Reality TV show The Traitors was a hit with fans when the first series aired last year.
And, ahead of the launch of series two on Wednesday, the 22 contestants taking part have been revealed – including a man who was brought back to life after being pronounced dead at the side of a road, a parliamentary affairs adviser, disability model, and a clairvoyant.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the first series saw competitors split, with secret Traitors tasked with ‘murdering’ the other Faithful contestants at a castle in the Scottish highlands.
After trying to earn the prize of up to £120,000 by completing a series of tasks each day, they finished the evenings with a round table where they had to find the Traitors and ‘banish’ them from the game.
Here, MailOnline takes a look at the contestants taking part in series two:
The 22 contestants of The Traitors have been revealed – including a man who was brought back to life after being pronounced dead at the side of a road, and a parliamentary affairs adviser
Insurance broker Andrew, 45, is from from Talbot Green in Wales, and describes himself as having a ‘larger-than-life personality’ and risk averse
Andrew
Insurance broker Andrew, 45, is from from Talbot Green in Wales, and describes himself as having a ‘larger-than-life personality’ and risk averse.
He says he wants to inspire people who have ‘had a traumatic experience or suffered with their mental health’ never to give up.
Andrew was pronounced dead on the side of the road 23 years ago after an accident and was in a coma for nearly five weeks.
He was left with brain damage and his parents were told, if he woke up from his coma, he would never walk again, talk or use his arms, and may not have even recognised them.
Andrew explained that he met the man who saved his life last year: ‘I shook his hand and said thank you for saving my life. There are not many people out there who get a chance to see somebody who saved their life and say thank you. It was a very emotional thing.
‘I’ve had hundreds of people messaging me to say that they found my story inspiring and that’s led them to open up and start talking to their family. I want to inspire people, I believe I can inspire thousands and hopefully, with this exposure, millions of people.’
When it comes to gameplay, he also hopes that his background in close protection security, keeping an eye on London VIPs, will help him be prepared to be ‘on his toes, be alert, and be able to adapt at the drop of a hat’.
He said: ‘I do think you’ve got to have some form of game plan when you go in, but I think you’ve got to be able to change that as the game develops.’
Anthony
Chess coach Anthony, 45, from Birmingham, is wary his natural charisma ‘could put fear into some people’
Chess coach Anthony, 45, from Birmingham, is wary his natural charisma ‘could put fear into some people’, adding that even if he is a Faithful he will have to use a ‘human shield’ during the round table.
Anthony, who has watched the UK, US and Australian series, said: ‘I thought that this is a game where basically everybody’s expendable.
‘Like a game of chess, every piece on the board is expendable, the only thing that matters is the king, that’s it. And ultimately, the idea is to checkmate and win the game.
‘For me, it was like in a chess tournament where you’ve got to control your emotions and psychologically manage yourself. I was completely intrigued by it.’
On his strategy, he added: ‘I have a loose game plan, a very loose game plan. The key to the game plan is flexibility because things are going to be forever changing, every day is a brand-new day.
‘You might have a plan that you’ve got to throw right out of the window. The ability to adapt accordingly is going to be key because we don’t know what we’re up against.’
Ash
Events co-ordinator Ash, 45, from London thinks ‘the best way for me to win is to be a traitor’ where she can bring ‘strong alliances’
Events co-ordinator Ash, 45, from London thinks ‘the best way for me to win is to be a traitor’ where she can bring ‘strong alliances’.
Ash said if she wins she will spend the money on getting on the property ladder as she does not want to be ‘renting when I’m 60 years old, renting with housemates’.
On why she applied, she added: ‘I was looking for an adventure. I’ve spent my life moving around, moving cities, moving countries, doing different things but lately I’ve been in the same place kind of doing the same thing.
‘I’m happy where I am, I’m happy with the way my life is but I do need a little bit of an adventure.’
Aubrey
Retired shop owner Aubrey, 67, from Loughborough, believes his moustache will come in handy to maintain his poker face
Retired shop owner Aubrey, 67, from Loughborough, believes his moustache will come in handy to maintain his poker face.
He joked: ‘I bought a new car the other week and I know the dealer and his words at the end of it all were, ‘You should play poker, you’ve got a poker face’.
‘I don’t give things away easily. I’ve got a moustache and, unless I’m smiling, I think it makes me a look a bit more serious.’
Aubrey plans on being as pleasant as possible to get ahead in the game. He explained: ‘My game plan is to get on with everyone and to try and befriend everyone.
‘If you’re not going to be friendly with people, they’re not going to like you, are they? But I know there will be obstacles in the way.
‘As I say, you never know until you’re there and mingling with everyone.’
And on the possibility of being a Traitor, he added: ‘Fabulous! I did say that’s what I wanted because I love the cloaks.
‘I think I’d be good as a Traitor, but if I’m not, I’m not going to be heartbroken. You could be recruited at another point. What will be, will be!’
Aubrey said if he wins he will give the money to the Mykonos Animal Welfare charity in Greece, where he often goes on holiday.
Brian
Photographer Brian, 33, from Glasgow, thinks there’s more of a chance of winning if he’s a Faithful and will ‘observe others and take notes when I’m alone at night like a mad man’
Photographer Brian, 33, from Glasgow, who has played the Werewolf game which has a similar format, believes he will be ‘quite entertaining’ but fears he ‘might crumble under the pressure’.
He thinks there is more of a chance of winning if he becomes a Faithful and will ‘observe others and take notes when I’m alone at night like a mad man’.
But he admits that if he becomes a Traitor, he’d be willing to go to any lengths to win: ‘You may need to throw someone under the bus at some point.
‘Even when I was watching series one you see that you might have to take out one of your friends so that others think, ‘Well, he would never do that’, sometimes it needs to be done.’
Charlie
Mental health area manager Charlie, 34, from Bristol, says she would not want to do a challenge based around sound as she wears hearing aids
Mental health area manager Charlie, 34, from Bristol, says she would not want to do a challenge based around sound as she wears hearing aids.
Charlie, from Bristol, says she is concerned that ‘people misjudge me a lot of the time because I’m a bit nuts and constantly jumping around and being a lunatic.’
And if she wins, it could mean the sound of wedding bells for Charlie, as she will spend that cash on her big day.
She explained: ‘I’m going to get married. I’ve been with my boyfriend for 11 years and we’ve been engaged for nine, so I think it’s about time that we actually got married!
‘I also want do stuff to my house. I own my own house but would love to do some home improvements, and maybe even go on a holiday.’
Charlotte
Recruitment manager Charlotte, 32, from Warwickshire, who used to compete in poker tournaments, says she thinks people will not suspect her as she can play the ‘the ditzy one’
Recruitment manager Charlotte, 32, from Warwickshire, who used to compete in poker tournaments, says she thinks people will not suspect her as she can play the ‘the ditzy one’.
She explained: ‘I think I’m really good at pretending I don’t know what’s going on, when actually, I have a very good idea.
‘I play the ditzy one and I make self-deprecating jokes constantly, and I don’t get embarrassed easily either – which I think is good.
‘I used to play poker tournaments and they used to just think, ‘Who’s the bimbo at the end of the table?’ but I’d still make it to the end.’
Charlotte says she wants to use the money to take her dogs Lady and Lolly on a private jet, which means they will not sit in the hold, so she and her wife can visit America with a motorhome.
Diane
Retired teacher Diane, 63, from Lancashire, says she has taught ‘some very difficult kids’ and knows how to remain calm
Retired teacher Diane, 63, from Lancashire, says she has taught ‘some very difficult kids’ and knows how to remain calm.
On a possible game plan, she said: ‘I’ve had to use tactics to get control of a classroom. I’d use humour a lot, and you had to know when to pick your battles.
‘I know from last series that Wilfred was saying he was going to bring people on side and try and cause ripples, but I won’t do anything like that.’
On the possibility of Diane being a Traitor, she said: ‘You have to be very careful about who you get friendly with.
‘I might find it hard, but I’d still like to say I’d be able to go the whole way.
‘You’re put into this and you’ve nothing else in your life other than this game for potentially three weeks, it’ll be so easy to let it take over.’
Evie
Veterinary nurse Evie, 29, from Inverness, says she entered as she is ‘having a bit of an existential crisis’ ahead of approaching 30
Veterinary nurse Evie, 29, from Inverness, says she entered as she is ‘having a bit of an existential crisis’ ahead of approaching 30.
She said: ‘I’m 29, so it’s the last year of my 20s and I think I may be having a bit of an existential crisis about turning 30, just overthinking it a bit too much.
‘When I turned 29, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to do 30 things before I’m 30 that I’ve always wanted to do’. I ran the Edinburgh Marathon this year, I’ve visited Scottish islands and I do a lot of hiking.
‘Working my way through my list I still had two more things to complete. I’d left two free to see what would happen, see if something came up, if I decided on something half-way through the year that I wanted to do then I’d do it.
‘When I had one remaining, The Traitors series two came around and I said, ‘OK, that’s going to be my last thing. That’s going to be my final 30 before 30′.’
Evie said she make a good Traitor because people would not suspect someone who is blonde, with dimples, who works with animals.
Harry
The British Army engineer from Slough says he wants to be a Traitor as he is a bit of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’
The British Army engineer from Slough says he wants to be a Traitor as he is a bit of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, referring to the literary monster-doctor pairing created by Robert Louis Stevenson.
He explained: ‘I want to be a Traitor so bad! I know everyone says it, but I’ve always said I feel like I’ve got a Jekyll and Hyde in me where Monday to Friday I’m a Corporal and as soon as it hits Friday, I’m just Harry and I don’t want to think about work for the weekend.
‘I also have five brothers and sisters so I can tell little white lies and I make myself believe them first and then it just becomes the truth.’
Harry, 22, a corporal, says if he is a Faithful he wants to be ‘that person who takes everyone on my back so we can make it to the finish line’.
And he admits he’d do anything to be named the winner of the series.
On how far he’d go, he said: ‘All the way, 100%. Traitor or Faithful, either way I’m going all the way to the end.
‘I’m going in there to win it. Especially as a Traitor, I’ve already thought of how I would’ve handled situations from the last series. I’ve thought of everything.
‘It sounds so bad, and I feel guilty already, but at the end of the day it’s a game and I’m sure everyone will be happy when it’s all over.
‘I’ll buy them a couple of drinks!’
Jasmine
Sales executive Jasmine, 26, from London says she would happy to be a Traitor so she can ‘steal the big pot of money’
Sales executive Jasmine, 26, from London says she would happy to be a Traitor so she can ‘steal the big pot of money’ but being ‘naturally very empathetic’ she would make a good Faithful.
She said: ‘If I had to curse out someone’s family on national television, I don’t think I would do that. But within the game, I don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t do.
‘If I have to eliminate someone, if I have to steal the big pot of money, that’s absolutely fine.’
Jasmine added: ‘I think my game plan as a Faithful would just be to try and be as open and friendly as possible.
‘I’m naturally very empathetic so I’m a person that people can confide in and go towards if they want advice.
‘I think it will come organically for me too because if they feel like they’re in a safe space, they might share things with me.
‘I’d then be able to read people and start to weed them out.’
Jasmine said she would help her parents, who have been ‘through some tough financial times’, if she wins.
Jaz
National account manager Jaz, 30, from Manchester says nothing apart from his wife and his wedding day has meant more than competing on The Traitors
National account manager Jaz, 30, from Manchester says nothing apart from his wife and his wedding day has meant more than competing on The Traitors.
He says he thinks being a Faithful relies on being able to form a clique of the ‘the strongest and most influential people’.
And he’ll be setting his feelings aside in a bid to become the champion on the show.
On how far he’d go, he added: ‘All the way, without a shadow of a doubt.
‘The thing is everyone wants the money, for all sorts of different reasons, so that’s just going to cloud my vision if I start to get emotionally involved in everyone’s story and then I’m going to be torn between all the other players.
‘But for me, I want to go all the way. The last man standing.’
On his plans for the prize money, he said: ‘It’s a bit cheesy but my Mum has always wanted to go on the Orient Express.
‘After everything we’ve been through as a family, I feel like my Mum deserves it.
‘My wife has also been such a pillar of strength and I feel like she definitely deserves to go.
‘Also, my Mother and Father-in-Law have just been everything to me and it would be something that we could all do together to celebrate, it would be phenomenal. I couldn’t even put it into words how I’d feel.’
Jonny
Jonny, 31, from Bedfordshire, is ex-military, and described himself as someone with disabilities who enjoys ‘psychological things’ and is ‘a problem solver’
Jonny, 31, from Bedfordshire, is ex-military, and described himself as someone with disabilities who enjoys ‘psychological things’ and is ‘a problem solver’.
He said: ‘I can be a bit scatty sometimes and I’m worried that because I’ve done so much in my life, people are going to start hearing more and more as I spend more time with them and think I’m just talking rubbish.’
On how far he’d go in a bid to win, he said: ‘I’m very black and white in the way I think.
‘I know what I’m signing up for, everyone else knows what they’re signing up for. It’s a game.
‘Everyone knows they could potentially be backstabbed and it’s going to be messy. Because everyone is aware of that, it makes me feel more comfortable about the situation.
‘I know that if I made friends with someone and they had to backstab me in the game, I wouldn’t fall out with them, because it’s just the game.
‘If other people can’t see that, then they wouldn’t be the type of person I’d be friends with anyway.’
Kyra
Apprentice economist Kyra, 21, from Kent admits she may crumble under the pressure of being a Traitor if she becomes one
Apprentice economist Kyra, 21, from Kent admits she may crumble under the pressure of being a Traitor if she becomes one.
She said: ‘I think if I am a Traitor, I’ll feel a mix of emotions, there’s an element of power which is nice, but on the other hand, I really think that it’ll be a lot of pressure.
‘There are so many emotions involved so I think it will be very psychological.
‘I think being a Traitor plays more on your mind, because it’s like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m actually deceiving these people’.
‘I imagine 90% of people will want to be a Traitor so I don’t know if I’ll be one.’
On the possibility of being a Faithful, she said: ‘I feel like I’ll be really good at spotting liars and I’m a good judge of character.
‘I think I’ll be able to spot people who are trying to influence and manipulate others, it’s also easy to identify when that’s being done to you.
‘Being in a household full of women, and also my work, has allowed me to become a good judge of character. I like sussing people out, I like discovering things and I like being part of a team.
‘I think I’ll get to know everyone, do the best I can and make sure that the Faithfuls win.’
On her reason for applying and possibly winning, she said: ”The main motivation behind it is that my sister is getting married soon, we come from a lower-class background and I’d love to win something to help towards her wedding wedding – and hopefully honeymoon.’
Meg
Illustrator Meg, 22, from Herefordshire says she ‘wouldn’t throw somebody under the bus so that I could win more’ money so is unsure about being a Traitor
Illustrator Meg, 22, from Herefordshire says she ‘wouldn’t throw somebody under the bus so that I could win more’ money so is unsure about being a Traitor.
She said: ‘I wouldn’t go to the lengths of throwing somebody under the bus, unless they were going to throw me under in that same moment. If I’m going down you’re coming down with me, that’s how I’d see it.
‘In all fairness, if you are a Traitor there’s a high chance you aren’t going to win the money, I think the Faithfuls have more chance.
‘Even just thinking about the possibility of winning is like OH MY GOD. I scream my head off at my monthly pay packet let alone that amount of money.
‘I wouldn’t throw somebody under the bus so that I could win more. If we have to go halves on it, or thirds, or even quarter the money, that’s better than walking out with nothing at all.’
Meg wants to spend the money on ‘the most expensive pair of dungarees ever’ and a Scottish motorhome trip.
Miles
Miles said when he told his mother he was doing TV, she said it was OK ‘as long as it’s not something like Love Island’
Veterinary nurse Miles, 36, from Birmingham, who now lives in Worcestershire, said he has done the ‘cookie cutter’ life by having a husband, going to college and having a family and thinks this will be a change.
He said: ‘I went to school, went to college, got my qualification, found my husband, had a family. I just thought I’ve done everything so ‘correc’.
‘When I saw the show, I thought it was quite clever, quite different. It was nicely done. I like that the show has normal, everyday people.
‘There are going to be times when you’re going to have beef with people, because we’ll get so involved in the roles that we’re playing. It’s just that, I’m playing a role.
‘As long as my nearest and dearest know that then that’ll make me feel a bit better – it’s not real life.’
Miles said when he told his mother he was doing TV, she said it was OK ‘as long as it’s not something like Love Island’.
And on what he’d spend the prize money on, he said: ‘Loads of plastic surgery! No, I’m joking.
‘What I really want to do is get our forever home. I’d like to pay off our debts and get into our forever home and really settle our roots.
‘Whilst everything is fine as it is, it would be lovely to go forward with that and live somewhere in the country.’
Mollie
Disability model Mollie, 21, from Bristol says looking ‘innocent’ and young will help in the game if she becomes a Traitor
Disability model Mollie, 21, from Bristol says looking ‘innocent’ and young will help in the game if she becomes a Traitor.
Mollie, who also works as a healthcare assistant, believes she is also able to be ‘quite good at building that relationship but also separating myself in a way which I feel like will be really good in the game’.
On her game plan as a possible Faithful, she said: ‘I think just deflecting the attention from you to someone else.
‘As much as you want to find the Traitors, someone going home is one less person to worry about as well.
‘You’ve got to think that as long as your name is not being brought up at the Round Table, then that’s a good thing.
‘You obviously want to get the Traitors out because then they can’t murder you at night, but with another Faithful gone you’re a step closer to the end.
‘You’ve kind of got to get the numbers down as best as possible and try your best for a Traitor.’
Paul
Business manager Paul, 36, from Manchester, says as someone who has done stand-up he can use his comedy skills to ‘diffuse situations when they get so tense’
Business manager Paul, 36, from Manchester, says as someone who has done stand-up he can use his comedy skills to ‘diffuse situations when they get so tense’.
Paul said if he becomes a traitor he is ‘never washing’ his top when host Claudia Winkleman touches his shoulder – she taps the contestants during the round table to secretly let them know what side they are on.
And on his plans for the money if he wins, he said: ‘It’ll have to be a house. For myself, my partner, our little boy and our dog – I need to get us all a house!
‘We’re renting at the moment and mortgage rates are just chaos, so if I can win the show or be part of a group of people that win the show then that is life changing for us.
‘The family, the house, nothing glamorous really, there’s no cars, parties or holidays, it’s: we need a roof over our heads and then that will set us up for the rest of our lives. Or a Ferrari…’
Ross
Video director Ross, 28, from Lancashire says he sees taking part as a ‘good excuse to tell my business partner that I just can’t work for three weeks’
Video director Ross, 28, from Lancashire says he sees taking part as a ‘good excuse to tell my business partner that I just can’t work for three weeks’.
Ross also said that being a Traitor would make him on ‘edge’ and feel a ‘bit gutted because then I’ve actually got to play a game’.
But he admits he will not be too pleasant to other people even if he’s a Faithful: ‘It’s a tricky one because I do think if you’re too nice and you’re too loving, people can see that as a threat and then target you because they think you’re weak.
‘If you’re popular they might want to get you out, if you’re pointing fingers too much, they might want you out. You don’t want to point fingers because that’s when you get stabbed in the back.
‘You have to almost play the silent game and figure out who your friends are.
‘It’s a tricky one as a Faithful, it’s probably tricker to do that than be a Traitor and get to the end.’
Sonja
Volunteer business mentor Sonja, 66, says her ‘game plan is to knit my way to the finals’
Volunteer business mentor Sonja, 66, says her ‘game plan is to knit my way to the finals’.
Sonja, from Lancashire, also said she learned to read body language cues from her son Dan, who died two years ago, and was ‘severely disabled with autism and other disabilities, and was nonverbal’.
She said:’Dan died at the age of 41. So, I spent 41 years understanding nonverbal hints and cues from Dan…
‘I can say I’m really, really motivated to do this because of Dan.
‘It is actually very difficult to get the right things, the right services, and the right care for people like Dan, and I want to promote better care for people who can’t actually speak up for themselves.
‘I would like to start a charity, after The Traitors, aimed at knitting in the community for young people to be together.
‘Dan was so very brave. He had so many headwinds, but he was just fearless in everything he tried.
‘I said to myself that I need to do something completely fearless, at least once a year. This is my first one… so who knows where it will go?’
Tracey
Tracey, who used to be in the air force, said: ‘The only thing that would be my downfall is that I do really like to be liked’
Snographer and clairvoyant Tracey, 58, from Inverness, says she is ‘quite eccentric’ and ‘good at lying’.
Tracey, who used to be in the air force, said: ‘The only thing that would be my downfall is that I do really like to be liked.’
On the possibility of being a Traitor, she said: ‘I think I’ll be terrified, just terrified. Although you’ve got to go with whatever opportunity life gives you.
‘If I’m going to be a Traitor, then I will embrace it 100%. You’re going to get close to people really quickly.
‘I used to go on detachment with people in the military, and they’d be like your best friend for two whole weeks, you couldn’t possibly ever live without them and then when you get home, you never contact each other again.’
On what strengths she’d bring to the show’s missions, she said: ‘I used to be in the Air Force and that’s the bit that I miss.
‘Doing the mad exercises and jumping out of helicopters and being winched into the sea.
‘I love doing crosswords and playing board games. I love doing treasure trails, I just love anything like that.
‘I don’t know if I’m a natural leader or I’m bossy, I’m not sure what the difference is.
‘I think I’ll be kind of gathering everybody up and getting us to work as a team, I hope.’
Zack
Parliamentary affairs adviser Zack, 27, from London says he think he would be ‘cutthroat’ as a Traitor and not ‘factor in sentimentality’
Parliamentary affairs adviser Zack, 27, from London says he think he would be ‘cutthroat’ as a Traitor and not ‘factor in sentimentality’.
He explained: ‘I think I am very good at reading people, mostly because of my career and I want to see if that is the case.
‘I think it also helps that I come from a small, very tightly-knit, Jewish community where socially everyone just knows each other’s business.
‘I suppose I applied for The Traitors to see if I’m as smart as I think I am!’
He also said his girlfriend does not know he wants to spend the money, if he wins, on a Mazda MX-5 and he will tell her it will go on a flat deposit as he says she ‘will break up with me if I didn’t say it’.
When asked how he’d splash the cash, he said: ‘It’s going to be a boring answer, but a deposit on a flat.
The Traitors returns on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday at 9pm (host Claudia Winkleman pictured)
‘The real answer, that my girlfriend doesn’t know, is I want to spend it on a Mazda MX-5, because I love cars and racing.
‘It’s going to sound like a really nerdy answer, but the Mazda MX-5 has perfect balance, so I want to take it round tracks around Europe – that’s my dream.
‘But the flat is my answer, and as far as my girlfriend is concerned that’s what I’m saying. I have to say the flat, my girlfriend will break up with me if I didn’t say it!’
The Traitors returns on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday at 9pm.
