Contestant Ross from the hit BBC series The Traitors has opened up about a heart-stopping moment of panic that threatened to expose his secret relationship with fellow player Ellie from the very first episode.
The Moment of Panic on Arrival
In his first interview since being banished from the Scottish castle on Wednesday night, Ross described the instant his game plan almost unravelled. As the 22 supposed strangers gathered at the start of the series, he was greeted enthusiastically by an old friend, Netty, who was also a contestant.
"Netty has gone, 'Ross!' and I was like, 'No, no' and I froze," he explained on the Uncloaked podcast. "She's run and jumped into my arms." The problem was that his girlfriend, psychologist Ellie, was watching nearby and had no idea who Netty was.
Ross admitted he was sent into a state of 'fear', more concerned about Ellie's reaction than the suspicious glances from other players. "I was like, 'I don't care about you lot right now. Someone who my partner has no idea who they are has just jumped into my arms'," he recalled.
Keeping the Romance Under Wraps
The couple, both from London, finally confirmed their relationship status after Ross's banishment. Ellie confessed in the diary room: "Ross is actually my boyfriend."
Ross revealed that hiding their romance was surprisingly simple. "Hiding the relationship with Ellie was the easiest thing ever," he said. "Any time we had an interaction, I was happy to see her because I was under pressure the whole time, so Ellie was my safe space in the game."
However, he admitted the secrecy led to some paranoia, joking that he began to suspect Ellie was a Traitor because she would often avoid speaking to him during the game to maintain their cover.
Suspicions and the Aftermath
Viewers' suspicions about Ross and Ellie knowing each other began in the first episode, screened last Wednesday, when they were seen sitting opposite each other on the train to the Highlands, appearing overly familiar.
These suspicions were later confirmed when a group photo from a work trip in June 2024, featuring both Ellie and Ross, surfaced online. The pair have also both posted holiday snaps from the same Tenerife location since filming ended in May last year.
Ross's connection to Netty ultimately contributed to his downfall, earning him six votes at the Round Table. Mike Cotton, Creative Director at Studio Lambert, told the Daily Mail that producers were aware Netty and Ross followed each other on social media but deemed the link tenuous. Neither player was warned ahead of the opening scene, as producers wanted to capture their natural reaction.
On his exit, Ross remained positive: "It's bittersweet... I genuinely feel like I did burn bright and go out in a blaze of glory." He added, "I am Ellie's biggest fan boy, so I hope she goes on to win."
