The Celebrity Traitors series 2 Murdered and Banished contestants have their say as they leave the castle

Amol Rajan was the first Faithful murdered by the Traitors.

How has your time been on The Celebrity Traitors?

I think it's much bigger than I expected. It's just an absolutely unforgettable ride of a lifetime. And honestly, there's kind of an unhappy contrast right now, because I'm sort of grieving what might have been. In time I know that I'll come to look on this as honestly one of the greatest privileges of my life. In fact, I already do. What an amazing thing to do, and it was bigger, it was bolder, it was braver, it was brighter than it looks on TV. And to have been sort of in it when it's a show and a game I love so much is just a blessing, really.

To go back to the start, what did you make of your fellow players?

When the names were announced, there were a couple of names I knew less of. I thought I knew less about King Kenny, for instance, but then I realised that actually I've seen thousands of his videos because I spend a lot of time on YouTube and I'm really into boxing. In fact, I kind of felt with every single one of them, that whilst I may be aware of them, I really didn't know them at all, so I was really able to approach getting to know them in the moment. If you only know the surface level about someone, then you can make a bunch of assumptions that come with that.

It just happens to be the case that I'm the only journalist here, and journalists are meant to be people who ask all the good questions. I was a little self-conscious about whether I should try and play that up to my advantage or whether that might arouse suspicion. How you negotiate your reputation is one of the interesting challenges in the celebrity version of the show. In terms of the cast overall, I thought it was a wonderful, really clever mix of people.

How did it feel being sat there for the Traitors pick?

Even if you're someone who works in TV and is on TV, there is still something amazing about actually being in the place that you see on TV! You see it so many times, and the kind of theatrical energy and character of that Round Table itself. I know it's such an overused word, but it is iconic. To actually be there, taking in that this is a real place, and I'm actually here – well, it's spine tingling. Then the TV thoughts are put aside and very quickly it's game time.

Did you enjoy the Mission?

What an experience! When else are you going to do that? If my 21-year-old self was told that I was going to be stood in a wetsuit, with new walking boots, on a beach in front of a burning shipwreck, next to Jerry Hall, telling me she was about to wield a crowbar and that she was an expert in it, I’d have said your life has turned out pretty damn well! I loved it, unconditionally, like absolutely a 100% fantastic experience, thrilling, and I just wish I could do it again and lots of times.

Let’s talk about your face to face murder and the buildup in the chapel….

Last year I went to a pilgrimage in India for a BBC One documentary, travelling to the River Ganges. It’s called the Kumbh Mela, and it's just once every 12 years. It's the biggest religious gathering in the world, and it's about the alignment of Jupiter, the Moon, the Earth, and the Sun. Millions of people attend and there is chanting, smoke, rituals, people dressed in special garments, and it felt very heightened. I haven't felt that same intensity until last night in the chapel. Last night in the chapel, every sensation was turned up to the absolute max.

I'd been on this massive roller coaster of thinking that I was out, then thinking I was reprieved, then thinking, oh wait a second, this could get complicated. Walking into that beautiful chapel I saw one of the greatest comedians of his generation, in James Acaster, a legend, wonderful human being who has become my mate, and I'm thinking, what are you doing here, mate? Are you a Traitor? It suddenly dawned on me that there were a couple of open coffins, and he said, "I'm not a Traitor. And there are two coffins up there,” and I thought, okay, here we go.

Did you have any idea who the Traitors were?

No, I can’t say I did. Not with Maya anyway. I mean, it all makes sense in hindsight. And Richard straight up told us! I think the Faithful have got a real challenge now with Acaster in the mix. I think he is going to be brilliant.

If you could have addressed the others still in the game before leaving or left them with any advice, what would you have said?

I would have said, at this early stage of the game, we have to acknowledge it's a game of information, and the longer the game goes on, the more information you have. Right now, we don't have much information. We can all come up with our great grand theories of everything, but no one really knows. The one thing we do know is that Richard is either a Traitor, as he said, or a bad Faithful!

Richard E. Grant was the first Traitor banished at the Round Table.

You got your wish when you were selected as a Traitor. What was going through your mind when you felt that tap on your shoulder?

I was absolutely exhilarated, because it was only on the fourth round of Claudia walking around that I was finally rewarded. I'd heard such panic breathing from Miranda Hart on my right-hand side, coughing from Jerry Hall on my left. Between these two respiratory ladies, I nearly gave up hope.

It would have been an excellent cover for you. Nobody would have heard you gasping with joy. And then you discovered Maya was your colleague. How did you find that partnership?

I had no idea at all because I had no interaction with Maya other than an initial meeting at the beginning. She wasn't even on my radar as a possible fellow Traitor. But because I had botched the role so staggeringly by saying "I am a Traitor," and then had people believe me, I had to hand over all power to Maya, and I think she enjoyed that.

What was the thinking behind telling people? Was it meant to be a big double bluff?

Joe asked me. He said, "Are you a Traitor?” I suppose what I should have done in retrospect is go round everybody and say, "Are you a Traitor? Yeah. I am a Traitor, I am Spartacus. I am a Traitor” to try and make light of it, but that may have dug my grave even deeper. It was a completely catastrophically idiotic thing to do! I can only imagine the faces of the producers looking at each other and mouthing ‘he said WHAT?!’

It certainly is a different strategy…

The strategy of no strategy is the strategy, clearly. I'd watched every iteration that I possibly could have of this game and I was manifesting, willing myself to get invited to be a Traitor so receiving that…well, I lost all sense of self control.

Straight to business with your first murder and recruiting a third Traitor all at once. What a dramatic first act! Why Amol and James?

Amol had been asking me questions, and was absolutely vehement that I was definitely a Traitor. I knew that I was absolutely in his sights, and then James Acaster, I was told, was the most trustworthy player. So, if somebody was going to be able to calm the waters, deflect and defend my having said this stupid thing, he would be the one. In retrospect, I made a second calamitously ill-judged decision by choosing him because he didn't defend me at all. All he was thinking about was I’m now a Traitor and I must get rid of Richard as quickly as possible, which he did. Exactly what I would have done if I'd had the smarts that he does!

Did you expect the Round Table to go that way?

Yes, I did because when we were in the bar before going into the Round Table, Myha’la had made eye contact with me directly, but few others did. Miranda Hart was very friendly, and I thought, "Ah, she's doing this to try and ameliorate the fact that she's about to stab me” which is exactly what happened. I just felt it in the room before we headed into that Round Table.

It's one thing getting the votes from the Faithful, but what about James and Maya? Did that surprise you?

It didn't surprise me because they have to save themselves, and at the Round Table, James never uttered a word, other than when he was asked, "Who have you chosen and why?” He never said a word before, so he clearly listened to everything, and it was a tsunami of my name round the table. So, to have gone against that like Joanne did is risking your neck.

How did it then feel announcing to the room that you were a Traitor, and properly this time?!

I said, "it's been my dream manifested to be chosen as a Traitor. And sometimes in life, your dreams come true, and sometimes they don't.” And my face dropped, and all the people in front of me looked as if they had made the wrong decision. Oh my God, he is Faithful after all! And then I said, “I am an unfaithful Traitor,” to an instant unanimous standing ovation. It was a double-edged sword of the joy of being released and the humiliation of them being so glee-filled that they got one so early in the game. I gave it to them on a platter.

Do you want to see the Traitors go on and win?

I truly hope and believe that Maya and James Acaster are going to win.

What advice would you give to firstly the Traitors to go all the way, and secondly the Faithful? What should they be looking for?

They should take care not to engage with any 69-year-old actors!

And finally, if you could sum up the experience in three words, what would they be?

I’d say it’s been unforgettable, mischievous and lovely!

Myha’la was a Faithful and the second player banished at the Round Table.

What was the experience like for you?

It was so surprising because I went into this having seen people in past series get emotional on the show, and I kind of thought this is ridiculous, just lock into the game; it shouldn't be a problem. I had no problem cutting myself off from the outside world, I just wanted to be in the game and give it my all. But I think because I was so Traitor-minded, I had done all this planning and poring over in my mind for weeks on end about how I'd be as a Traitor that when I got chosen as a Faithful I felt so confused and lost. I had no plan and I’m a planner, that's how I function in this life. And so, the excitement that the game had begun, the fear of being a Faithful with no plan, and also then the complete and absolute loss of any sense of control. As a Faithful, you are completely a pawn, especially so early in the game. You can't really strategize that well because you can't trust anyone at all.

How did you go about adapting?

It took me one night, but by the second day, I had come to the conclusion that my strategy as a Faithful was that I just had to be 100% honest, 100% of the time. You can't be caught in a lie if you're never lying.

Who did you trust and get close to?

Well, I immediately got close to Richard, just because I feel like we’re twin flames. Really, I shouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him, which is ultimately, I think, my demise. Truly, I had a moment with everyone, which was so lovely. I felt quite close to Romesh. I felt close to Bella at points, although I knew right away that they were suspicious of me. That one was really heartbreaking. I also hit it off pretty quickly with Leigh-Anne and Maya, we just had fun together. Really, outside of the game, I’ve made some great new friendships. I can't wait to have a pen pal in Richard. I think Bella and I will stay connected as well. We're HBO siblings!

How did you find the missions?

Oh, they were so fun! I was shocked in the first mission at how difficult it was because whenever I watch the show I’m thinking, oh, these people aren't participating but in practice, I was like, oh hell no! I'm sorry, but a huge solid wood crate filled with water is like the heaviest thing. But then you get on in there with James Blunt, who has the strength of 1000 military men, and you fully commit to the job. Ross thrives in the missions too. I think they’re his happy place. I found that my role was often observing from a little bit of a distance because when there's so much energy up close, sometimes you can miss things. In yesterday's mission I did get a shield, that was short lived…if only, if only, if only….

What's been your proudest achievement?

I think I really defended myself well in that final Round Table. You always ruminate and think, "Oh, why didn't I say this? Why didn't I say that?” But generally, I thought I had something. I mean, I had the truth, but I also had a strong counter to every argument said against me and I did it with grace, I think.

Do you think you've learned anything about yourself?

I’m built to be a Traitor. If they want me back as a Traitor, I'm waiting. Yeah, I'd be back, but there are conditions! I'm not built to be a Faithful because I’m all about planning and having control and you just can't plan for the unknown. I'm annoyed that Richard couldn't stay in because I feel like he could have brought me to the turret and I would have let him win. I would have gladly led him to glory! There’s an alternate universe in which he and I get to the final.

But for the rest of this game, where you have been a Faithful, do you leave your heart with them and hope they get the win?

No! I want there to be carnage. Okay, I think I couldn't ever be a properly good Faithful because I always want to be a Traitor. I love the chaos. That's why we watch the game. It's fun to watch. It’s about the event, it’s just a game and we want to see wild twists that keep us glued to the fun. So, I hope for more chaos!

Bella Ramsey was the second Faithful murdered by the Traitors.

Was playing the Traitors everything you imagined it to be?

It was a lot of fun. It was very different than I thought it would be. I sort of forgot that it was also a show. In terms of the actual gameplay, really it was so exciting, and the missions were so exciting, and getting to know everyone was really wonderful.

You wanted to be a Traitor, didn’t you?

I actually didn't as it turned out. I changed my mind after the conversation with Claudia and really wanted to be a Faithful. At the Round Table Traitors pick, I was hoping not to get tapped because that afternoon I'd really thought about how exciting it would be to get to play the game and figure out who the Traitors were. I love the game so much, and the idea of being able to properly play it, to be a detective and hunt down the Traitors is actually really thrilling.

You clearly were a real asset to the Faithful because the Traitors found you threatening enough to murder! It’s a kind of compliment. How does it feel to be leaving at this stage?

I wish I got a few more days because I was going to go in today with a new resolve of trying to rein in some of my excitement and be more open-minded. I was going in with a fresh slate, and I was so excited to start again so I wish that I got a little bit more time to do that. Also, I think the Traitors killed me off because they knew that I was maybe going to start doing that and get to the bottom of things. All things considered, I feel satisfied and ready to go.

And are you cheering on the Faithful going forward?

I am forever Faithful. I was also questioning if I got recruited as a Traitor, what I would do? It would be a tough decision because I loved being a Faithful so much and I loved the camaraderie with the other people who I believed were Faithful, and getting to figure it out together was really fun.

Who did you feel closest to?

I felt really close with Bash, Miranda and James A but everyone, honestly. I feel like I had a different relationship with everybody. Romesh I really enjoy, and Ross, and I adore Julie. I could literally list every single name.

How have you found the missions?

I loved the missions. It was a nice break from the castle, and a break from thinking and figuring out. It was just fun because everybody wants to win the money for the charities, there was no Traitor/Faithful split in the missions. Everyone just works together,

Do you have a standout moment that you're particularly proud of?

I'm really proud of the first Round Table. I'm proud of how I responded when accused because I was genuinely Faithful and didn't have anything to be guilty about. I really liked being able to speak honestly about why I am a Faithful and feel like I dealt with that situation well. I wasn't sure if I'd react in a way that would make me more suspicious, but I wasn't even thinking about it. I was just honest, "well, here's the truth!” It was really nice to just be able to speak the truth and with conviction.

Would you leave your fellow Faithful any words of advice going forward? How are they going to catch these Traitors?

I want them to be really perceptive. I just want them to observe and I want them to notice behaviour changes and pay attention to them. I think we need a combination of that and logic. I would love to see the Faithful win. No particular player but I’m rooting for a Faithful win.

Julie Hesmondhalgh was a Faithful and the third player banished at the Round Table.

What was the experience like for you?

It's been the experience of a lifetime, so joyful. I’ve laughed till I’ve cried, most hours of the day. I’ll really miss being part of it. When the first Celebrity series came out, everyone knew what a huge fan of the show I am, so I got so many messages saying, ‘You've got to be in it, you've got to be in it’. I genuinely said to people, I think we'll be a few series in before they get to my level. Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Jonathan Ross, Paloma Faith - and then I’ll be in season 11!

Was it everything that you'd imagined it would be?

I have to say it's harder than I thought. I know how intense these experiences can be, and I know that in the business, especially when you're doing a play or a TV series, you make accelerated friendships. There’s no small talk, you're straight in with the big stuff. You bond with people and connect with people very quickly. So, when you get thrown under the bus…! I was ready for it, but it was a bit hard. The fact that I thought that in any universe I could be a Traitor is ridiculous- I knew I didn't have it in me. If Claudia had picked me, I would have been terrible, because they'd say, right, who shall we murder? And I would have been like, I can't let somebody like Ross with his big puppy eyes get murdered tonight, or Sharon, absolutely not!

How does it feel to be leaving now?

I felt like mine was a chapter that began very clearly and ended very clearly, a strong narrative arc- and that satisfies the actor in me! I didn’t want to just pootle along, I'd rather go with a bang. And honestly, I said this at the Round Table, and I really meant it- I did really enjoy the attention! All those people that I’d admired for such a long time talking about me! The star struck Julie of episode 1 loved that! It was extremely nice to feel like not-such-a-minor character at that moment!

What did it feel like to get that Traitor out on the first Round Table?

It was the best feeling; I cannot begin to tell you how incredible that feeling is. Right up there with marriage and childbirth haha! And then for Claudia to come in and say that that has never happened in any series of the Traitors ever! But of course it created this atmosphere of such cockiness and such blood thirstiness, it was a bit of a poisoned chalice ultimately.

You were voted most trustworthy player right at the beginning, do you think that was a blessing or curse?

It was possibly the most amazing moment of my life, haha, because I didn't expect it at all. I did in the back of my mind think, oh, this is quite front and centre- when everyone had advised me to keep a low profile for the first few days! There I am in my bright red dress, greeting everyone like some starstruck fan, and I am being very, very central in this first moment of the show where we meet for the first time and so I did worry that it might work against me. I thought, oh, they'll think I'm too Faithful, and I'll be so easily murdered - it immediately ruins your plan of keeping in the background, doesn't it?

At the Round Table you said you were the most deserved banishment. Why did you feel like that?

I lost any ability to defend myself! I was so sketchy throughout the whole thing, and I'd gone in hard on Richard, I'd gone in hard on Myha’la. You know, one triumph, one disaster, absolutely fine, but I thought I'm saying too much. Everybody gave me the advice before I came in, saying keep a low profile. Just try and survive, but don't be too much. And of course, on the first day I was voted most trustworthy, and then at the two Round Tables I had a lot to say. So I was planning to just sit back, little knowing that I was chief suspect.

There was a lot of discussion about Hannah at the beginning, and Hannah looked really vulnerable, and then suddenly it turned to me, and Hannah was doing a brilliant job of defending herself, and I was absolutely rubbish! At one point my mouth dried up to absolutely nothing. I had no spit left, and I had to take a big glass of water and my hand was shaking a bit which is the worst thing you can do and I knew I looked really guilty. It was text book guilt!

Do you think that tactically people are approaching the Round Tables in the right way?

No, we're absolutely rubbish. We're half evidence based and we're half vibes. Joanne is leading the vibes charge with crazy theories.

What made you decide not to share the information you had from Bella on who they were suspicious of?

Because I've been so heart on sleeve about my other suspicions, and me and Bella have been in cahoots a little bit, and we very much led the charge against Myha’la, and we also had suspicions about Joe. It was very difficult as I'm very close to Joe. I'd given Joe the shield in the church. We’d been buried alive together. And I did have a slight thinking that Joe would be the most amazing Traitor. So Joe- his comedy is completely about these very long-play hoaxes that he enacts on huge groups of people, he's absolutely born to be a Traitor. I didn’t want to believe that he was, but I thought that part of his strategy would probably be to keep me close to the end and then drop me at the last minute.

I didn't want Joe to know that I had any suspicions of him. Out of all the comics, I would have chosen Joe as a Traitor, plus Bella was absolutely convinced. And Bella has a beautiful mind. I know that Bella got it wrong with Myha’la, as did I, but there was nobody in that game who was more all over everything than Bella, so I felt very proud to be their little accomplice. So Bella only shared it with myself and Bash, and I wasn't willing to share it too early in the day and for it to get back to Joe- and then Bash did this brilliant thing at the Round Table where he just very articulately said, “This is Bella's theory. Don't shoot the messenger. Bella thinks it's Joe and Hannah” and immediately it just made me look really sketchy again!

Let's talk about the Missions. Did you have a favourite?

The spooky Mission, the cabin Mission, was my favourite. All of them were extraordinary in the design and the beauty and the scale of them. When we got to the cabin, it was just really nice to be spooked and scared rather than physically wrung out! The smell was really, really bad though- it really, genuinely smelt like shit, to the point where people were retching and Miranda was actually sick!

What's been your proudest achievement?

I think being voted as most trustworthy before anyone knew me, so only based on vibes, was a truly lovely thing. It was quite humbling to know that it was just a public persona perception thing and to see how very quickly it was ripped from my hands- and everyone was like, you're not what you seem at all! Haha!

Do you think you've learned anything about yourself?

I’ve learned so much about myself. I've learned what an open book I am. I have learned that I'm not capable of gameplay. I can only play in the way I play every single game at Christmas, which is in a totally terrifyingly gung-ho way that is not always successful! Also, the limits of what I can do. I think I'll watch it and think, why didn't you fight harder for yourself?! But it was just making me laugh so much about how much they had on me and how I couldn’t defend myself.

What would your advice be for the Faithfuls that are in there now, and how to catch the Traitors?

I think they're going to get Hannah. I don't think any of the comics are looking at James A. So that's obviously a mistake. Maybe at some point they'll be like, “hang on a minute- Why are we not putting him under the microscope? Why have we all just decided that he's the detective and he wants to solve this?” He’s done some amazing mind games on everyone. So, I would say, look in unexpected places and look closer to you than you think, because I don't think Joanne will ever think it's Maya. They're very close in the castle, and often it's the people right next to you you’ve got to worry about.

Who were you closest to in there?

God I really liked everyone, but probably Sharon, Bash, Leigh Anne – the young ones. I was Bella’s little accomplice, knocking around together in the castle, and that's what Traitors don't do. In my head I'm the same age as Bella and Bash, I just think I'm a young person, and it’s really quite shocking to me that I'm actually very much not!

Ross was also the big, unexpected love for me in this series. He’s just wonderful. I've never seen anyone as terrified of being pretend murdered in my life, who at the same time talks constantly about all the things he's seen and done in his life, and they are horrific. Romesh and Ross were my first friends in there.

Any message for your fellow Faithfuls and Traitors?

I would say, please don't feel bad, because I really did have a ball, and I loved the attention, and I knew it was coming from the right place. And genuinely, if I could have, I would have written my name on that slate because I was sketch as hell in that Round Table. And so, I don't blame anybody, even my closest buddies in there, for turning on me because they had to.

Who do you think will win?

It's hard because that is a pretty formidable group of Traitors, but I do have faith in the Faithfuls that they can do it, so I will be rooting for the Faithfuls every step of the way.

What three words might you use to sum up your experience?

In this order- challenging, bonkers, delightful.

Rob Beckett was the third Faithful murdered by the Traitors

How does it feel to be leaving the game now?

I'm a bit sad because I would have liked to have gone further, but a killing in plain sight, I've managed to get a Traitor, I've got a couple of Faithfuls wrong at the banishments, I’ve done some Missions, done the breakfast - I feel like I've done almost all of it. I was really missing the kids, so I'm happy to go - the kids wanted me to do it, and I've done five episodes and been murdered. So that's enough, let daddy have a day off!

Was being funny an advantage or disadvantage?

Basically, my game was to stay quiet and stay under the radar until the herd is thinned and then strike. But I was the herd that was thinned, so it didn't really work out.

Was it hard to read Romesh in there?

Romesh looks hard to read, but I know him like a brother, and I knew, as soon as I looked him in the eye, that he was a Faithful, and he knew I was a Faithful.

Were you happy being a Faithful?

Not really, I'd rather have been a Traitor. The thing is, as a Faithful, you're reactive, whereas the Traitors are proactive, and there's more to do, you get to go in the turret and all that. So I would have preferred to be a Traitor, but I was happy being a Faithful.

What was your reaction to Richard E. Grant saying he was a Traitor?

I thought he was a Traitor before he shouted it. So I'm quite annoyed, really, the only one I'd got, he blurted it out.

What was the experience like for you?

What I loved most was meeting everyone and talking to them. When you have Michael Sheen, Richard E. Grant, Jerry Hall, James Blunt, I don't care who's a Traitor. Give me the anecdotes I want the gossip. So everyone was going back to the hotel writing ideas of who it might be in their notepad, and I've got a notepad full of anecdotes that they told me that can only get wheeled out when I'm drunk at a party.

Who were you closest to in there?

Obviously Romesh. I got really close to James Blunt, Julie, even though I banished her, and Jerry Hall, I'd say I got to know everyone really,

Did you think your time might be up in the Crypt with Ross, Romesh and Leigh-Anne?

I thought they're definitely not going to get rid of Ross, because people suspect him. So they’d be mad to get rid of him, because he's going to be up for the chop at the Round Table. And then Leigh-Anne and Romesh were coming for Hannah, and obviously Hannah was a Traitor. So I think really, actually, I should have thought about it and gone, give me the key!

Do you regret giving Leigh-Anne a key?

I cannot in good faith, allow a member of Little Mix and now an unbelievable solo artist in Leigh-Anne Pinnock, go into a crypt in the middle of the night! First of all, I'm a gentleman. I can't do that. Secondly, I don't want hate off the Mixers. I don't need Little Mixers on my case because I left Leigh-Anne out in the cold.

You were really sure that Julie was a Traitor, how did you feel when you found out she wasn't?

I felt bad, but also I laughed. I find it really funny when we get it wrong, which makes me sound heartless. But Julie, I did feel bad, because Julie's so lovely, and we really bonded that day on the way into the castle. We really chatted, and then I bloody banished her off.

What's going to be your highlight from playing the game?

My highlight was meeting Jerry Hall, I love her. She's got such an amazing energy. She's just so chilled. We just floated on together. She tells me her life motto probably every eight minutes, and that is what will be will be.

No one wrote your name down at the Round Table, how did that feel?

I felt like I was suspected for a bit, because my face went red once, and then they went no, his face always goes red, and then that died off. But I think the blessing and curse of me is you know exactly how I feel when you look in my eyes and what I'm thinking. And I think that makes me a good comedian, a good communicator, because I can only be honest because of my face.

What did you think when you saw who the Traitors were?

I knew it was Hannah, but James... I gave James the benefit of the doubt because he desperately wanted to be a Faithful, but then that's the oldest trick in the book, saying that, but then he had been really quiet recently, and on reflection, he'd avoided me a lot which makes sense, because I know him quite well. And then Maya Jama, I mean, Maya Jama does not change her personality, whatever's happening. So she's going to be a great Traitor, I think she could win it.

Would you leave the other players with any words of motivation as they continue to search for the Traitors?

I'd say, don't stress yourself about it. All the money goes to charity. Have a good time for a long time.

Who are you tipping to go far or even win?

I want Jerry Hall to win. Jerry Hall's my pick, a rank outsider, but she’s my pick.

Who would you like to see make it all the way?

The ultimate finale would be Leigh-Anne, Jerry and Romesh staring down Acaster. Three on one and they take his sorry ass to the cleaners.

What three words might you use to sum up your experience?

Don't trust anyone.

Professor Hannah Fry was the fourth banished contestant and the second Traitor banished at the Round Table

What was the experience like for you?

That was the wildest roller coaster I have ever been on. I laughed more, cried more and got more excited than I ever have in the entirety of the rest of my life combined, it's amazing.

Was the game everything you imagined it might be?

And more, I think it's the intensity of it that you don't quite expect. I think when you're watching from home, sometimes people's emotional reactions seem over the top or outlandish, outsized. But I think when you're here and you're so cut off from everywhere else, the game is the only thing you can think about. And so it just heightens everything. It's so intense.

Were you happy being a Faithful, initially?

I knew that I could be myself. I could relax. I didn't have to pretend to be anything I wasn't.

Did you feel that being smart might be a hindrance?

Yeah, on the first day, I asked Michael Sheen who he would murder, and he said, You. And at that point I knew I was really in trouble. Surviving the first day was a really nice surprise. But I think, honestly, there were two separate moments where I was absolutely convinced that I was gone, first, when it was me and Jerry up for murder. Secondly, the Round Table, when half the votes went for me.

Did you think you were at risk, and it could have gone either way?

I knew that the smart thing to do in that situation would be to vote for Julie, just to make sure that there was one more vote on her side. However, I just couldn't quite bring myself when I thought she was so lovely and I knew she was innocent, I didn't want to be responsible for her banishment. I then did a very stupid thing, which was to tell Jerry in advance I was going to vote for her, because I think that was what swung her to vote for me. But nonetheless, I think Jerry's the one person on that whole table who could handle being voted for.

You really had to fight for your place at that Round Table when Julie left, how, how did that feel?

Is does feel quite full on when you're the one under the spotlight. The conversation around the table was okay. I think one of the reasons why I didn't want to be a Traitor is because the only way your game ends is by being banished or winning, so I think that having people vote for you and having heat on you is part of the role of being a Traitor.

Did you have a favourite Mission?

The first Mission, of course, What an amazing thing. I'm not the strongest, I'm not the fastest, I'm not the most capable of running, but being part of unlocking the safe, that felt really good, None of the others noticed that I was actually the one who got them the code. But they will, they will.

How did you feel in the Grave Digger mission when Jerry didn't want to do it, so you were immediately both at risk of murder?

Jerry wasn't faking. And you can't ever be annoyed with someone for prioritising themselves in that situation. But of course, I was absolutely gutted. Of course I was, especially with Amol being murdered, I already knew that I was really at risk. I was really vulnerable, and just the fact that the circumstance meant that it's now between me and one other person, it really wasn't a good feeling.

Who did you feel closest to? Was there someone in there that you trusted more than others?

I really like Joanne. We actually discovered that we're cousins, by marriage. So her cousin is married to my cousin. We're basically sisters. I really loved her so much. She described herself as how she came out of the womb as a show pony. That’s the perfect description of that woman. She is phenomenal. She knows exactly who she is, and she is totally unapologetic about it. I cannot tell you how much I admire her. She's phenomenal.

Maya as well. I really want Maya to win. I think Maya is playing the most amazing game. When someone looks like that, I think that you expect her to have a bit of a chip on her shoulder in some way or another, because, good God, she's one of the most beautiful women alive, but she's also just so much fun. No airs and graces, totally delightful to be around. I really want her to win. Leigh-Anne too, my God, that woman hasn't got a single thing wrong. Is she actually psychic? She's the most perceptive person I've ever come across in my entire life.

What's been your proudest achievement?

Getting that bloomin Roman numerals thing. I panicked as well. I knew that everyone was going to expect me to be the one to solve it, but mathematicians do not do mental arithmetic. I think people have this image in their heads that we just sit around thinking of big numbers all day, but it couldn't be further from the truth. I haven't seen a number, I haven't used a number since I was about 16, I’m all about the x's and y's. I can't split the bill at a restaurant any more than anyone else!

When you got your seduction letter, how did you feel?

I was genuinely torn as to whether to accept it or not. On the one hand, I came into this just so wanting to be Faithful, and I had this whole plan, had done all this work in advance of just really, really wanting to play the Faithful game and have authentic interactions with people. So I was tempted to turn it down and go in and tell everybody that I'd been seduced, or that they tried to seduce me and I turned it down, but I knew as soon as I did that that the heat would be on me anyway, and I'd almost certainly be murdered that night.

When you saw who the Traitors were, did you have any suspicions?

It was too early for my data stuff to work, so at that point I’d sort of ruled James Acaster out, because I just really believed him when he told me he wanted to catch Traitors, which actually, at the time, had been true. My God, I didn't have Maya down at all. My data would have come into play later on in the Game, around now… so there were bits the data picked up, so one is, Traitors feel bad about voting for Faithfuls, and sending them to banishment, so what they do instead is they vote for somebody that nobody else is voting for. They make a burn vote. James Acaster did a burn vote. It's not a complete giveaway, but it's a really strong indicator.

And then the other thing that people do, which both of them have done now, is Traitors will vote for another Traitor, having never voted for that person before. So both Maya and James have switched their vote from Julie to me, there are very few people who are in that category, because Joe voted for me both nights. So when you start putting these pieces together it starts to become really clear. The other thing is, three Traitors will never hang out together. You'll never get three Traitors in a car together, you'll never get three Traitors sitting together at breakfast. They want to avoid each other.

So if you keep track of every time you see three or four people together, and I have a spreadsheet, then you can really quickly start to filter them down and work out the combinations.

Do you think your behaviour changed when you became a Traitor?

I tried to just carry on doing what I had been doing. But I realise now, in the fullness of time, that actually I should have just shrunk back a lot more. Should have kept my mouth shut a bit more than I did. That is what Maya is doing beautifully. She's not really going after anybody, maybe at the Round Table to make sure that she speaks, but she's not actually trying to nudge the boat towards anybody.

How did it feel when both your fellow Traitors voted you at the Round Table?

Absolutely fine. They needed to protect themselves. The reality of the journey that I had with the set of circumstances that I was in, I was never going to make it to the final. They had to do what they had to do.

Did you enjoy being a Traitor?

Killing Rob Beckett was one of the best evenings I've had in my entire life. I was running through the woods in the middle of the night, opening the door to Rob Beckett's face. It was delightful. But I really preferred being Faithful. I think it's just a much more authentic experience, you get to interact with people and connect with them on a human level that just feels real. It's so much more stressful being a Traitor.

Do you think you've learned anything about yourself taking part in this game?

That I really hate lying to people's faces. I think there's actually some pride in being a rubbish Traitor.

Who do you think will win?

I think Maya. Leigh-Anne needs to keep quiet about how good she is because I don't think people have necessarily noticed, but as soon as Maya notices that Leigh-Anne is that good, she's going to kill her. I’d also love Joanne to win.

I’d love an all-girl final - Sharon Miranda, Joanne, Leigh-Anne and Maya, that's what I want.

Joe Lycett was a Faithful and the fifth player banished at the Round Table

What was the experience like for you?

It was beyond what I was expecting. It was so much more immersive, and I cared so much more about it than I thought I would. Obviously, when you watch the show and people really get into it and they start crying, you think get over yourselves, it’s just a game. But when you're in it, it is your whole life. And because I love the show, it was everything I wanted it to be, it was so much fun playing the game, and obviously very frustrating when you didn't find the Traitors. But I was fortunate enough to find two Traitors in my tenure and that's amazing.

Were you disappointed not to be a Traitor?

I am disappointed, because that was my dream. I sort of didn't play being a Faithful or a Traitor right. I tried to straddle both, and I was being greedy and I was rightly punished for it.

Did you have a game plan?

My game plan of using stats wouldn't have worked, because those stats required the Traitors not knowing them. I couldn't rely on them, which is sort of like in hindsight, why I think I just threw all the cards in the air that night and went ‘recruit me’, because I felt like I've got nothing now as a Faithful so I felt that my game plan had amounted to precisely zero, and it was time to try a different tactic, basically.

Do you think being so vocal about wanting to be a Traitor was ultimately your downfall?

I’m a silly billy - it was a combination of me begging for recruitment and then the Faithful being thick as mince and not thinking the obvious recruitment would be Joe. I don't blame them, because I would have done the same. I concede I've done this very much to myself, but I was too hungry to be recruited. And you know, if being passionate is a crime, then banish me from the castle.

Taking you back to the beginning, how did it feel in the church when Julie gave you a shield on day one?

I was so nervous and full of adrenaline and frantic that first day that I can't really remember what happened. I just remember feeling very, very nervous at the prospect of Julie being thrown to the wolves in some early brutal game from Claudia. So, I just instinctively stood up for her and basically said, ‘Let's just be careful, we're not going to banish or murder Julie straight out the game’. And I think I was rewarded for that gesture.

What are your thoughts about the comedians theory?

I think the theory hadn't been brilliantly thought through. One thing about comedians is that they often are quite good at finding holes in arguments. I was glad of the fact that I was part of the comedians gang, because it meant that at least one of them, and in my observation, it was James Acaster, would unravel that logic. And he did at the Round Table, and I think put it to bed that point. The point that actually there are more actors in there than comedians. So, you could say there was more likely an actor theory.

Did it help knowing a lot of them already?

I think for my mental well-being, it did, because we all know each other outside of the show, and we're playing a game in here. It's tricky, particularly with someone like Hannah Fry, who I really admire but had not met before, and really want to be my friend. I didn't like the idea that I was simultaneously trying to make a new friend whilst also accusing them of lying on national television. It's a weird way of establishing trust with a new friend.

Who did you feel closest to in there?

I really bonded with Hannah, even though she was lying to my face the whole time. Miranda is someone that I've met briefly in the past and I've always loved. I'm really pleased that I got a chance to play with her, do some sort of an improv, essentially, and kind of mess about. So I got very close with her, and then all the comics, of course. But I felt like I had a meaningful connection with everyone in there and really, really liked them all, and didn't expect to when I saw the lineup, I thought, well, there's going to be some people I'm going to find difficult, or are divas or whatever. And the reality was completely different. I got a lovely experience in either a big or a small way out of all of them.

Talk to me about the Missions?

I actually love the Missions, it was something I was really looking forward to, and loved. I think I'm clearly a bit of a dog in that I just need to be let out and given a run around, and have something to chase or grab and run back with, and I get a lot of pleasure out of that. I think those Missions do that and are really fun and I’ve missed not doing it.

What was it like getting a Traitor out at the first Round Table?

It’s pretty amazing, pretty good going. I think I’m right in saying that a Traitor, to my knowledge, has never announced themselves as a Traitor. I know lots of people tried to steer me away from it, but I was like, there's no game around that, he absolutely meant it when he said it to me. God knows what was going through his head. It was an absolutely superb, classic, Richard E. Grant way of responding to this game. It's one of the most iconic performances I've ever seen on this series.

In your gold chat with Claudia, you said your hope and dream was to be a Faithful who was recruited. Why was that?

I'm a fan of the show, I really love this programme, and I wanted to get as much of the experience as possible. I wanted to know what it felt like to be a Faithful and what it felt like to be a Traitor. So it was just a desire to absorb as much of the experience as possible. But I hadn't factored into that that I'm a silly billy, so I sabotage myself sometimes. I think I did get a very me experience of what it was like to be me on the Traitors. I don't feel like I pretended to be someone else. In the words of Katherine Ryan's mother, if we were all the same, we'd all be shagging your father.

When Hannah said that she was a Traitor, what did you think?

I didn't really believe that she was because we'd had such lovely Faithful chats, I hadn't entertained the idea properly in my head, but felt, from a purely statistical point of view, I had to pursue the fact that she might be because there were so many recruitments early on, and I would recruit her if I were a Traitor. So when she announced that she was, it was a total thrill. But it also threw up more questions and answers, because I want to know, when did she become a Traitor? Was she the first one and how much of the chats that we were having to the side were truthful.

What's been your proudest achievement?

I'm proud of the Missions and my involvement in those, I really felt like I mucked in, and was useful. I’m delighted that a charity will get some money, and I might have helped with that.

Do you think you learned anything about yourself taking part in the game?

The word that comes to mind for this whole experience is gratitude. It's made me really grateful for my life. I'm really grateful that I am in a position that I get to experience this, because I'm famous enough to be in the mix. I loved having my phone taken away from me, and I'm really grateful for the fact that I have a lovely life to miss. It's been full on, but there's been lots of periods where I've been able to pause and reflect and enjoy the company of the other players and the production team. It has been a life changing experience in lots of ways, and made me more grateful and happier about the life that I live.

Do you have any words of motivation for the players as they continue in their search for the Traitors?

Absolutely, I’d like to motivate the Traitors to find an unknown clause in the contract that can bring back a Faithful that's been banished to recruit because I'm there if they want me! I would say to the Faithful that they need to stop voting in a block and experiment with voting with their heart and their instincts, rather than following what happens at the Round Table, because that might reap more rewards.

Who are you tipping to take the win?

I think Romesh is a front runner. I think he's kind of unreadable but may get heat just on that basis. Then I think there could be a real curve ball, like Jerry or Joanne, someone who's playing it in a way that's out there. I've gone to Round Tables not knowing who I was going to vote for, and I don't know who's a Traitor - any of them could win at this stage.

Who would you like to win? If that's different at all.

Any of them really. I think they all warrant it in different ways. Everyone's got their own way of doing it which is unique to them and so good luck to them all.

What three words would you use to sum up the experience?

Joyous, Thrilling, Infuriating

Ross Kemp was the fourth Faithful murdered by the Traitors

How has this experience compared to the many different environments you’ve been to in the past?

It is not like anything else that I've ever done. Even though you would say it'd be odd to say a hostile environment is a comfort zone, it's something that I know, I'm with my team, I can trauma risk, manage myself with my friends who I trust. I also have an element of control whether I'm acting or whether I'm making a documentary – with this I’ve had to surrender control, which I found quite difficult and also quite daunting, being in a room with that kind of talent and intelligence. So all round, not an experience that I've ever had before.

Do you think you could prepare for this?

Even though I've sat and watched it with my kids and with my wife, and we've enjoyed it - until you're in that castle, you don't know how it feels. There is nothing else I've ever experienced that is anything like it. I think it's the cleverest show on British television. I lived every day thinking I was going to get killed, and now it's actually happened.

Was it everything you imagined it to be?

The fear of failure on this is not comparable to anything. Whether you're an actor, or in a hostile environment where you could get killed, you don't let people down. Yes, no one's going to get killed here, but the wish of not wanting to let yourself down or the people around you, was quite the drive.

I was under a considerable amount of pressure by my children to do this, and you can't really say no to it. It's so popular. But also, it's not like anything else. So I've enjoyed it immensely.

Did you have a favourite Mission? You and James Blunt really seemed to take charge.

I love the Missions. I'm an HSC qualified diver, so that first one was brilliant. It's like going back to your childhood, all the things that you wanted to do as a child that you were never allowed to do, or that wasn't a possibility - running around a pirate ship trying to find treasure before it blows up.

I think I'm used to promoting documentaries in hostile environments, so I treated the Missions as hostile environments. If people are buried, you want to get them out first before you go looking for the money. Would a Traitor have done that? Possibly not, but it still put heat on me, because they chose me to go first.

Did you work hard in the Missions to prove how Faithful you were?

I think it's just in my nature to take on a physical challenge and want to succeed at it. If that's caused me to go, the only thing that I have to say to that is the fact that I hope by succeeding in most of the challenges to raise money for whatever charitable cause it will go to.

You were quite paranoid on a few occasions?

The whole environment just makes you paranoid. If you're a fan of the show, you know that murder in plain sight happens. So when someone puts a hat on you, or touches your arm, however innocently it might be, I don't think I’m wrong in suspecting it.

Joanne called you the teacher's pet of the Traitors…

Well, maybe she's a Traitor, that's what she was doing. I wasn't the teacher's pet, they were just throwing me under the bus each time. I hope the next three or four Missions involve really heavy lifting across water, hopefully some poo involved. I’ll watch it with great glee!

Who did you feel closest to in there?

I love Sharon, and I got involved with James B during the Missions. It's difficult to feel close to anyone because there's so little to go on and even great brains, like Stephen Fry, or Hannah Fry can’t work it out. I don't feel that bad that I've gone when I've gone.

Do you think you've learned anything about yourself taking part in this?

You're never too old to learn new stuff. It was great to be around young people who are up and coming and have all that confidence. It was an honour to be asked to be a part of it.

Who are you tipping for the win?

It depends, Romesh, possibly James A or James B, and I think Maya's very clever.

Jerry Hall was a Faithful and the sixth player banished at the Round Table

What was the experience like for you?

It was such fun. I laughed so much. I had a great time with all the comedians. I genuinely loved all the other players, and thought they were all really nice group of people. I haven't laughed so much in years.

Was the game everything you imagined it to be?

It was a lot harder than I thought. It looks so much easier on TV, you know. The challenges were quite hard, I feel it was an achievement that I managed to get through so long.

Were you happy that you were banished rather than murdered?

It was kind of fun, and they were all so sweet. It was a lovely ending.

Were you happy being a Faithful?

Yes, I was. I think it's a lot easier to be a Faithful. I think being a Traitor you would have had to really watch everything you said more, so I was quite relaxed and just having fun.

Taking you just back to the beginning of the game, when Richard declared to everyone that he was a Traitor. Because you know him personally, did you believe him when he said that?

I didn't actually hear him say it. I just was told he said it, but I thought that's typical Richard. He's so eccentric, I know him as a neighbour and socially but we’re not so close that I knew him really, really well, but I did think that he was just being eccentric, and I just couldn't understand the logic of that. He made such a big mistake, but I think if I hadn't have known that he was quite eccentric, I might have gone ahead and voted with the rest of the group, but I just thought, oh God, that Richard, he’s just cross because he's not a Traitor.

Did you have a favourite Mission?

My favourite was the pirate ship Mission, I thought that was such fun. I was pretty good with my crowbar. It was quite nice, because we really worked together as a team, Traitors and Faithful alike, and it was so early on that I didn't really have many suspicions. I mean, logically I thought Hannah would be a good choice because of her big brain, but I didn't really have that many suspicions at that point, so it was just getting the Mission done, making money for our charities. I was really proud to be doing that. Plus, Claudia's outfit was definitely the best.

How did you feel when both you and Hannah walked into breakfast that morning?

I assumed Hannah was a Traitor, and that's why they couldn’t get rid of her. I was a bit confused about what was going on there, but that's when I decided to push for Hannah.

You were sacrificed alongside Hannah and Joanne in the Death Parade Mission, and then caged with them all, how was that?

I thought it was quite funny, but you know, I was in there with Hannah the Traitor, trying her best to persuade us all that she wasn't. Poor Hannah.

You were voted as being the player with their head in the clouds. How did that make you feel?

I thought that was so funny, because I was the only person who voted Leigh-Anne as having her head in the clouds, so it was quite a funny moment.

Who did you feel closest to in there?

I felt closest to Rob, he was my number one, and then I had a lot of fun with Rob and Romesh and I loved hanging out with Sharon. She's such a sweet girl. And then it was really nice to get to be with all those young people - Maya and Leigh-Anne and Kenny was so sweet, and Bella was really nice.

What do you think's been your proudest achievement?

I think when we caught two Traitors and we'd made quite a bit of prize money, I thought we were on a roll. I thought we were doing really well. I was very, very pleased with all that.

Do you have any words of motivation for the people that are left in there as they continue their search for the Traitors?

I think they should try and get more prize money. I think they should try and have more fun. I mean, it is a game, let's face it. It's a fun game, and what an honour to be asked to play it. It was great. I think I'll cherish these memories.

Who do you hope will win?

I think Leigh-Anne has a big chance, and I think Romesh has a big chance, and maybe Miranda.

Do you have any idea of who the Traitors might be?

I've suspected James Blunt for quite a while, and Joanne, and even Leigh-Anne, and Miranda too. And Romesh, so there you go. I still don't know. I still have no idea!

Are there any comparisons you can draw to your time on the catwalk?

Oh, it's so much harder than the catwalk, but you know, the catwalk, it's a very competitive world, and there's some ruthless people, I should have been better prepared, Apparently the reason I got voted off, everyone said, was because I was an icon, which didn't sound like it was a very factual reason, I think they saw me as a threat.

Are there three words that you could use to sum up your experience?

A good laugh.

Miranda Hart was the fifth Faithful murdered by the Traitors

What was the experience like for you?

I absolutely LOVED it. Please can I do it again?! I am sure for many the idea of doing it is a hard no for a number of reasons – it’s an intense experience and being idiotic and vulnerable on international television isn’t for everyone! – but for me it combined so much of what I love. The landscape, games, playing, being part of a team, deep and fun connection with people, being able to look down a camera and have a chat from time to time.

I could go on. But when I say it was intense, it REALLY was – way more than I expected. I understand now why you become close to people on shows like it.

Was the game everything you imagined it to be?

The actual game was much harder than I thought it would be. And much more all-consuming. I didn’t consider that I could think of nothing else but the game from the minute I woke up, to even during my dreams at night. One night I dreamt that I married Michael Sheen, so that was fun! It’s a fantastic game, you get completely hooked, and you want to work it out at a surprisingly desperate level. But of course, there are so many different angles and spins to look at things, which is why it is so hard.

Were you happy being a Faithful?

I surprised myself that I wanted to be a Faithful. I would have thought, when watching the show as a fan, that I would have been pleading Claudia to make me a Traitor. But when thinking about playing it myself, the fun seemed to be hunting down rather than being hunted and being part of a bigger team. I always hoped I would find my faithful alliances that would make that more fun too, which I did in Rob, James B and Michael.

You described yourself as a psychological sleuth in the Gold chat - were you able to put that to good practice in the game?

I was the worst sleuth ever in the end! So sure I had it nailed and then having to do complete U-turns. Agatha Christie would have been turning in her grave – you’re welcome for the tremendous pun. Although I was right about Richard and felt I led the charge with Hannah. I was getting closer with my attempt at psychological sleuthing but too late.

The night before I was murdered I suddenly remembered Rob was sure Joanne wasn't a Traitor, so therefore the movement in the blindfold mission had to have been Maya, and I remembered James A and Maya voting for Julie rather than Hannah without much evidence or speaking up. I was SO CLOSE to being able to whisper to James B and Michael that I thought I had got them.

You were suspicious of Richard even before he announced himself as a Traitor, what was it about him that you suspected?

Okay, I am going to bring quantum physics into my answer. Bear with! The only thing I know about quantum physics is that it has told us that our thoughts are matter which is why we can get good or bad vibes off people, sense moods. There actually is a felt consciousness between us. Mindblowing! If I didn’t understand that before, then I did sitting next to Richard because all I can say is that I literally felt the fizz of excitement coming off his body, even before I took the blindfold off. I just KNEW he had got his wish to be a Traitor.

Let’s talk about the Missions - did you have a favourite?

I loved the missions. I love swimming so the first one on the shipwreck was amazing to be in the water in a loch in that landscape. I think, weirdly, I am going to say being buried alive was my favourite! Because it cemented my friendship with serene Michael Sheen – sharing a grave with someone will make or break a relationship… The one I hated, and I am still cross about to this day is the puzzle shield making blindfold one – had I been any good at puzzles and built myself a shield I could have avoided murder that night and starting accusing Maya. Yup, still annoyed about it!

And the cabin mission - how was that for you and your reaction to the smell?

That smell was beyond... I am not sure quite how to describe it. Faecal. That’s all I can say. And my body did not respond well. I thought it was just going to be retching but it wouldn’t stop, and I left some of my insides in that cabin. I do remember also half laughing as I was retching because Julie started retching as she retches when she sees someone retching. Retch catching was happening.

Do you think you played with your heart or your head?

A bit of both I think. It’s almost impossible for the heart not to come into it even though you know you should try and take emotion out of it. If Joe Lycett had murdered me in plain sight and shouted he was a Traitor I still wouldn’t have believed it – I was blinded by love there. At one point I was so worried that Michael might not be my new best friend that I feared he was a Traitor. But generally I tried to keep my head on, it just wasn’t a very good head for the game.

Do you think Hannah lying about what happened in the crypt cemented your suspicions of her?

I was suspicious when she came into the breakfast room. She seemed different and was giving less information away. But you are always wary of how wrong those gut instincts go so I just kept an eye and was lucky that I was in the car when she was sharing about the crypt mission because suddenly at the Round Table I clocked that a couple of things she said didn’t add up. And then I knew with certainty. You see, I can sleuth…

Was it easy to get swayed in voting at the Round Table - I know you were upset you voted Julie instead of Hannah because of James Blunt?

I voted for Julie because I saw we weren’t going to get the votes for Hannah that night because James B was leading the way for Julie, which meant others could jump on that. But I was suspicious of Julie so that’s why I also voted for her. Michael and I looked at each other before the vote and we both knew we were going to do the same – go Julie instead of Hannah to make sure there was a majority vote for one of our suspicions. But I wanted to have voted for Hannah because I knew she was a Traitor and then we could have started again the next day and possibly not lost Julie.

Who did you feel closest to? Was there someone you trusted more than others?

I was closest to Michael, Joe and James B. And Kenny was my other 100 percent Faithful. I was blinded there as I didn’t consider he could have been recruited. I trusted Michael and James B completely. And I fell in love with Joe – my new on-screen husband!

Was it hard voting for friends?

I sort of forgot that some people might take it personally because it’s not something that would bother me knowing it’s a game. I did feel terrible when we voted Faithfuls out, but I was too immersed in the game to find it hard to vote for them – I was trying to be Miss Marple... Though the Round Table isn’t easy for sure.

Did you ever think Big Mix would be a thing and you’d be taught the moves to a Little Mix song?! Did you ever think it might be a Traitorous distraction?

I love Leigh-Anne so much for making my Big Mix wish come true. Though I would like to apologise to all viewers for the dance – bosoms as menopausally wobbly as mine should not have been doing those moves. However, I would like to say to Little Mix that I am available and will go into training…. When Michael suggested it could have been the way I had been murdered in plain sight I did in part want that to be true – what a way to go!

What’s been your proudest achievement?

I think just getting there and being part of it full stop. I have missed doing television so much and it has been a very hard road to get to a place after restricting long term illness to be fit enough to do something again.

Do you think you’ve learnt anything about yourself taking part in this game?

I think you will always go away from something as intense and unusual an experience as this learning something. I learnt many things, or rather relearnt. One being never judge a book by its cover and be open to being wrong about your first judgement about someone. Secondly, that however assured people come across we are all vulnerable, have needs, and ultimately desire to be kind, so look for the good in people and treat them how you want to be treated.

Make time for people rather than always looking after your own interests socially – that’s a big one. And finally, it has cemented my hatred of the smart phone because the joy of being with people without their phones – we talked and connected in a way I remember when I was younger. We need to put those darn things away.

Would you leave the other players with any words of motivation as they continue the search for the Traitors?

Remember my bouncing floor theory is what I would shout at them!

Who are you tipping to go far or even win?

If Michael can avoid getting murdered then he could go far and possibly win.

And who would you like to see win if that’s different?

I just want a Faithful to win, that’s my main desire.

What three words might you use to sum up your experience?

Fun, moving, bizarre.

As you were murdered, you didn’t get to say goodbye or give a speech to the other players revealing your Faithfulness. If you could do that now, what would you say to them?

I think it’s a good thing that I wasn’t banished because my speech would have ended up being emotional and mushy. I would have told them how precious the connection and the joy and playfulness had meant after years of not being able to experience that, knowing that they are the most important things in life. And then no doubt the floodgates would have opened. I also would have tried to extend the reveal of what I was an absurdly long time. Anything for some more airtime!