Sir Stephen Fry has disclosed that the Prince of Wales and his family are avid fans of the hit BBC reality show, The Celebrity Traitors. The revelation came during an interview on Good Morning Britain, where the 68-year-old broadcaster and actor discussed his participation in the show's inaugural celebrity series.
Royal Endorsement for BBC Ratings Hit
The celebrity spin-off of the popular psychological game proved to be a major success for the BBC. The series concluded with comedian Alan Carr emerging victorious, outwitting fellow finalists historian David Olusoga and actor Nick Mohammed in a tense finale. Fry shared the royal connection, stating that at the Royal Variety Performance, the Prince of Wales told him they were "locked into" the programme.
"We had no idea what impact it would have across the demographic. Extraordinary," Fry remarked about the show's widespread appeal. The format sees famous contestants, known as 'faithfuls', attempt to identify the hidden 'traitors' among them to win a charity cash prize.
Fry's Strategic Choice and Fellow Contestants' Experiences
Sir Stephen also revealed that he actively campaigned not to be selected as a traitor. He told presenter Claudia Winkleman, who secretly assigns the traitor roles, that he lacked the necessary cunning for the deceitful position. "The tension – I just don't think I would have been very good," he admitted.
He contrasted his own approach with that of fellow contestant David Olusoga, noting that while the historian is "hugely intelligent", the game requires a specific kind of strategic cunning. Another player who embraced the deceptive role was presenter Jonathan Ross, who was praised for his gameplay before becoming the first traitor to be banished.
However, Ross later confessed he found the experience "quite unpleasant". He explained the emotional difficulty of lying to "lovely people" and witnessing their banishment, knowing he played a part in their exit despite their innocence.
The Traitors' Continued Success
The success of the celebrity edition has cemented the show's place in the public eye. The standard version of The Traitors is set to return to screens for its fourth series on 1 January. It will air at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer, with Claudia Winkleman returning as host.
Fry's insights highlight the show's remarkable cross-demographic reach, from comedy clubs to royal residences, proving its status as a defining piece of modern television entertainment.
