The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman has been told to never do one thing during filming by BBC bosses ahead of the third season of the reality show.
The third series, airing from New Year’s Day, will see a new group of strangers play a game of strategy, suspicion, and backstabbing in a bid to win a cash prize of up to £120,000.
Earlier this year, millions tuned in to watch “traitor” Harry Clark outwit his fellow contestants to win £95,000 in the dramatic finale of the second series.
Claudia has become a fan favourite while presenting the BBC show, with viewers praising her witty personality during the challenges and intimidating silence during the round tables.
However, Sarah Fay, executive producer on The Traitors, said that Claudia is under strict instructions to never interfere with gameplay while the contestants are being filmed.
Speaking to The Times, she said: “That’s something which Claudia’s heavily briefed on, to the point where she’s probably scared to look at any of them. We never want to be part of the story and ultimately there’s a lot of money at stake. We like to set up the game, set up the boundaries and let them go.”
The Traitors, fronted by Claudia Winkleman, will becoming back for a third series
(Image: BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Mark Mainz)
Sarah said that Claudia is never allowed to step in during filming, even if things veer off in unforeseen directions.
“Sometimes that makes the best television,” Fay says. “You feel like you’re watching real people going through real emotions. Those round tables are so amazing to watch. Often you have people who have finished their shift, should be going home and they’re like, ‘Oh, I just want to stay and watch the round table.’ You can hear a pin drop.”
The Traitors, which is based on a Dutch format called De Verraders, involves Winkleman selecting a small number of players to be the traitors, while the rest of the players are the faithfuls and are unaware of the identity of the traitors.
While trying to avoid being eliminated, the faithfuls must figure out who is a traitor and vote them out so they can take the prize money for themselves.
In the second season, baby-faced assassin Clark walked away with £95,150 after duping his fellow contestants, some of them decades older, and stabbing his most devoted ally in the back.
Claudia Winkleman hosts The Traitors
(Image: BBC)
Speaking about host Claudia, the 23-year-old said: “Oh my gosh, she’s the most powerful woman ever. When I met her I had a chokey throat, dry mouth and furry teeth because she was so powerful.
“She looked after us all the time and she knew when to switch it on and off. One minute she’s making jokes and we’re all laughing; the next minute the Round Table starts and she puts you in the zone.”
The UK version of the show has won a host of awards including at the Bafta TV Awards in 2023 for best reality and constructed factual show.
The first two episodes of the new series will air at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on New Year’s Day, while the rest of the episodes, airing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, will begin at 9pm.