The breakout star of The Traitors 2026, Harriet Tyce, has confessed she found it "awful" to watch herself lose her temper during her final, explosive episode of the hit BBC reality series.
From Courtroom to Round Table: A Explosive Exit
The former criminal barrister turned crime novelist was sensationally banished during a dramatic round table this week. Her exit came after she unleashed her fury on traitor Rachel and several innocent faithfuls, a moment she deeply regrets. After months of waiting to see how the summer-filmed scenes would be edited, Tyce admitted the experience of watching herself was difficult.
"It was awful watching it, I lost my temper and it's not nice to see that," she said. "None of us want to see our emotional loss of control on camera." She explained that the intense, round-the-clock filming schedule at a remote Scottish castle took a significant toll, leading to her regrettable outburst at faithful Roxy over a group breakfast.
The Pressure Cooker of The Traitors
"That was insane behaviour," Tyce told The Times. "I'd never normally shout at someone I only met two weeks ago over breakfast." Reflecting on her gameplay, she added, "I wish I had been the calm strategic genius everyone thought I was but I only ever played on gut and instinct."
This inability to maintain composure under pressure is a theme that extends beyond the game. Educated at Oxford University, Tyce is the daughter of Lord William Nimmo Smith, a renowned judge. She followed his path into law, working as a barrister for almost ten years before leaving the profession at age 32.
A Life of Transformation: Law, Literature, and Sobriety
Tyce has stated she was a "terrible barrister," citing struggles with alcohol abuse and a desire to focus on raising her children, Freddie, 21, and Eloise, 17. "I was terrible at keeping my cool, I found it a deeply emotional environment," she said of her legal career. "There's a lot of aggression and you have to be able to cope with that. If something seems to be wrong, or if somebody's lying, I get quite worked up."
This propensity for anger was a key reason she ultimately quit law and is also why she pursued sobriety. Tyce is now celebrating three years sober, having had her last drink in June 2022 after a 34-year battle with alcohol, noting that drinking exacerbated her feelings of lost control.
Inspired by her love for Agatha Christie, she turned to writing. After earning a distinction from the University of East Anglia's creative writing MA course in 2017, she has since published four crime novels. Her debut, Blood Orange, was selected by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan for their book club.
