The spotlight on BBC's The Traitors has illuminated more than just cunning gameplay; it has revealed a profound personal victory for contestant Harriet Tyce. The 53-year-old crime writer and former barrister has publicly shared her remarkable transformation, having lost a staggering four stone after quitting alcohol in 2024, following a 34-year battle with drinking.
From Courtroom Dramas to Castle Intrigue
Harriet Tyce became a talking point on Wednesday night's episode of the hit reality show after being banished from the castle. Her exit came on the heels of a fierce campaign to expose fellow contestant Rachel Duffy as a Traitor. In a strategic move, Tyce revealed her previous career as a barrister to her co-stars, leveraging her legal expertise as a trump card to prove her skill in unmasking deceit.
However, in a candid 2024 article for The Observer, she confessed that her alcoholism had made her 'a terrible barrister'. She detailed a pattern of self-sabotage, including falling over in chambers and arriving late and hungover to work. This honest reflection contrasts sharply with the confident persona she projected in the game, shortly before her departure, when she declared she was 'coming for' Rachel Duffy.
A Sobering Transformation and Soaring Success
Harriet Tyce's journey to sobriety began on 7 June 2022, a date she marks as the day she stopped ruining her life. Her Instagram account now serves as a testament to her recovery, filled with before-and-after images that showcase her dramatic physical change. She has branded herself 'an advert' to stop drinking.
In March of last year, she celebrated 1001 days sober, joyfully noting the end of "drunken rambling stories." She wrote on social media that while she had professional achievements in 2024, the true victory was continuing her sober life, adding: 'I’m a lot happier now (and weigh 4 stone less which is a lot easier on my aging knees!)'.
Life After the Law: A Literary Boom
Leaving the legal profession behind has catalysed extraordinary success in her writing career. Since her appearance on The Traitors, intrigue around Tyce has sent her book sales skyrocketing. According to The Bookseller, sales have increased by an incredible 95.6% since she hit screens.
Weekly sales figures jumped from an average of 181 copies to 354, with her recent novel A Lesson in Cruelty driving much of the growth. The Edinburgh-born author has released three books to date, with a new novel, Witch Trial, scheduled for release next month. Her story is one of radical reinvention, proving that sometimes the most faithful traitor is the one you betray within yourself.
