The Traitors' behind-the-scene secrets - scripted scenes to terrifying security

03 January 2024 , 10:33

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The Traitors UK behind-the-scene filming secrets as dramatic series returns (Image: BBC)

The Traitors UK took the nation by storm when the Claudia Winkleman-fronted mysterious series aired in 2022.

It was recently revealed that series 2 will launch on Wednesday, January 3 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer - meaning fans of the hit reality TV show have only a few hours to wait to get their fix of The Traitors. They also released the list of 22 hopeful contestants hoping to win the prize money of up to £120,000.

After the last series aired, viewers wanted to know about all the behind-the-scenes secrets from the show. What was real and what was scripted? The previous contestants opened up about what happened while filming, from roundtable secrets to intense security checks.

Here's all the behind-the-scenes secrets we know...

Roundtable

The finalists discussed filming the roundtable scenes (BBC)

The iconic roundtables on the show - which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman - were where the remaining contestants decided who to banish from the show in a bid to get rid of the Traitors. It was always a dramatic but important time for all involved, as they would shout and scream over each other as they tried to either defend themselves or throw someone else's name into the ring.

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Last season's stars - Aaron, Meryl and Hannah - opened up about what it was like filming the roundtables during an appearance on This Morning. Meryl said of the roundtables: "Our hands were sweating, we didn't know what to do. I was like, if I drink the water are people going to think I'm a Traitor, if I don't drink the water, are they going to think I'm a Traitor? It was so intense."

Hannah added: "I think it was more intense than it was on TV," as Aaron shared: "Even as Faithfuls, we all knew we were Faithfuls, but you start questioning what a Faithful should do. It's so nerve-wracking all the time."

Asked how long the roundtables really took, Aaron shared "25 to 30 minutes of people going on at each other and giving opinions," as Meryl confirmed there were no breaks and things got pretty intense at some points.

Filming Length and Breaks

Maddy admitted she used up her entire annual leave from work (Instagram)

The Traitors star Maddy Smedley previously took to social media to take part in a Q&A session with her followers. One user asked about how long the stars were filming for. Maddy admitted she used up her entire annual leave from work so she would be able to take part in the show.

Maddy explained: "So, I was there for three weeks before I was [gesturing to say she had the chop] not murdered but banished. But yeah, three weeks, and I think they went another three or four days or something. But you get there two days before you start the game, and you are in isolation."

Another user asked how far away the castle was from where the contestants slept at night, which she revealed was a "20 to 30-minute drive". They had a different driver each night.

Former contestant Rayan Rachedi also discussed filming lengths. Speaking about breaks, he said: "There’s never really a break, and sometimes they just won’t be filming for whatever reason, if they don’t really need to, and sometimes they will be filming, there’s no set rule."

Security and Phones

There was tight security on the show (BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Llara Plaza)

During the same Q&A session with Maddy, one user asked whether they were allowed to bring their phones. "Nope, no phones, nothing," Maddy explained. She told the user that security staff would check their bags before starting the show.

However, there was one awkward moment with security when she brought a balaclava. Her boyfriend Tom ordered a bobble hat but was accidentally sent the balaclava. Maddy brought it with her to the show as she thought it would be the perfect fit for the mystery series.

"I had that in my bag as a joke," she said. "And I was going to be like 'Oh look, tell that to the police [while in the show]', but they checked your suitcase. So I had to explain to the security guard that it was just a joke."

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Is the show scripted?

Last series' contestants said the show wasn't scripted (BBC)

In the summer of last year, contestant Rayan Rachedi talked about whether the show was scripted or not. Every morning, the stars would walk into the breakfast room and discover who was murdered the night before. The only way they found out was to see which contestant didn't walk into the room.

"It’s not scripted," Rayan told Metro.co.uk. "That’s the thing. You genuinely do not know. Like, you do not have any clue quite often. Like you genuinely do not know who’s going to come down with you to breakfast in the morning."

He continued: "That’s why you see people genuinely surprised when they knock on the door. You see them genuinely happy because they’ve realised they survived another night."

Maddy also confirmed it wasn't scripted in her Q&A session. She said: "I know Tom [Elderfield], the magician said it was scripted, but he was just joking. Nothing was scripted, only the bit where they [BBC] said, 'Madd, you have got to repeat that again of you surviving breakfast' [so I re-said] 'and I survived breakfast.'

"So, I had to repeat the acting thing as I had said it off the cuff when we were taking our microphones off because I wanted to leave, and I was being dramatic. These things happen, but nothing is scripted, it's not like Made in Chelsea, where they give you a topic. It is literally just the whole day and whatever they film. There are even cameras in the corner, so even when you think there is no one holding a camera at you, there are cameras."

Zara Woodcock