A contestant from the hit BBC show The Traitors has revealed she was unexpectedly approached by police following her appearance, all because of a simple mobile phone request.
The Unlikely Police Matter
Fiona Hughes, a 62-year-old local government officer from Swansea who was recently banished from the show, shared the bizarre story during an interview on the companion programme Uncloaked with host Ed Gamble. Her account left the studio audience in fits of laughter.
Hughes explained that after filming concluded, she was given advice by production to set up her social media profiles on a separate device to manage the influx of attention. Acting on this guidance, she visited a shop with a straightforward goal in mind.
A Simple Request Misunderstood
"I went into a shop and asked for a 'burner phone'," Hughes recounted. The term, often associated with disposable phones used for temporary or clandestine communication, evidently raised suspicions.
This single request subsequently led to police officers paying her a visit. While the exact details of the conversation with law enforcement were not fully disclosed, the implication was clear: her use of the slang term 'burner' had triggered concern.
Life After The Traitors
During her time on the show, which aired in early January 2026, Hughes had been secretly tasked by host Claudia Winkleman with being the 'Secret Traitor'. Her post-show experience, however, took an unexpected turn far from the Scottish castle.
The incident highlights the surreal transition contestants face when moving from the intense, isolated game back into the real world, where everyday actions can be misinterpreted. For Fiona Hughes, a new phone became a memorable, if slightly alarming, anecdote to share with a national television audience.
