Newry residents celebrate their 'big traitor' on hit game show

When reality TV star Rachel Duffy walks down the street in her home city of Newry she often hears people roar "you big traitor".

She just laughs as she is not allowed to say anything more about The Traitors at this stage of the BBC series.

Friends, family and work colleagues have been left in the dark about the outcome of the show.

Rachel was chosen as a traitor by presenter Claudia Winkleman when the series kicked off earlier this month and has emerged as a key player.

The 42-year-old mother of three is head of communications at the charitable organisation, Clanrye Group, but she is not communicating whether or not her role as a traitor is successful.

In spite of new-found celebrity status, she has been going in and out of Newry as normal.

In a post on social media, she said she was enjoying the feedback about the show.

"I am so proud of where I'm from. I really, really am," she said.

"The local people in Newry, in County Down, and even further afield are hilarious.

"If I get one more roar out the window 'you big traitor'!"

Staff at a jewellers on High Street were delighted when she called in earlier this month.

The manager Gemma Murphy said everyone in the shop is an avid fan of the BBC series, and they even had their own Traitors-theme dinner recently.

"To have one of our own – Rachel from Newry – featured in this series is so exciting.

"Rachel is an incredible person. She's so likeable. That's why she's doing so well. Everyone is just delighted," she said.

Her work colleague at Jack Murphy Jewellers, David Challinor , agreed.

"I'm from north Wales so for me to be championing a Northern Ireland contestant is a bit against my Welsh heritage but I do prefer Rachel over any of the other contestants," he said.

At nearby Shelbourne Bakery and Restaurant, staff were pleased to see Rachel on a recent visit.

"She's a very humble person," said Cailim Boyle .

"People were asking for photos and stuff but she was very down to earth."

Also taking part in this year's series is Matthew Hyndman, who is originally from Northern Ireland, but is now living in Edinburgh.

The 35-year-old creative director went to school at Rainey Endowed in Magherafelt.

Teachers have posted their support for him on Facebook saying: "Faithful or Traitor?

"We're glued to BBC The Traitors cheering on former pupil Matthew Hyndman.

"The staff are hooked, the debates are ongoing, and we're backing Matty all the way."

Unlike Rachel, Matthew was selected as a faithful.

In Wednesday's episode, one of the faithfuls whose aim is to hunt out the traitors, Harriet, was banished from the castle after she said she thought Rachel was a traitor.

The Newry woman remains in the show and did not receive a single vote at Thursday's round table.

In a recent post on Instagram, Rachel said: "I want to say a massive thank you to absolutely everybody who's been in touch. All the messages, the phone-calls, the slagging online.

"I signed up to this to have a bit of fun and that's exactly it should be."

There are now just 10 contestants left in the show of the original 22 who began.

Contestants take part in daily tasks, which can help them build up the prize fund - which this series is up to £120,000.

The majority of the show's contestants are faithfuls, and it is their job to root out and banish the traitors at the end of each day.

While the audience at home is aware of everyone's identity, the faithfuls do not know who is a fellow faithful and who is a traitor.

Every night there is a round table, where people can air their suspicions about who they believe is a traitor, before a vote is taken to banish someone and ending their time in the game.

Traitors can watched on the BBC iPlayer.