Fans of BBC’s The Traitors were left leaping for joy on Monday, February 27 as it was revealed that the series had been recommissioned for a second edition. Claudia Winkleman made the announcement on social media.
The first series of the nail-biting, psychological reality series was a huge success and as soon as it concluded, viewers have been crying out for more episodes. In the show, 22 strangers play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, in the hope of winning up to £120,000.
Located in a castle in the Scottish Highlands, last year saw Faithfuls Hannah, Meryl and Aaron win the competition, although they very nearly lost everything to Traitor Wilfred. You can read more on this here.
Read more: BBC The Traitors series two officially confirmed by Claudia Winkleman with message
Applications are now open to take part in The Traitors series two. But what does it take to be a successful traitor? Here are three tips you need to know before applying.
Be prepared to lie
… Even to those closest to you. Let’s be real - If you’re a sensitive soul, this might not be the game for you. In The Traitors, contestants are required to literally backstab people who they have formed close relationships with.
One person who said that she struggled with this was former Welsh Traitor, Amanda Lovett. Speaking to WalesOnline following the first series, Amanda said of filming the roundtable scenes: “They were genuinely emotional. Nothing is staged and it really is genuine emotion. When the Faithfuls were going up to get banished and we knew, we had to act genuinely surprised. To see them genuinely hurt was tough.”
Trust no one
Over the course of The Traitors’ first series, Traitor Wilfred ‘Wilf’ Webster constantly lied to his so-called ‘friends’ and remained in the competition all the way until the show’s final. Wilf had been in line to pocket the entire £101,050 winnings before being sensationally caught out.
In order to reach the final four, however, Wilf backstabbed his fellow Traitor Kieran Tompsett by getting the others to vote him out - but it backfired as Kieran dropped heavy hints to the other players that Wilf was the Traitor in their midst.
Wilf has since told The Daily Star that he was pleased that he didn’t win the money. “It was the perfect ending,” he said, "I think if I'd won I'd be so ashamed to speak to them because literally I would have taken their money away and lied to them. I think the best thing to ever happen to our friendship is that I didn't win. We're so close and get on so well."
Of Kieran's parting shot, he added: "Kieran was my saving grace. If I stole that money from them guys I think the guilt and not being able to be friends with them after would have been really difficult to build a relationship back with them. I think the public would have absolutely hated me as well so I'm glad I didn't!"
Forget about having a ‘game plan’
According to Faithful Alex Gray, who herself was lured into being a Traitor, having game plans is not an option in The Traitors castle. "I know, [fellow contestant] Ivan said he came in with a nine-point plan and that swiftly went out the window, because you just can't," she told RadioTimes.com.
"And also, I think even if people who have seen this then apply for next season, it's going to be a different group of people and it's gonna be a different psychology and different Traitors.
"So it's kind of just a game that you can't really plan for. I would say that the best tactic is to be quiet, but not too quiet, suggest theories but make them a bit stupid so people don't think you're a threat and you just want to survive. That's essentially it."
Applications are now open for series two of The Traitors on the BBC website. Hopefuls have until 31st July and they can even choose whether they'd prefer to be a Traitor or a Faithful.
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