it was fascinating. Walking into the turret for the first time was like being a star in my own production of Phantom of the Opera. I was so excited to change my black barrister's gown for a green Traitors cloak.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

My first impressions were quite scary because I chose to hug Ross, and he's an absolute man mountain. I couldn't even get my arms around him. Everyone was absolutely lovely, and it was just instant bonding. It was a bit like Freshers’ Week, which was some time ago for me, but it was completely acceptable to just talk to people and learn more about them.

Were you excited and happy to be a Traitor?

I was delighted to be a Traitor. I don’t think I would have lasted one day as a Faithful and in fact, in the turret, Rachel confirmed that she would have murdered me in an instant had I not been a Traitor.

What was your reaction to finding out there was a Secret Traitor in the game, and how did that impact your game plan as a Traitor?

At first, I was annoyed to hear there was a Secret Traitor. I do not require middle management or supervision! However, I changed my game plan slightly to hunt down the Secret Traitor, ultimately becoming a bit obsessed and taking a very high risk.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I've got mixed feelings about leaving the game. I love the game, and I think it's important that everyone plays to win. When I was there, it was such a fun time, I don’t think I fell out with anyone and I didn't do anything particularly devious or dastardly. So yeah, it was a great fun time to be there, but a good time to go. Always leave them wanting more.

How did it feel to be voted out by one of your fellow Traitors?

Traitors gonna Trait, Trait, Trait, Trait, Trait. You’ve just got to shake it off! I would have done the same thing to Stephen. It's only a game, but he’s a dude and he was the best dressed Traitor.

Did you have a strategy, and did you stick to it?

I think it was Mike Tyson who said, ‘everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face’. I did have a plan, but I didn't really stick to it, and I kept forgetting to pretend to be a Faithful which is ultimately what you must do as a Traitor. I forgot that I had a shield, because nobody put a coffin in my grave, and I just forgot to act like a Faithful would.

Do you hope that the Traitors will go on to win?

I do hope the Traitors go on to win, notwithstanding that Stephen stabbed me in the front! I think it's about time the Traitors bounce back. So yes, they've got my unqualified support.

What will you take away from your experience on the Traitors?

Being on the Traitors was the most brilliant opportunity. To meet 21 other people, who I never would have met in real life, from every single part of the UK and beyond was just incredible, and that's really what I take away. Also, it felt like being a star in my own Hollywood movie. So, I quite like that.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

The moment that Claudia gave me the Traitors cloak was incredible. You can just picture the scene - the castle looked gorgeous. I was born for that role, and I very much styled myself on Phantom of the Opera, just understated, subtle and modest.

Ross was the third player banished at the round table.

Was the castle as you expected? How did it feel walking in for the first time?

For some reason, on TV, I assumed the castle was way smaller, but once arriving and stepping out of those Defenders I saw it was huge, and more than I could ever have imagined.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

Looking around, I was really shocked at the real range of people. From ages to where people are from. Everyone was also quite attractive and, as a PT myself, I was looking around at all the other buff guys. I remember thinking to myself ‘I am going to have to eat well whilst I am here!’ I felt the pressure right from day one.

You didn’t expect to know anyone else going into the castle, except for Ellie. When you realised that you knew Netty, did you have to change your game plan slightly?

I actually recognised Netty before she noticed me, and so I was initially really excited because I thought I’ve got a secret ally and a competitive edge here. I was just telling myself ‘This is fantastic - keep it cool!’, and so I kind of muted myself. I was going to say ‘Hi, what’s your name?’ but the honest soul that Netty is just shouted my name, and I couldn’t leave my homegirl hanging. In the back of my head, I understood that it had put a mark on back and it threw my whole game plan out of the window.

How hard was it to hide your relationship with Ellie in the castle?

Hiding the relationship with Ellie was the easiest thing ever. Any time we had an interaction, I was happy to see her because I was under pressure the whole time, so Ellie was my safe space in the game. However, I thought she was a Traitor, because every time we had a moment together, she would not speak to me. I'm very proud of her though and I’m glad she’s still in there holding it down for the household.

Were you excited and happy to be a Faithful?

I was happy to be a Faithful! I think I would have enjoyed being a Traitor, because character wise, I would have blended in well with Rachel and Stephen. I would have liked the control, but I was under a lot of pressure as a Faithful, so I almost feel like I’ve had the Traitor experience with how much I was hunted down.

How does it feel to be leaving at this point?

It's bittersweet. I thought to myself, ‘would you rather stay in longer and be in the background, or would you rather burn bright and go out in a blaze of glory?’ and I genuinely feel like I did. I'm really happy with myself; I don't think I could have done any better.

What will you take away from being on the Traitors?

To have a bit more trust in myself. I remember being really flustered when initially being accused at the Round Table, and I actually like that I was able to look at the facts and make a pointed attack rather than take things personally. So, I'm really happy. I feel like I've represented myself really well.

Do you have a standout experience from the show?

My standout experience from the show would probably be making the five guys raise their hands up at the Round Table and then go, ‘one of you is a Traitor!’

Are you hoping that Ellie goes on to win?

Of course, I do! I am Ellie's biggest fan boy, so yes, I hope she goes on to win. She has all my support in the world, and she has the potential to go all the way. I just also hope she does something to redeem me - I don’t want my death to be in vain.

Maz was the third player murdered by the Traitors.

Was the castle as you expected? How did it feel walking in for the first time?

You see some things on TV, and you think ‘it can't be like that!’ and what I found was that it was even better than what I saw on the TV. You have this vision in your head, because you've been watching the programme for so long, but then to actually experience it in reality was just amazing.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

I’ve made loads of friends, and they’re still my friends. So that’s always a good sign, isn’t it?

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

I was happy to be a Faithful. I wanted to be a Traitor; I think most people would be if given the chance as you have more longevity in the game, but I was always aware that as much as I wanted to win the game, and as much as I wanted to be a Traitor, I always look at the bigger picture. I tried my best to stick to who I was, rather than to be somebody else, and if that meant that I went out first, that was fine.

We obviously saw you murdered in plain sight. What was it like seeing the Traitors for the first time? Were you suspicious of any of them?

I'd already come to the conclusion that Stephen was a Traitor, and I wasn’t massively surprised about Rachel due to a couple of things that she'd said that were making me really suspicious. But Fiona, I had no idea. It was a cold death in those cages.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I really enjoyed being there, I enjoyed people's company and I was really enjoying trying to figure out who the Traitors were. I am a tad disappointed that I didn't stay a bit longer to try and prove my suspicions as I think I had good suspicions, but I can’t fault any of my time there.

Would you have done anything differently?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I'm not that type of person that really looks back at things as I don’t think it gets you anywhere. You've got to feel the moment, and for me I did enjoy the moment and so I wouldn’t change that.

What will you take away from your time on The Traitors?

My main takeaway is just being able to experience something like this at my age. Most people don’t get the chance to ever have an experience like this, and so it’s amazing to do at 59. I've made so many friends, met so many lovely people, and have also seen Scotland for what it is, which is absolutely gorgeous. I don't have any negatives at all.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

There's many! I absolutely loved the Missions, and I loved the people. I had such a laugh with people like Judy. Honestly, just being on the show was my standout moment.

Who do you hope goes on to win?

I hope the Traitors go on to win. The reason why I say that is because I understand the pressure that they must be under and how they have to think and be on it all the time. I have every respect for whoever goes on and wins though, because everyone deserves it.

Amanda was the fourth contestant banished at the round table.

Was the castle as you expected? How did it feel walking in for the first time?

It was nothing like I expected. I thought I would be quite calm and collected, as I didn’t think it could be anywhere near as stressful as some of the situations I have been in for my previous job. As soon as I got out of the car and saw all these strangers for the first time, I was so nervous but so excited.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

Everyone was really nice. They were just fabulous, and the whole experience was like nothing I had experienced before.

You had a great friendship with Rachel in the castle, why do you think the two of you got on so well?

I had told people that part of my work now is volunteering for charity, and I help people with certain disabilities as well as dementia. Rachel connected with that straight away, because of her mum. She said she was scared of me when we first met, and then as soon as I told the story about what I do, we connected straight away.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

Yes! I think that the weight of being a Traitor is heavy. As soon as I got in the castle, I thought I could do more good as a Faithful than a Traitor.

How do you think your work background helped your game plan in the castle?

I don't think it helped me. In fact, I think it hindered me by giving me too much confidence, especially at the Round Table. That just felt like meetings I've been in for many years, so I didn't find the Round Table intimidating.

We saw you banished via the Chest of Chance – what was going through your mind when Claudia produced those chests?

I just thought I’ve got a 50/50, chance. I really did not want to go. I was sad, I was very nervous, but I thought I've got a 50/50 chance here. I was sadly up against Reece who reminded me of my brother who sadly passed away in 2011 at the age of 32. He just looked like him, so it made it more difficult because I had a really good friendship with him. He was like a little brother.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

Very sad but relieved at the same time. I was quite sad when I left, because I wanted to stay and I felt like I hadn't done everything that I wanted to do. I wanted to help more, as I’ve got this massive urge to help people.

Would you have done anything differently if given the opportunity?

I would have chosen a career to talk about that I knew about but blended itself with being a Detective Chief Inspector. Being a charity worker probably wasn't the best as it didn't show off my skillset and it made people suspicious, which made them doubt what I was saying.

What will you take away from your time on The Traitors?

The friendships that I've made. I've made friends for life, and what an amazing group of people. It was absolutely brilliant.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

Yes, Rachel getting 10 skulls in the Mission. When she put that last one on, I just screamed. And because it was Rachel that did it for me. Forget about the fact that she was a Traitor as I didn’t know that; she was just my bestie in the castle, and she had my back.

Who do you hope goes on to take the win?

I hope the Traitors go on to take the win. I'll tell you why, because if you play the game as a Traitor, the weight on your shoulders is absolutely massive. So, to get through to the end, and then win is a master class and would make for a deserving winner or winners. I am a big sports person, and it doesn't matter how you do as long as you do your best and play your best game.

Reece was the fourth contestant murdered by the Traitors.

Was the castle as you expected, and how did it feel walking in for the first time?

So overwhelmingly big, and I know that sounds so flamboyant and exaggerated, but what you see on TV is very much what you see there. It was like a movie, and as soon as you saw it, everything instantly became real.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

The first person I remember seeing is Stephen. Just the elegance of that man is through the roof. I remember his first day outfit was like the denim on denim, and we were just thinking, ‘wow, he is so put together!’ In my train carriage was Hugo, Rachel and Fiona so they were naturally the people I stuck with the most because they were my day ones. The fact that they were all Traitors didn’t work very well for me, did it? We should have just turned the train around!

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

It’s so hard to say because going into it I really wanted to be a Traitor, but having done the experience now, I'm very glad I wasn’t. Given that my face very clearly can’t lie, I don’t think I would have done that well and so I was very happy that I was a Faithful, purely because I wanted to be unapologetically me. I didn’t anticipate the pressure on your shoulders of being a Faithful though. I thought to myself ‘well I don’t have to lie’ but I didn’t think about being accused and having no way around it because my only defence as a Faithful was to say ‘I’ve not done that’.

Did you have a strategy going in? Do you think that you stuck to it?

It actually dawned on me on the first night that ‘I’m here but I don't have a plan, and I don't know what I'm doing’. I was thrown in the deep end and didn't know how to swim, but again, I think that probably is down to the fact that I wanted to be myself. I didn't want to go in there and have this extravagant plan of lying or exaggerating or hiding - I just wanted to be me and see how far that got me.

There was a lot of suspicion around you throughout the game. Why do you think that was?

I can be very defensive, so when people pointed a finger at me, if it's something that I haven’t done, I've always said; ‘I don't need to prove it to you, because I've just not done it!’. I'm not over proving anything and I'm never going to bend my back for something that's not worth it if I know I’m innocent. So, when people were almost pushing the dagger in and asking and asking, I probably rolled over a little too quickly.

You also decided to put yourself up for murder in the Mission. Why was that?

I had flashbacks to the first Mission with the boats, and having to fill somebody else's grave with a coffin, and then having to explain to them later why you'd done it. I would rather have had the satisfaction of doing it to myself, than someone else doing it. At that point in the game, I was sure that someone would have done it to me if I didn’t, so I sacrificed myself.

You had a close brush with murder the night before, with the Chest of Chance. How did that feel?

It was hard because it hadn't happened before and you can't really prepare for it. In my head, I was more uncomfortable with it being against Amanda because I was so sure that Amanda was a Faithful and I was also so close to her. She was such a wonderful person, so to have to do that with her was awful because I knew one of us was going to get hurt.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

On reflection, the experience was the absolute best thing I've ever done. But come the end of it, I felt like people didn’t want to believe me so what more could I do? I trust the people left in the game will carry whatever words I left with wisdom and use it to find the Traitors. I think I very much bowed out when I needed to.

Would you do anything differently?

I’m going to say no, because everything I did in the moment was what I thought was right. I just wish people believed me.

What will you take away from your time on The Traitors?

The people. The people are absolutely amazing and everybody associated with the programme were just incredible. The experience is something I will never ever forget.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

It’s probably the cage Misson. At the time, I couldn’t think of anything worse than being in this cage because it was so small and wet and cold but looking around, you just saw four lads crouched in these cages and it was so funny. That will be something I will never forget.

Do you hope the Faithfuls go on to take the win?

Absolutely, and I trust the Faithfuls left in the game. There are certain people in there that have certain skills that will absolutely go all the way.

Fiona was the fifth player banished at the round table and the second Traitor banished.

Was the castle as you expected, and how did it feel walking in for the first time?

Oh, it was wonderful. We were all in the car together and I recall being driven down and pulling up outside and just looking at this iconic building. Knowing that you were now going to be a part of The Traitors, I was absolutely ecstatic. I can't begin to describe to you how elated and thrilled I was to be there.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

It's hard to build first impressions, because we were all on our very best behaviour. I was just looking to see if there was anybody there that I had an immediate connection with, which was everybody really! You find yourself trying to find out as much as you can about people and as quickly as you can.

How did it feel to find out that you were the show's first ever Secret Traitor, and what was it like having all that power?

Finding out I had the red cloak was something else. It was so magical. It's like waking up on Christmas morning and everything you've written on your Christmas list is there. It was wonderful. But also, I can remember when I took the oath and I had this cloak, just wanting to put it on straight away and let the killing begin. The power that came with it, the fact that the Traitors, the green cloaks, didn't know who I was, but I knew them, that immense power was quite intimidating. I also knew there was a threat with that too, as they were having an opportunity to build allegiances, whereas I was very much on my own, but I wasn't afraid of that. I'm used to making my own decisions anyway, rightly or wrongly.

You looked like you were enjoying it though, was that the case?

I loved every single minute of it. I’m not going to lie to you, there wasn't a moment in the castle playing this game where I wasn't on cloud nine.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I wasn't delighted to be leaving, but I was really the master of my own downfall because I needed to confront Rachel just to be sure in my own mind that she was a team player and not playing singularly. The action I took was to get it all out in the open and I felt at the time it was my only chance as Rachel was such a formidable player and I didn’t think I’d have another opportunity to put her name to the group as a potential Traitor.

As part of that bang, we saw you turn on your fellow Traitor, Rachel, tell me more about your reasoning behind that?

It was quite simple, really. I suspected that when there was the end game, that I would be thrown under the bus, not by Stephen, I have to say, but by Rachel. Rachel is phenomenal but she started playing this game the minute she was selected. She was amazing, absolutely amazing. I've got so much respect for that woman. But I felt that when somebody mentioned Stephen, she didn’t challenge their decision, whereas on one occasion when Rachel's name had come up, I said, ‘No, I don't think it's Rachel’, and I'd said it as well with Stephen. So straight away I thought, she's a lone wolf here, and if she's going to get rid of somebody from the turret, it will be me.

It was quite intense in the turret towards the end. How was that?

I wasn't nervous going into the turret. I wanted to have a bit of a joke with Rachel, but Rachel was so intense when I went in, there was just this immense look of ‘right, you've had it now, Mrs!’ So the only thing I could do in the turret was to say, ‘Well, come on then, bring the game on!’ because there was only ever going to be two outcomes, and that was I was going to go, or she was going to go, and either way it was going to happen. So it was out of my hands, and I was quite happy to go along with the flow.

Would you have done anything differently during your time there?

No, I had an absolute ball. Yes, it would have been lovely to have won, but it wasn't going to happen. I wasn't fetching money to the table. That's why Ben had to go, because he wasn't fetching money to the table.

What will you take away from being a player on the Traitors?

First of all, there are 21 people that I've connected with, and I consider to be the most wonderful people that I would never have had the opportunity to meet. We've got a very active WhatsApp group, and we all know we’ll be there for one another, each and every one of us. So that's one of the best things for me to have had the opportunity to connect with these amazing people.

Do you have a standout highlight from your experience?

Well, it's got to be the Secret Traitor. I mean, I'm a woman of a certain age now. I don't wear TENA pads, but that night, I thought I need a TENA! I was just so excited. It has been just brilliant being on this programme, and I'd love for more people to do it.

Do you hope that your fellow Traitors go on to take the win?

I sincerely hope they do, but there are also other formidable players there that I'm not prepared to write off. I think Matt is formidable, he’s very clever! And who couldn't love James? He’s a 100 mile an hour and the first time we met, he was just throwing everybody's name around and caused so much confusion, it was hilarious. But yeah, I would love for Stephen and Rachel to be a part of the final.

What has the reaction been like back in Wales?

I've gone global in Swansea, my boss told me. The reaction has been brilliant. I was up watching Swansea City Football team play Millwall. I'm now an official, YJB which means ‘You Jack Bastard’, and that's a very endearing term if you’re a football fan. So yes, it's been great. It's just lovely when you see children's faces and they recognise you, because this is proper family entertainment. There's nothing smutty, and no naughtiness, except for the murdering!

Did your family and friends suspect that you were the Secret Traitor?

Yes, but my lips were sealed.

Harriet was the sixth player banished at the round table.

How did it feel walking into the castle for the first time?

It was very surreal. Of course. I've watched the show, I've watched every series more than once and it felt so familiar, yet so alien. Within a few days it felt completely normal to be there, it was amazing actually how fast the routine felt normal.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

I did gravitate very fast towards Rachel, we're not that dissimilar in age, we’ve both got kids – we had a lot in common. She likes reading - I thought she'd actually caught me out because she was talking about her love of psychological thrillers at one point! It's amazing how quickly you find people to talk to and due to the vast number of applicants I figured there was going to be something fascinating about every single person there.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

I didn't think I would be but yes, I was. I would have taken the Traitor role and played it with great relish, but there is something lovely about having been able to discover how important my integrity is to me and to have upheld that integrity throughout and I would not have had that opportunity as a Traitor.

Did you have a strategy, and did you stick to it?

My game plan blew up but it is what they say it is… ‘Everyone's got a plan until someone punches them in the face’. The idea was to go in as the nice lady with the jumper who was not a published author. Not too much on anyone's radar - the invisibility cloak of the middle-aged woman and just try and keep my head down and watch what was going on.

Unfortunately, because of Hugo, I was triggered into action there. I was then able to merge back relatively easily from that which surprised me because people weren't being observant enough. They should have killed me when they had the chance. So, until the Smoke and Mirrors Mission, I think it was working very well, but it was hard to allow myself to be underestimated consistently. I didn't really enjoy that even though I could see that it served a strategic aim.

I think that with Smoke and Mirrors, it was just too irresistible an opportunity to let myself be myself properly and to stop letting anyone play me for a fool.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

On the one hand, I’m gutted not to have got further. I haven't won therefore I've lost so it's hard not to see it that way, but on the other hand, I could not have asked for more action! I was given some opportunities there, I created other opportunities for myself and as I said, Faithfuls have very little control. In all of that I managed to find a way of fighting as myself and leaving on my own terms and I really don't think many other people who've been through the game can say that. If I were to swap with being there in the final but being duped, I'd take my short-lived game any day.

Your monologue getting Hugo out was incredible, how did it feel going up against another barrister as a barrister yourself?

It was a very exhilarating moment and something I realised in retrospect was the fact that I was fighting for my 25-year-old self who was a pupil back in the 90s dealing with male barristers of a certain age, some of whom were considerably less well behaved than Hugo. I think that I was taking one for the team and driving something I felt needed to be driven, and even though I knew I was putting a target on my back by acting in that way, I knew that it was the right thing to do.

Watching back on the show, what was it like to see Rachel and Stephen so rattled?

Brilliant, I'll be honest, not that I am one to wish pain on a fellow human being but just as it was delighting to see their reaction when they discovered that there was a Secret Traitor and they weren't going to have everything completely their own way, to see them again in a state of confusion, however temporary was extremely pleasing.

Your questions were incredibly astute, how did you feel standing there and about the responses you got from them?

I was terrified. I was terrified and I was angry; it was a combination of both emotions. I had to hold the questions in my head, so I was concerned about whether I'd be able to deliver them in a clear, articulate way and I was more focused on remembering them as I’d already decided that whatever they said to me was meaningless because they had the power to lie.

In my mind this was an exercise in sharing my hand rather than paying any attention to what they said. I was impressed when they said ‘take her’ about the Rachel question. I felt that that was very smart because it did get into my head. You can imagine having made such a grand stand against Rachel that of course afterwards I thought my God, I hope I got this right because I could so easily have been so hugely mistaken.

You decided to tell your fellow players at breakfast about being an author and a barrister, what was your reasoning for disclosing that then?

I didn't want the Traitors to have a single piece of information on me that I hadn't shared with my fellow Faithfuls. You have very little control in that environment as a Faithful and I was bloody well going to control my own narrative and not give that to anybody else. People could choose not to believe me, but I was not going to leave anyone the opportunity to spread lies about me before I had told the truth.

You chose to put your neck on the line to hopefully send the Faithfuls on the right track. Was that a spontaneous decision?

Yes, it was halfway through after Matt made his accusation against me and I started to defend myself with some force. I was really going to give it a go and then I thought; you know what? I don't want to do this. It was the first time I'd been under suspicion in two weeks, and I didn't like the feeling. I was a very useful distraction for the Traitors, so I would be kept in this state of having my wings pulled off. It just became clear that the kamikaze departure was the way to do it. Suddenly all the tension left me, and it was a relief after so much high emotion.

Would you have done anything differently?

I would have tried to have been less emotional, but it’s almost impossible. I did the best I could with what I had; other people might have done a better job, strategically other people might have lasted longer but I'm still very proud of myself. I demonstrated integrity and as it turned out that's something that's really important to me.

What will you take away from being a player on the Traitors?

I am capable of more than perhaps I think I am and that I need to trust my intuition because my God my intuition was on the money.

Did you have a standout highlight of the experience?

The takedown of Hugo! Me with my arms in the air - oh it was glorious. Such a good feeling.

Adam was the fifth contestant murdered by the Traitors.

Was the castle as you expected, and how did it feel walking in for the first time?

Haunted! No, it was beautiful. I was mesmerised at how it shines in the sun, it’s brilliant.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

I thought that everyone was genuine and nice. When we all met for the first time, I thought ‘Wow there's some personalities in here!’ I am normally very buzzy, and I want to be centre of attention and the life of the party, but I knew that coming into the castle, that was not going to work. I had to go below the radar, otherwise I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I did.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

No. My game plan was to be a Traitor, because in playing that role I can create a story and every inch of that story’s details in my brain and that would be easier for me. It might sound funny but it's easier for me to lie than it is for me to tell the truth. It’s how my brain works. If I tell a lie, my brain has already registered it and created a fantasy story of it, and it just flows.

The Traitors said you were a threat because they struggled to read you. Was that part of your game plan going in?

Loads of mediums in the past have tried to read me and they can't read me. I've got one of those personalities where you don't know whether I'm joking, so I knew that was going to help. I obviously didn't want people to know and suss me out, so I sort of flew under the radar.

How did you feel about James taking the shield? Do you think that affected your game?

That's 100% the reason why I got murdered. I knew it was James, he didn’t even have to tell me. I had the hump with him most of that day which probably made it very obvious that I didn’t have the shield.

Do you think that your ghost hunting skills helped you throughout the process?

When I go out and hunt, you have to understand the environment and have patience. You have to get people to trust you in the game and that’s the same with spirits. A spirit has to trust you before it opens up, so some of the skills did help, but a lot of it was being street smart like being able to read people and understand what they're thinking before they're thinking it.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I feel like I was done at that particular time. I didn't get any heat, really, but it was so exhausting trying to understand and read people and every little movement. To be honest, I was in my own little world most of the time and people maybe thought I wasn’t getting very much but it was all going in. When Harriet left, I did start opening up more.

What will you take away from your time on The Traitors?

It was a great experience, and I actually loved every minute of it. The players, especially my day ones - Sam, Amanda, Jessie, we all stuck together pretty much most of the way through. It was a fantastic time.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

When I broke the shield! The first mission was also funny as we were sitting there paddling for ages, not going anywhere and I had left the anchor on by accident.

Sam was the seventh contestant banished at the round table.

Was the castle as you expected, and how did it feel walking in for the first time?

It was totally surreal walking in for the first time! It’s just a stunning building, with sun kissed walls, perfect gravel, and you just have this pinch me moment. I was just so excited.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

When you first get out of the car and you meet everyone, you know you're there to play a game, and you know that you're going to have to be around some really intelligent people, so I actually felt a bit intimidated straight away. At the same time, everyone was lovely and before that first Round Table when Claudia selects her Traitors, it’s like being at a wedding where everyone knows the couple getting married, but no one knows each other. It’s a really nice environment to be in, and you're all kind of making friends, but then that immediately changes.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

No. I went in that castle to be a Traitor, but looking back I probably over sold myself to Claudia. I really, really wanted to be a Traitor, that's why I went into the game.

You constantly had a bit of heat on you at the Round Table. Why do you think that was?

I think it's because the way I started the game was very much on the front foot, and I got it so wrong. Watching it back, you do go ‘Ahh right, that does look quite suspicious!’ and unfortunately for me, not only did I get Judy wrong, but I also got Amanda wrong, and for everyone else around that table, it looks like I've almost got rid of two fellow Faithfuls and I am a Traitor. I also think the Traitors did a really good job at just constantly keeping me on the backburner. They didn't always go fully for me, but they were just very careful about constantly bringing me up when they needed to.

It was Matty that said you were one of only three people that voted out all of the Traitors so far. Had you realised that at the time?

Yeah – I mean to be honest, I was always going to vote for Hugo, the breakfast meltdown just cemented it for me. And then Fiona's banishment came up quite quickly for me, but the way that she kind of crumbled at the Round Table under questioning made me think that was really suspicious. What that whole thing taught me is how quickly everything can shift. You can go into a Round Table thinking you are toast here, and then someone else's name comes up and you only get one vote and you’re back in the mix again.

You were voted the most arrogant in the Mission. Do you think that was because you were so sure of those first couple of people?

Yeah, it's one of those things where I am a confident person, but in that environment, I was really conscious of not letting myself get too emotionally invested in it, and what that came across as was arrogant, or overconfident. Whereas in my brain, I was anxious, I was guessing, I was overthinking, I was double checking.

You said you went into self-preservation mode when you chose to get that shield in the final game. What were your reasons behind that, and do you think that ultimately led to your downfall?

That definitely led to my downfall, and I really thought going into that game that I could just handle everything and stay composed. I remember at that time being overwhelmed and still being frustrated by the previous challenge where we as a team sacrificed shields to build up the prize pot and the others didn't. I thought, ‘Well, everyone's prioritised themselves there so I need to prioritise myself now!’ but I wish I could have just had a word with myself in that cabin in the woods and just took a minute to breathe. I hadn’t had protection yet and I just wanted to protect myself, but I know for everyone else that it did look weird.

Did you have a strategy going in? Do you think that you stuck to it?

I had a strategy as a Traitor, and I don't think they're too dissimilar because you have to act like you're Faithful if you're a Traitor anyway. If my suspicions on Judy weren't so strong and everyone else's suspicions on Judy weren't so strong, I just wonder how the game would have played out, and I wonder whether if I just took a back seat at that first Round Table, would everything else have happened?

Would you have done anything differently?

I trusted my gut, and with Judy I thought ‘Well I think this, and 15 other people think this’, so when she said Faithful, it just shook me and made me go, ‘Oh, I was so wrong. But if my gut is so sure and I'm so wrong, where does that leave me in the game?’

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I think by that point, after however many Round Tables of just getting grilled, you get to a stage where you know your time's up. You start walking around the castle into different rooms of people and suddenly their conversation stops and you think ‘Well, that was definitely about me!’ I remember thinking the writing was on the wall for me here.

There's only so long you can fight for, and I think I swerved it a few times. I remember Matt turning to me on one of the Round Tables and asking how I have dodged so much heat. I'm so happy I did it and I'm so happy I stayed in as long as I did, but I think it was my time to leave.

What will you take away from your time on The Traitors?

I will take away all the amazing memories from just being there. The Missions were real light relief. The one where we did the recreation of the paintings, I genuinely was crying with laughter that day watching Jack get milked by Faraaz and Hugo the barrister mooing on the grass, it was surreal and hilarious. I genuinely made connections with people and friendships which are going to last afterwards.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

My highlight has to be the paintings Mission. Just mooing on the grass, watching Jack get milked - and it’s just that one time where you don't really care about who is a Faithful or a Traitor. It was such a surreal experience and a great laugh.

Jessie was the sixth player murdered by the Traitors.

How did it feel when you first arrived at the castle?

I was on edge that I still might not make it through the door into the castle when I first arrived, and I couldn't properly take it in! Then when I was in it, I was like, right, I'm in it now, let’s go!

What did you make of your fellow players?

All of them were really nice. I felt a bit out of my depth, because I was around really big characters and I'm just a little orange haired girl! I was around barristers, lawyers, detectives but because all of them were just really nice, it wasn't long until I’d warmed to everyone and felt comfortable. I just couldn’t believe I was there. I was like, what am I doing in The Highlands, in this iconic castle?! I’m meant to be at work cutting hair.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

It would have been lovely to win but I feel I’ve achieved a bigger goal. My aim was to raise awareness of stammering, which I hope I did. I did give it my all in in the game, and I probably couldn't have done much more. I am gutted to go but I’m also leaving with my head held high and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.

You've been praised for being so open about your stammer and for smashing misconceptions by going in there really confidently and being yourself. How does it feel seeing that praise online?

It is really nice, just because I know what it is like to live with it. To have people reach out who have stammers, and let me know how it's helped them has been lovely. To get that love and that feedback; it's just really nice. That’s a win to me. I've done it!

Back to the game, you were spot on with saying Stephen is a Traitor. What made you so convinced?

He and I really got on, but something in him changed. A little bit. I just felt like he did look like he was on edge quite a lot. I really love him, we do get on famously, and I knew that if he wasn't there, I wouldn’t laugh as much, but I couldn’t deny the clues really. I couldn’t get past the moment of Ben saying ‘if I don't come back, then it's Ross’ and Stephen was in that room! I really trusted James and Ellie, so that kind of put them out of my suspicions. And then he was in one of the cages and came back. I just picked up on a few things…

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

I really hoped I would be picked as a Traitor, but once I hadn't been picked, I was a bit relieved. I don’t think that would have been the role for me. Traitor hunter was more for me!

Did you enjoy the Missions? And did you have a favourite one?

I loved the mirror one, because me, Jack, James and Adam were all in a team. It was just nice, because it just got us out of the heat of what was going on in the castle. We just had a right laugh. I also loved getting Jack out of his cage. That was so good, because I didn't think I’d manage it but I just went for it, and I was like, oh my God I've done it!

Do you have a standout highlight of the entire experience?

I am happy that I ended on a high going all out on Stephen. I also love who I've met, the friendships made are great, we’ve just all made really good bonds, and I love that. I love that I was able to tell people my name, because I was really scared about that, and then I did it and I was really pleased.

Ellie was the eighth player banished at the round table.

How did it feel walking into the castle for the first time?

It was amazing, just like being inside your TV! It was so exciting to see it and to run around to all the rooms that you recognise so well from all the previous series. I was just thrilled to be there.

What were your first impressions of your fellow players? Aside from the one you secretly know very well of course!

It was such a diverse set of people. It was really interesting trying to suss people out immediately.

In that very first moment arriving at the castle, Netty spotted Ross and revealed she knew him. What was going through your mind in that moment?

I didn't actually see that happen! Later that day Ross was saying, not just to me, but to other people, ‘oh, my friend is here, you know, from a few years ago.’ My mind was just racing and wondering what was going to happen to our game plan. All I could think was just roll with the punches. This is a game full of surprises, so we're just going to have to work this one through. It definitely felt like a bad omen for us.

How hard was it to hide your relationship in the castle?

Ultimately, it was as easy as it could have been for me, because I don't think anyone would have expected a three-way connection. I think people are used to the idea of pairs potentially being in there, but not three people being connected to each other. I was still incredibly nervous that somehow people would guess because, to me, it was so obvious. Thankfully it wasn’t to anyone else.

That was probably quite a good distraction, in a way, Netty being so open greeting Ross?

Absolutely, it was great for covering up mine and Ross’s relationship but unfortunately, it also meant that our strategy as a pair was completely thrown out of the window. And we didn't have time to ever talk that through in private or adapt our strategy.

Did you always want to keep your relationship a secret?

Yes, definitely. I think what we see in this game is that when someone reveals that they've lied or omitted something to the other players that's immediately assumed to be treacherous and it can all fall apart if you reveal you've hidden something. Equally if you’re up front that your kind of walking in with an ally from the start, that can be viewed suspiciously. So, I was definitely keen to keep it under wraps, whatever the case.

You were described as quite quiet around the round table. Was that part of your strategy going in?

I did have a strategy to go in as a more quiet player, stay under the surface, not get picked up, because we know that those players who are loud in the beginning often get voted out. Strategy did combine with nerves so I think I got extra quiet.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

Oh, it's really sad to have got so far but not quite to the end. I gave it my best shot, and I hope Ross is proud of me. I was sad to go, but happy to go back home to Ross.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

I was in the end. Even though I thought I wanted to be a Traitor, what I understood as soon as the game started was that it would have been a terrible idea for me. I already felt the pressure in the game, and adding being a Traitor might have been too much. It was much more relaxing to be a Faithful and to just have a really simple mission to root out the Traitors.

Did you enjoy the Missions? And did you have a favourite?

I enjoyed the Missions. I absolutely loved the portraits Mission. It was hilarious. I think the toughest one was when we were running up the hill. I'm not very sporty and trying to get up and down that hill was really tough work. I loved the day we were seeking out those skulls. I was really pleased to have a finding mission. I've always been really good at Where's Wally and at spotting things, so even though I'm not the fastest person, I can spot things really well. I was able to spot all ten skulls in one round and take them all back. That felt great.

Matthew was the ninth player banished at the round table

Was the castle as you expected, and how did it feel walking in for the first time?

It was as I expected, but then immediately, Netty jumped on Ross and I was right next to them, and it really shook me up. You’re travelling in the car, and then you get out of the car, and I've never felt more of a pressure to make a first good impression because you need people to like you in the game, and then that happens and I was just like, ‘Wow. It’s started - the game is on!’ I just didn’t believe it. What are the chances?

What were your first impressions of your fellow players?

Everyone was just so nice. People think the aim of the game is to find the Traitors, but actually my game was to stay in as long as I possibly could. So, I was very focused on building relationships naturally, the way I would anyway without being too concerned about whether I was making friends with a Traitor or not.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

No, I was gutted, but I think the overwhelming feeling was okay, because although I really, really wanted to be a Traitor, and I would have owned it, there was a real sense of relief. But then obviously, I still went big on my play to try and become a Traitor. 

What was your thought process behind asking the Traitors to recruit you?

I just wanted to be a Traitor! I was also so certain that I was going to be murdered. So, as things played out and I got voted the fairest, and then got the power to meet the Traitors, I then thought I was really at risk.

Do you think that talking to the Traitors helped you figure out who they may be?

No, not at all - I just saw that as an opportunity to give myself at least two more days in the game. People don't get how hard it is. The Traitors is a murder mystery, and there's little breadcrumbs being left all the time. 

Would you have asked them anything differently?

I had considered asking them who they were going to recruit next instead and then created a deal. You can ask the Traitors questions, but they can lie. So, I was raking my brain, like, there must be an answer here. It was like a cryptic crossword, but there has to be a solution to this problem. So, I thought that if I ask them who they're going to recruit next, then I can say, well that person is currently a Faithful, and then when you recruit them, I'll know, and then I can bring that information to the Round Table and get them banished.

If you were successfully recruited, would you have worked in a team with Rachel and Stephen, or do you think you'd have thrown them under the bus?

Now that I know who it is, I don't know. I had a plan in place that if I got recruited, I would have come down to breakfast and then told everyone that I was sitting on some information, and that the Traitors had told me they were going to recruit Rachel next, as I would have known Rachel was a Traitor, and it would have had to have been Rachel. But I loved Rachel and Stephen. Although; I also love Jessie, and I would have loved to have won as a Faithful with Jessie. I didn't ask them to murder Jessie, I asked, ‘who are you going to murder next and why?’ and they said Jessie, so that was really hard, but you have to play the game.

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I'm really proud of how I got on, to be honest. I wouldn't have entered it if I didn't think that I could win it, and I was playing to win, so it’s obviously disappointing because I was so close.

Would you have done anything differently?

Yes, there are a few mistakes that I made near the end, particularly at the final Round Table. I should have gone all guns blazing against Stephen. My rationale was good, but it was the wrong decision in the end. I understood that by the Traitors giving James the dagger, they would have to vote for me because of the numbers for it to work, and my initial instinct was I can't go after Stephen, because then he will definitely vote for me, and then I'm gone. However, on reflection, he was always going to vote for me because he was a Traitor, and I thought he was a Traitor.

Then the other thing that I should have done is that if someone doesn't like me, I'm not going to beg them to be my friend, but in the game of the Traitors you have to kind of do that. James had obviously suspected me since day one, so when he got the dagger he was always going to vote for me, so I should have spoken to him and desperately tried to get to him and say, ‘Look, Stephen is a Traitor, he's going to vote for me tonight. Please just listen to me on this one occasion, and if I'm wrong, then banish me the next night,’ I should have tried to convince James, but I just didn't even bother trying.

What will you take away from your time on The Traitors?

I genuinely have made some really close friends, Me, Rachel and Harriet have formed this lovely group and we're in a WhatsApp group together called ‘The Confessional’. Me and Rachel, because we're from the same place, and me and Stephen, because we've had a lot of the same experiences, so that's really special! I keep laughing because how wild is it that it was through playing the Traitors that we became friends. It's really mad.

Do you have a standout highlight of the experience?

The confessional, 100%! And the final Round Table. I loved the Round Tables, it was just high drama and I’m pleased I went out the way I did.

Roxy was the seventh player murdered by the Traitors

Was the castle as you expected, and how did it feel walking in for the first time?

Nothing is as expected. I think when we first saw it, it didn't even feel real. It was a bit of a strange moment, but became home quite quickly. 

What were your first impressions of your fellow players? 

I always like everyone, so I thought they were all great! I could really feel James's energy, Harriet seemed so sharp right from the train station platform, and I thought she’s going to know that me and mum are mother and daughter straight away.

How was it sharing the castle with your mum and how hard was it to hide that relationship? 

To do it with your mum is just the experience times a hundred, it was so, so nice. I think calling her mum that early in the Mission was not the best move from me. I did fear it would happen because that was the hardest thing, not being able to call her mum. It was just so special doing it with her, and so when she left, that was a bit sad.

Was there a bit of competition before going in about who might go the furthest?

There was! I was like, Mum, I'm sorry, but I will go further. We both had already said if one of us had to murder the other, or go at a different point, we would just roll with it and play the game.

Were you happy to be a Faithful?

I went in there wanting to be a Traitor, but when I was picked to be Faithful I actually thought it was so much nicer and I felt relieved. I think my mind changed as soon as I became a Faithful. 

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

To be honest, I'm kind of happy, because it only gets so much harder. I think I've got as far as I could. I would have loved to have got to the final, but it was just always my aim to get as far as possible, so I’m really proud.

Unfortunately, we saw you murdered by the Traitors. If you had been banished, would you have told your fellow players about your relationship with your mum?

Yes, to have that moment and see the shock on their faces would have been great, 100%. I was happy because I had managed to get one over on the Traitors as they hadn’t established and figured out that relationship.  

Did you consider telling them throughout the game after your mum left?

No, no, no, for sure. Especially because after Mum went, she was confirmed a Faithful, so they would have definitely thought the other one has got to be a Traitor. I just decided that under no circumstances will I tell them. Even if I was a Traitor, I wouldn't have told the other Traitors. 

How did you find the Missions? Would you say you're a bit of a thrill seeker?

Yeah, I loved them. Honestly, people go on the show for all sorts of reasons, but I was the most excited for the Missions. I am a thrill seeker, but also so competitive, so I had to do the best possible. I loved the second one where we were running through the trees, finding the money, and I loved the spinning carousel at the end! 

You made a few comments about the food in the castle. What was your favourite meal?

The salmon at breakfast was stunning, and I loved the lasagne. It's funny, because we'd been talking about different food all day, and then suddenly we mentioned lasagne, and it was there, so that was really nice. The lamb shank at the beginning with gravy was a northerner's dream.

Would you have done anything differently?

No to be honest, because I was just my full self. I feel like maybe I could have got a little bit further if I was a bit wiser to the Traitors, but I'm really happy with how I was, because I wouldn't want to change me.

What will you take away from your time on The Traitors? 

It was just so good, the whole experience! Meeting all these people that you may never have crossed paths with in life and just doing it with mum as well. That's like an extra experience. The whole thing still blows my mind.

Do you have a standout experience from the show?

Probably just all the Missions and the Round Tables and just being quite fiery and cringy!