Reality TV series The Traitors has returned with its celebrity version and has topped viewing charts for a second time. People are hooked on the show where logical reasoning and random chance are simultaneously at play, in a game full of drama, tension, and cliffhangers.
The theatricality of this show appeals to more than one of the viewers’ senses: outrageous outfits are flaunted, peacocks strut around the grounds, and intense soundtracks heighten the suspense. The premise is simple: a group of Faithfuls must attempt to identify the Traitors before they are murdered to claim the prize money. However, the show is rather bigger than the sum of its parts might suggest. Let’s consider the parade of outlandish outfits as contestants enter the breakfast room each morning: Maya Jama (a current celebrity Traitor) waltzes in wearing a huge furry cardigan by Agro, and Joe Lycett sports a lilac feathered shirt. The daily fashion parade has not always been part and parcel of the show; in the earlier, non-celebrity series of The Traitors, participants wore normal, everyday clothes. This new fashion trend fits well with the elaborate aesthetic of the TV series, with drama and tension at the heart of the game. Claudia Winkleman’s wardrobe is striking: her chunky high-necked jumpers, tartan skirts, and fingerless gloves make quite an impression. So, whether you’re a Traitor or a Faithful, your outfits matter.
Outfits might seem insignificant, yet appearance and how the players present themselves are key to this show. In every series of The Traitors, one of the first things players look for is a ‘change in behaviour’ after Claudia has picked her Traitors. The clues to a contestant’s identity as Faithful or Traitor are few and far between, so it is essential that the players maintain composure if they don’t want to be called out for behaving differently.
Actor Richard E. Grant certainly made a unique debut as a Traitor by announcing his true identity within the first five minutes. The ultimate consequence of this bizarre decision was his banishment, a seemingly obvious result, but it is worth considering how the players initially reacted to Grant’s revelation. Some Faithfuls still believed that he was one of them, and the group considered the possibility that his absurd declaration is simply consistent with his chaotic personality. It is clear that all players’ dispositions and character traits are being constantly analysed. For example, in the third episode, comedian Miranda Hart revealed her suspicions of mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry, who, having turned from Faithful to Traitor overnight, displayed much more anxiety.
The audience’s omniscience at home is another crucial draw of The Traitors. The true detective work is in the hands of the players, whereas we at home have absolute knowledge and, therefore, the ability to criticise or applaud different styles of gameplay and decisions made by the players. We would not be able to congratulate Hart’s careful observation of Fry if we did not know the full picture. The abundance of strategies employed by the players allows a diverse audience to identify with different game plans. Are you an Alan Carr, chaotic and underestimated? A Ross Kemp, suspicious of everything and anything? Or a Miranda Hart, quietly observant? The show is accessible, in this sense: not only can anyone apply to take part in the non-celebrity version, but viewers can also realistically think about how they would play the game while sitting at home.
The current series, and the first series of Celebrity Traitors, present celebrities in a novel way. The producers aim to capture a diverse viewership, and they achieve this by booking celebrities known to a variety of demographics. The game works by allowing the audience at home to discover new celebrities to root for. So, if you weren’t a Kemp fan before, you might be now. In the first celebrity series, Joe Marler was not particularly well-known outside of his rugby fanbase. However, his excellent detective work as a faithful on the show propelled him to new celebrity status.
Whilst some might regard a reality TV series like The Traitors as lowbrow entertainment, perhaps it is simply because they haven’t watched the show yet. Whether the players are celebrities or not, the draw of the series lies in the complex psychological gameplay and eccentric aesthetics.
