If there’s one reality TV show that has us glued to our screens, ready to quit our jobs in a heartbeat (just kidding, boss!), it’s The Traitors. The thrill of traitor-hunting, the mind-bending game-playing, the spooky tasks, and let’s not forget the promise of a solid breakfast spread every morning – it’s the stuff of dreams. Oh, and the chance to become besties with the iconic Claudia Winkleman? Sign us up! But, as The Traitors legends Diane Carson and Miles Asteri from series 2 recently spilled, filming this addictive show isn’t all dramatic roundtables and sneaky turret scheming. Some moments are more awkward than, say, an accidental fart in a quiet cabin.
On Diane’s podcast, Spill the Fizz, co-hosted with the fabulous drag queen Beary Poppins, the pair have been dishing out behind-the-scenes gossip while reviewing Celebrity Traitors. And trust Diane to spill the fizzy tea with no filter! In a recent episode featuring Miles as a guest, the duo revealed that filming the so-called “meanwhile” scenes – those staged “Faithful downtime” moments – is hands-down one of the most cringe-inducing parts of the Traitors experience.
You know those scenes: the overly choreographed shots of Faithfuls doing mundane activities like showering, flipping through a book, or sipping tea, all while the Traitors plot their next “murder” in the turret. It’s peak Cluedo vibes (and if you haven’t seen that iconic film, you’re welcome for the heads-up). But according to Diane and Miles, these moments are less glamorous and more painfully awkward to film.
When Beary asked if these staged scenes are as uncomfortable as they seem, Diane didn’t hold back. “Yes,” she said in her classic no-nonsense Diane way, adding, “Mine was awful.” Miles chimed in with his own experience, sharing, “The thing is, when I did mine, I didn’t really realise what I was doing it for. But I only had to do one; I was reading a book, which if anybody knows me, knows ain’t true.” He laughed, admitting, “I’m flipping through these pages. I only had to do one because then I was recruited [as a Traitor].”
Diane, never one to shy away from spilling the full fizz, went further. “I had to do mine over and over and over again,” she groaned. Apparently, her attempts at drinking a cup of tea – which she doesn’t even drink in real life – didn’t meet the crew’s expectations. “According to what they wanted for this. Jesus,” she said. When asked to do other tasks, Diane put her foot down, saying, “I won’t be doing that.” Ever the problem-solver, she suggested, “Well, I would do lunges in the house,” and so she did. Still, she summed up the experience in true Diane fashion: “I found it very awkward. I’m not an actor. It was horrendous.”
So, while we’re all captivated by the scheming, betrayals, and fizzy rosé poisonings (RIP Diane’s Faithful run, thanks to Miles’ iconic chalice move), it’s these behind-the-scenes revelations that add a whole new layer to The Traitors. The real twist? It’s not just the game that keeps you on edge – it’s the awkward, staged downtime that has even the coolest contestants sweating.