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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Carlo Simone

Meet the 25 contestants taking part in The Traitors series three on the BBC

Traitor (Organization) Armani (Person) Dan Freddie BBC One Francesca London

THE Traitors is back for season three on BBC One, where 25 contestants will be battling it out in the hopes of winning up to £120,000.

After first airing in November 2022, the reality show hosted by Claudia Winkelman has surged in popularity with fans enraptured by the drama the premise brings out.

If you haven't watched The Traitors before contestants stay at a castle in the Scottish Highlands, where a few are secretly designated as "Traitors" whose job is to "murder" their fellow players, without getting caught

The rest are "Faithfuls" who try to detect who the "Traitors" are and banish them from the game before they become their next victim.

The BBC website adds: "For the lucky ones who survive to the end, they have the chance of winning that life-changing cash. But if a Traitor remains undetected, they’ll take it all. New series, and a whole new game. But who will make it through?"

Meet The Traitors series three contestants

Alex

Age: 29

Location: Whitby

Occupation: Care Manager

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Alex said: "Well, the first time that I watched the show, I thought the whole concept was so cool. Psychological warfare AND a game show.

"I watched it with my mother-in-law, and she said, 'I think you'd be really good at this.' I mulled it over, watched the second season, and had seen that you could apply for the next. And I thought, you know what, I think I'm going to do that."

Alexander

Age: 38

Location: London

Occupation: Former British Diplomat

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Alexander said: "Firstly, I love doing new things, and I always take opportunities where I can. I just finished visiting all 15 of London’s disused underground stations. When I was in Bologna recently, I went down the sewers. I went to Murmansk a couple of years ago to see the world's northernmost McDonald's and nuclear icebreaker. I've lived around the world in different countries. I hope this will be something I’ll enjoy... and if not, it’ll be something new.

"Secondly, I think it would be fun to bring my diplomatic skills to the game - a diplomat is meant to win people over and be good at influencing and negotiating!"

Anna

Age: 28

Location: County Wicklow, Ireland

Occupation: Swimming Teacher

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Anna said: "This is absolutely not something that I normally do! I initially watched The Traitors by accident, my housemates turned it on while I was waiting for my dinner to cook. Then I binge-watched nearly the whole thing in three days, I was obsessed.

"It’s the only TV show I've thought I’d be good at that! I've got a brain that can compartmentalise things and I can be quite personable. I think a lot of it does depend on your ability to control your emotions in that environment and your ability to get people on your side, which are two things that I think I have a bit of a skill for.

"I applied on a whim while my boyfriend was watching football. I just filled in the form, didn't think anything of it. I cannot believe that I got chosen."

Armani

Age: 27

Location: London

Occupation: Financial Investigator

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Armani said: "I'd seen the show, and I really did like it. I'm very much into problem solving games, all that kind of stuff. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I might as well just go for it and see what happens."

Charlotte

Age: 32 (at time of filming, 33 now)

Location: London, recently moved to Hampshire

Occupation: Business Director

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Charlotte said: "I have loved the show since the very start and think it would be such a fun thing to take part in. A real ‘money can’t buy’ experience getting to play the game."

Dan

Age: 33

Location: Liverpool

Occupation: Bank Risk Manager

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Dan said: "I've always loved strategy games; I've always loved the opportunity to see how people manipulate and deceive in different types of games. And I just really wanted an opportunity to do something that you don't do in your everyday life; throw myself into a game like this and see how I do. The first two seasons were really engaging, and I wanted to be a part of the next part of the story."

Elen

Age: 24

Location: Cardiff

Occupation: Translator

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Elen said: "Firstly, because I love the show's authenticity. It's not scripted and it’s full of ordinary people. That was the first reason. And secondly, I genuinely thought I'd be really good at the game."

Fozia

Age: 50

Location: Birmingham

Occupation: Community Development Manager

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Fozia said: "It was on my bucket list. I have been watching all the previous series, and it's not like any other programme.

"There are other shows where the game is answering general knowledge questions, and then you win a prize. Whereas this one was more strategic, psychological, it's twisted, and I love it.

"I used to get on the phone to my sister after watching and we’d chat all about it. 100% loved it. Whoever was behind the concept and idea was bloody amazing!"

Francesca

Age: 44

Location: East Sussex

Occupation: Interior Designer

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Francesca said: "I watched the second series avidly, and I thought I could do that. I could be quite good at that. I've got four sons, and I think they just see me as mum, and that I do Interior Design - I don't think they even realise what that involves. I believe they literally think I just plump cushions and hang some curtains.

"I also entered the competition on a personal level which was I really wanted to challenge myself. I suppose part of me wants to show my sons that anything's possible."

Freddie

Age: 20

Location: Peterborough

Occupation: Politics Student

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Freddie said: "I’m quite big fan of The Traitors, I've watched the first two series of the UK show and I've watched the Australian one as well. I just think it's such an interesting concept for a game, it's very strategic and psychological, and it’s all about using your brain. I think I’ve got a skill set that makes me suited to being quite good at the game and I thought why not just give it a go and apply, and here we are."

Jake

Jake is a Project manager from Barrow-in-FurnessJake is a Project manager from Barrow-in-Furness (Image: BBC / Studio Lambert)

Age: 28

Location: Barrow-in-Furness

Occupation: Project manager

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Jake said: "I really like the show. That might be quite a bog-standard answer but I do just really like the show. It's actually the only thing I've ever applied for.

"I've always been into mysteries, even when I was younger in my Scooby Doo days, I've always liked the guess who’s the murderer game so this show is the perfect kind of game for me. I think I'll be good at it as well. When you watch it from home, you're only getting half the experience because you know who the Traitors are, but I’ve always said that I'd love to be on the other side of it and be in the castle and get the full experience of not knowing anything and not trusting anyone."

Jack

Age: 24 (at time of filming, 25 now)

Location: Yorkshire

Occupation: Market trader and landscaper

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Jack said: "My mum told me to apply, funnily enough. I was obsessed with the show, started watching it with my parents, and she just thought I would be a dead ringer to be on it. Also, the money isn't such a terrible incentive, there's more reasons than I can shake a stick at really, as to what I’d do with £120 grand! So, mother and money!"

Joe

Age: 37

Location: Southampton (Originally Yorkshire)

Occupation: English teacher

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Joe said: "I think I felt like most people that have watched it, it's such a fun show. I'm one of those armchair viewers that with so many shows over the years always sits there and says 'oh, I could do that. I'd enjoy that'.

"I used to love reality TV growing up, but I've not watched it properly in years. I watch EastEnders so I was watching iPlayer, and this came on automatically after. I’d caught up on EastEnders, I was making a coffee, and I remember saying to my flatmate, 'I'm not watching whatever this is, turn it over'. And then we were drawn in and we just got so invested in it. It was like real life Cluedo, it just looks so fun to do. It's puzzles and clues and a big old whodunnit."

Kasim

Age: 33

Location: Cambridge

Occupation: Doctor

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Kasim said: "It looked like great fun. I really liked the first series, and I actually applied for the second, but didn't really think much about it. I never heard back, and I was thinking I can see why because I did a really bad job on the application!

"Then out of curiosity before the second season came out, I saw applications for season three were open and I thought, I might as well chuck another one in because I know what went wrong last time.

"It was definitely the right thing for me, because season two was phenomenal. I thought whatever is going to happen next time, I need to be involved in it."

Keith

Age: 65

Location: Bournemouth

Occupation: Window Cleaner

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Keith said: "Wow, that's a million-dollar question. I watched the first and the second series and with the second series, I was sitting on the settee watching as Harry won and as soon as it finished, I said to my wife, I said, ‘You know something? I could do that’. And that's the reason why I applied.

"I like to play games like this, it excites me. It reminds me of an old TV programme called Columbo, he was a lieutenant, and he always knew who the murderer was. He knew they did it, but he just needed to work it out from start to finish. So, and that's why I applied, I just thought I could I enjoy these sorts of games.

"Also, I'm one of nine in my family. I've got a very big family, lots of brothers and sisters who used to play tricks on each other, wind each other up, the works! So, with all that in mind, that’s why I applied for The Traitors."

Leanne

Age: 28

Location: Holywell, North Wales

Occupation: Veteran

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Leanne said: "It just looked like so much fun. I remember watching series one when I was pregnant with my partner, Sophie, and she said to me, oh, you'd be so good at this, because I tend to get away with a lot. I tend to tell a few white lies to my boss for a couple of days off work, and I somehow always seem to get away with it. And she said you'd be so good at getting people wrapped around your finger. Sounds awful, doesn't it?! And I applied in January."

Leon

Age: 40

Location: East Midlands

Occupation: Retail store manager

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Leon said: "I just love the dynamic of the show and what it entails. Having worked in retail all my life, I always joke around at work about the good versus evil. I think about it when someone comes in and tries to get the cheapest deal but I'm on the other side trying to make them spend as much money as possible!"

Linda

Age: 70

Location: Hertfordshire

Occupation: Retired opera singer

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Linda said: "I watched the two series, and I thought, do you know what? I think I could do that. And it was in a mad moment that I looked it up on the internet and saw there was a form to apply, and I thought, I'm just going to apply, let's just see, never knowing that it would go this far. So yes, I love the show. I'm absolutely into it. I love the psychological game. I like the whole idea of fooling people."

Lisa

Age: 62

Location: Cornwall

Occupation: Anglican Priest

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Lisa said: "My main driving force is that I am completely obsessed with murder mysteries. If there's a murder mystery on the go, I'm there. I've watched every episode of Poirot, every Agatha Christie more than once, Midsomer Murders, Inspector Morse, Grantchester, Father Brown, Sister Boniface. I’m just obsessed with murders and the mental aspect of trying to work out who did it."

Olivia (Livi)

Age: 26

Location: Horsham

Occupation: Beautician and Model

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Livi said: "My mum’s a fan and she thought I’d be really good on it. It's something I've watched, and I absolutely love but not something I ever saw myself going on, because I never thought I'd have the opportunity. I thought I'll just apply for it, but I didn't take it too seriously until I got a bit further in the process."

Maia

Age: 25

Location: Essex

Occupation: Full-time Mum

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Maia said: "I binge watched the last series when it aired, and I was so invested. I always thought to myself, I could do it better. I literally was thinking you guys aren't lying properly, you're not lying correctly, there are too many emotions going on, this is money.

"So yeah, one was that I felt like I could do it better. Second one was the money. My daughter is going to nursery soon and that's expensive. It's like having a mortgage, so that was also a motivator."

Minah

Age: 29

Location: Liverpool

Occupation: Call Centre Manager

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Minah said: "After season one, a couple of friends and family members sent me the link and I thought I’ve got nothing to lose and I probably won’t hear anything, so I did it. I got through the first few stages for season two, but it got to the point of asking work for time off, and I wasn't able to get the time off. So, it was one of those things where, if something's meant to happen, it's meant to happen, and if there's a reason it doesn't happen, it was never meant to be.

"After season two, people kept saying to me that I’d be so good on that show, so I applied again, and here I am! There’s nothing like it on the telly. Me, my husband and my mother-in-law love the show - we've watched the Australian one and the celebrity one from America. I think I like it because I like playing pranks on people and telling them little white lies, innocent lies - I think that's probably what drives me."

Nathan

Age: 39

Location: London

Occupation: Property Consultant

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Nathan said: "To win the money and I think partly for the experience. It was actually my wife who said 'you would be amazing at this'. I reckon she's manifested this whole situation. She even said to me, 'Nathan, you're going to get the call that you're going on.' 

"So, when I found out and I called her she said, 'Are you calling me to say you’re going on The Traitors?' She was like 'I knew, I just had a feeling.' She’s been my rock since the process started. She's been amazing."

Tyler

Tyler is a barber from LeicesterTyler is a barber from Leicester (Image: BBC / Studio Lambert)

Age: 29

Location: Leicester

Occupation: Barber

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Tyler said: "I was watching the first season with my mum, and I just said I'm going to apply for that, I reckon I'd be good on it and my mum said to go for it. When I applied, I didn’t expect to get on at all! I just love the game, if this was just a local game, not on television or anything like that I’d still go for it because I just love it."

Recommended reading:

Yin

Yin is a Doctor of Communication from BerkshireYin is a Doctor of Communication from Berkshire (Image: BBC / Studio Lambert)

Age: 34

Location: Berkshire

Occupation: Doctor of Communication

Discussing why they applied to be on the show, Yin said: "This game is all about communication and I am a communication scientist. So it would be the perfect opportunity for me to exercise my discipline of communication science.

"More specifically, The Traitors is about rhetoric - the art and science of persuasive communication. This is my specialty, and I am so obsessed with it that I have a PhD from Oxford in the subject. Analysing how information and emotion are transmitted between individuals and social groups gets me going like nothing else."

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