As the BBC’s gripping game show The Traitors prepares for its eagerly awaited comeback, fans are bracing themselves for another series packed with unexpected plot twists, suspicion, double-crossing and treachery. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the murder mystery programme pits ‘Faithfuls’ against ‘Traitors’ in a race to win a cash prize that could reach an eye-watering £120,000.
However, after the previous two series, sharp-eyed viewers have been left mulling over some intriguing questions as they eagerly await the dramatic new series and all the twists and turns it promises. Do the contestants get paid?
While contestants aren’t officially paid, they do need to take time off work, which results in lost earnings.
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To prevent them from suffering financially, they receive a daily allowance of around £100, according to Surrey Live. Do all the cast apply for the show?
While The Traitors does accept applications through an online process, some cast members are also scouted by the producers, reports the Express.
The show’s creators prefer genuine participants over fame-seekers to keep the show authentic. They sometimes scout people from poker and chess clubs, or fans of strategy games.
Are the Traitors really chosen by Claudia herself?
Claudia Winkleman, instantly recognisable with her quirky fingerless gloves and Fair Isle jumpers, is the commanding presence in The Traitors, playing a pivotal role in selecting who becomes a Traitor. But off-camera, it’s known that Claudia does indeed consult with the show’s production staff when making these key choices.
Is outside contact possible for them?
A firm rule on the show is complete disconnection from external communication. If the Faithful and Traitors could access mobile phones or the internet, this might give them an edge by enabling background checks on fellow participants to gain leverage.
It has gone to lengths where even TV remotes get seized from their hotel rooms.
In one instance, Claire from series one disclosed how blindfolds are used when returning cast members back to their accommodations to prevent any guesses about who the Traitors might be.
How tasty is their screen-seen breakfast?
Ivan, formerly of The Traitors, exposed a startling reality behind the scenes via social media, admitting: “I’m sorry guys, it’s time to come clean and leak something shocking about The Traitors. It pains me to tell you, but that breakfast is REALLY DRY AND NOT VERY NICE.”
Do contestants sleep within the castle walls?
Contrary to what might be implied, participants actually tend to dine in their hotel quarters prior to the day’s shooting.
Many fans have been curious about the plush living arrangements on The Traitors, with shots of contestants prepping for the night in grand four-poster beds. Yet, it has emerged that despite appearances, participants actually bed down in a hotel near Inverness Airport, merely a stone’s throw—a 45-minute ride—from Ardross Castle’s gates.
As to the ominous fate of the ‘Faithfuls’ under cover of night at the castle, the truth behind their on-screen ‘murders’ was brought to light by John McManus from series one. “Everybody goes to the castle at the same time in different jeeps and then you’re all put into separate holding rooms. It’s like a Big Brother diary room with the letter sat on the chair in front of you, and it just says, ‘The Traitors have murdered you’,” he revealed, unravelling why ousted participants are often seen looking less than bleary-eyed post-‘death’.
Surprisingly, the castle doesn’t offer free run for its residents; boundaries are drawn firmly around key spaces like the library, a cosy bar, the billiards room, and the round table room where exiles are decreed.
Meanwhile, bringing such a production to life amidst the historic backdrop of Ardross Castle presents its own set of behind-the-scenes chaos, as former contestant Claire confided. She painted a picture of a venue abuzz with activity, rife with “gaffer tape and wires” whilst thronged with a hive of “production staff, filming crew and sound crew all running around.”
And while viewers may ponder the seeming singularity of a confessional space, the reality behind the scenes might just hold more secrets.
Despite appearances, there are actually several identical confessional rooms on the set, usually four or five, to ensure the production runs without a hitch. Are the contestants allowed to indulge in smoking and drinking?
Yes, they can take breaks for cigarettes or vaping, but they’re always under observation during these times.
Alcohol is also allowed, with scenes often showing them having a drink following banishments. However, there’s a strict two-drink maximum.
Wilfred from the first UK series revealed: “They said two but they [staff] always disappeared after one. They don’t want us to mess up and get drunk and accidentally do something.”
And what about the round table banishment room?
If you’re imagining a comfortable hideaway, you’d be mistaken. It’s infamously cold, deliberately so, as the production team cranks up the air conditioning to heighten the tension.
Before someone is sent packing, contestants endure another sensory tactic: listening to ‘The Hanging Tree’ from The Hunger Games soundtrack, which intensifies the already grave atmosphere. Are contestants ever left to their own devices?
Absolutely not.
They are constantly monitored throughout their stint on the show, except when in their hotel rooms. This constant surveillance ensures that all game-related discussions are captured on camera, with security staff at the ready to prevent any underhanded strategies or private deliberations about who might be the Traitor.
Claire from the first series spilled some behind-the-scenes secrets, revealing that cast members are blindfolded and escorted back to their hotels individually to keep the Traitors’ identities under wraps. The filming schedule can be intense, with late-night shoots being a common occurrence.
Meryl Williams from season one shared that while they worked hard from Monday to Saturday, Sundays were reserved for some much-needed downtime.
Wilf, another participant from series one, weighed in on the authenticity of The Traitors. Despite the omnipresent cameras and the constructed nature of reality TV, he insisted that the interactions between the cast were genuine, saying: “We forgot about the cameras.”
He acknowledged that while there was no overt interference from producers during filming, there might have been subtle manipulations to maintain suspense and guide the game’s outcome.
As for souvenirs from the show, it seems unlikely that contestants would take home set pieces or props. However, Wilf did mention a keepsake they received – their portrait from the show’s gallery, an iconic feature for fans of the series.
Additionally, they were presented with The Traitors board game, which is quite ironic considering the intense drama they lived through on the show.