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The Traitors has returned to our screens, with its usual combination of murders, missions and midnight meetings. The number of contestants this year has risen to 25 – ranging from a former British diplomat to even a member of the clergy.
“I just love a good murder,” says the priest, Lisa, in the opening episode, revealing that she’s “had a chat” with the man upstairs about the ethics of taking part. But, she concludes: “Any self-respecting murder mystery needs to have a priest in it.”
Wednesday’s launch saw her joined by a retired opera singer, beautician, landscaper, swimming teacher, window cleaner, financial investigator and British Army soldier.
But although the players are different, and a few key changes have been made to the format (more on those in a sec), the show’s core principles remain.
“The absolute beauty of the Traitors is the game itself,” says presenter Claudia Winkleman. “I get messages all the time from people playing it in theatres, on film sets, in schools, even a Traitors wedding – I agree, too much.”
The presenter says she feels “completely terrified” by the launch of series three – fearful both of accidentally revealing spoilers and also whether audiences will like the show as much as the previous series.
“It is such an honour to be in that round table and to see how it unfolds, so I feel incredibly lucky and love it, and you just don’t want people to be disappointed, because the people who like [the show] are so vocal.”
In the opening episode, one of the new contestants shrewdly suggests that more of the Traitors this year might be women, after those in the last series were predominantly men.
“There is a little bit of that, and you’ll see how it works out for us,” Winkleman tells journalists, giving nothing further away.
But, the presenter adds, she does not choose the traitors by herself. Instead, she explains: “We talk to all of them, and then six of us go up to a room, the brilliant casting people, and we get through seven packets of biscuits.
“I’m the smallest voice in the room, but you decide while having had those chats who it’s going to be.”
There are two sisters taking part this year, although they are open from the beginning about their relation to each other – unlike some contestants in previous series.
Their casting is part of the wider effort to make sure the show is always slightly different, with new people, new personality types, and new relationships.
“In any entertainment format, you can’t repeat,” Winkleman reflects. “You want to give the people who are playing and watching, something new. So yes, two sisters, let’s see how that works.”
Some of the latest crop have come up with innovative new tactics – one contestant is attempting to maintain a fake Welsh accent throughout her time in the game.
“I get it, if you’re playing a game of deception, why not start at the beginning?” Winkleman reflects.
The presenter’s biggest fear is accidentally giving away the traitors’ identities while filming the roundtables. “I am absolutely paranoid about ever looking at the traitors, so I sort of look just above everybody’s head.”
By her own admission, Winkleman gets emotionally involved in the series and keeps in touch with contestants after they’ve been on the show.
“I love them, each and every one, all of them,” she smiles. “I was texting Maddy from series one the other day, I sent a message to Charlotte’s aunt.
“Matt from series one wanted to show me his new skill – sorry, that sounds like code, it was skateboarding. Aubrey sends me pictures of his living room.
“But I stay in touch with all of them because I’m so grateful to them for playing the way they do. And these people [in the new series] are extraordinary game players.”
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