EXCLUSIVE: The series host met up with Daily Star TV and Showbiz editor Ed Gleave at Traitors Castle for a chat ahead of the new series, which boasts a string of high-profile names
Brace yourselves for plenty of shocks on the celebrity version of The Traitors.
Host Claudia Winkleman was stunned by what went on during filming for the spin-off series.
In a very candid interview, she reveals what happened and what fans can expect when it starts airing.
Claudia says: “The celebrities forgot they were on camera… they were just focused on playing the game. Did the round tables get heated? Yeah.
“The Faithfuls want to catch the Traitors. And the Traitors want to remain undetected. Both parties were excellent at what they were doing.
“There are lots of surprises in this series. Absolutely. There are some shocks.
“We had no idea how it was going to go. But you have to have faith in the game.”
Claudia was stunned by a lot of the behaviour she witnessed.
There were moments when it was so tense she could barely cope.
“At times I couldn’t turn around because my heart was beating so loudly,” she admits.
“When you’re at the round table, it’s incredibly tense. The minute you walk into that room, the mood automatically changes.
“You can tell how nervous I am on this series by how much white lipstick I’m wearing and how orange I am!”
Producers secured a top notch line-up for the series.
They didn’t pick any reality stars, instead focussing on bona fide celebrities from TV, sport, comedy and acting.
The line-up includes household names Clare Balding, Tom Daley, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross and Alan Carr.
Others include Paloma Faith, Kate Garraway and Celia Imrie.
It’s a line-up that has probably made the teams at Strictly and I’m A Celebrity green with envy.
And it sounds like they have delivered TV gold.
Claudia is warning we’ll get to see new sides to some of stars. And it might not all be good.
She says: “It’s an extraordinary cast. You think you know these people and then you watch them play this game.
“I was awestruck by the way they played it. They played exactly the same as previous contestants have done.
“They only took part because they wanted to play the game and they all played brilliantly. They all went with it.
“None of them were like, ‘I’m going to stand back’.”
Claudia is amazed that so many big names agreed to be on the series.
“I can’t get over it,” she admits.
“I was in awe. We are so lucky that they agreed to come to the Scottish Highlands to play our game.”
As host, Claudia remains impartial.
“I want them to do well,” she insists. “I’m desperate for the Faithfuls to catch a Traitor and I’m desperate for the Traitors to get away with it in equal measure.
“I wanted them to be happy and enjoy the experience. I felt very protective over them.”
The Celebrity Traitors is tipped to be the biggest reality show of the year.
It’s estimated eight million viewers will tune in for tonight’s 70-minute launch show, which starts at 9pm on BBC One.
Despite all the hype, Claudia still worries about whether or not it’ll be a hit.
She says: “We hope people like it and they stick with it.
“To me this feels like a small lovely show. It still feels like this precious little egg.”
One person who definitely won’t be watching is Claudia.
The star hates seeing herself on screen.
She says: “Will I watch? Absolutely not. I will be under a blanket with my dog.
“I can’t watch myself!”
Celebrity Traitors is out on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Wednesday, October 8.
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