Contestants on the upcoming BBC series Celebrity Traitors are feeling paranoid and anxious after producers refused to let them see advance edited footage before broadcast.
The high-stakes reality competition, produced by Studio Lambert for the BBC, begins airing its inaugural celebrity edition on Thursday. Seasoned television personalities taking part in the show have been denied access to advance cuts of the episodes, leaving them nervous about how their behavior will be framed on screen.
Presenter and novelist Richard Osman, 55, and co-host Marina Hyde discussed the cast's mounting pre-broadcast anxieties on this week's episode of their podcast, The Rest Is Entertainment.
Osman, who presents the BBC quiz show House Of Games, explained that it is highly unusual for established television stars not to be shown preview footage of a series prior to transmission.
He revealed that while the celebrity contestants have requested to view advance cuts, show bosses have firmly refused to release them.
Osman noted that the cast's nerves stem from not knowing how editors will choose to portray their actions and conversations in the castle.
Speaking on the podcast, Osman said: "They're all still in the position now where they haven't seen a cut. And they, by the way, they never do a show where they haven't seen a cut of it beforehand."
Hyde chimed in during the discussion, adding: "Well, they've asked for them if they have not given them."
Osman replied: "Oh, of course. Of course, they're not given them. And so, everyone is nervous because they, you know, because they are professionals and they do understand, oh, what if they just keep in that one thing that I did, then they don't keep in that thing. So, everyone will worry."
Concerns over editing and portrayals
Despite the widespread apprehension among the cast, Osman insisted that the contestants will ultimately have nothing to worry about, pointing to the reputation and standards of the production team.
Osman said: "I think because the way Studio Lambert make television and the way that the BBC will edit it, everyone's going to be okay."
However, the presenter acknowledged that he understood why participants were experiencing sleepless nights in the days leading up to the premiere.
Osman said: "But people are naturally paranoid beforehand because of course you go to sleep and you wake up thinking, 'Oh my god, but what if I'm edited in this way and this is such a huge deal and it's such a huge program and what if this is not understood' So I absolutely get it."
He expressed confidence that the show would be a television hit, adding: "I don't think it will be an issue. I think people will just fall in love with the show again. But yeah, it starts on uh Thursday which is very very exciting."
Osman also observed that each iteration of the psychological game develops a distinct dynamic, noting that previous games are fed into it whenever a new group plays.
Format pressure and narrative control
Hyde highlighted the revealing nature of The Traitors, explaining that the format places participants under unique psychological scrutiny that differs from traditional reality broadcasting.
She said: "This format can be exposing. You think it won't be because you don't have to talk about your personal life and they don't have to see you brushing your teeth."
Comparing the upcoming celebrity edition to earlier civilian runs, Hyde suggested that the new cast might be caught off guard by the intensity of the competition.
She said: "But I think everyone will have been lulled last year, that was an immediate minting of national treasures. But I think this time will be a very different game."
The podcast hosts also discussed how established celebrities often attempt to executive produce their own storylines, creating tension when they realize they cannot control the narrative arc of the show.
Hyde said: "I have heard that a version of the thing about all these celebrities is a lot of them basically executive produce their own shows or have certainly executive producer credit and there is a real tendency to want to executive produce your arc on this show. And you can't."
She further explained that public profile creates an inherent divide among the cast, putting younger or lesser-known contestants at a distinct disadvantage during round-table eliminations.
Referring to actor Sebastian Croft, Hyde noted: "Who you are in the outside world is a big part of this show which isn't in [the] civilian version and which is why people who are kind of younger and like someone like Sebastian Croft..."
She added: "Or whatever you're at a sort of disadvantage because the ones who everybody knows have a kind of advantage and they do slightly pick off the kind of younger and less well-known members of the herd."
Reunion of Soho comedy veterans
Earlier this week, contestant Rob Beckett, 40, spoke about the surreal nature of taking part in the high-profile game show alongside long-time friends from the British stand-up circuit.
Beckett is competing alongside fellow comedians Romesh Ranganathan, 48, Joe Lycett, 38, and James Acaster, 41.
Reflecting on their shared history, Beckett recalled how the four comics performed together nearly two decades ago in intimate London venues long before achieving television fame.
Beckett said: "I think I'll just find the whole scenario hilarious because it's just so surreal to be around that group of people, and to be with a few people I know."
He added: "Romesh, obviously everyone knows we're such good friends, but Joe Lycett and James Acaster, I did gigs with them nearly 20 years ago, in pubs in Soho in front of eight people, and now all of a sudden we're in this situation."
The comedian described taking part in the BBC series alongside old colleagues as a meaningful milestone in their respective careers.
Beckett said: "So, it's quite a reflective moment to consider this journey we've all gone on to now be on the biggest show on TV."
He added: "Everyone wants to be on it, and we're very lucky to be here and to be here with friends and people that I've come through the ranks with and been able to confide in over the years."
Beckett concluded: "It's quite nice to see all of us here as grown-ups."
Tactics, betrayal and elimination
Despite his fond memories and close personal ties with his fellow comedians, Beckett insisted that friendship would not stop him from playing ruthlessly on Celebrity Traitors.
When asked whether he would betray his friends as part of the game, Beckett gave a straightforward answer: "Oh yes, if it's part of the game."
He made clear that he expected equal ruthless play from his peers, adding: "And I'd expect vice versa. If I get done, I get done."
Beckett emphasized that he would maintain a lighthearted attitude towards potential murder or banishment during the competition.
He said: "I'll be competitive, but if I get murdered or banished or whatever the situation is, of course I'll be disappointed for a minute."
He added: "And then I'll think, do you know what? I'm going home, and I've got a couple of weeks off!"
Meanwhile, Romesh Ranganathan admitted last week that he is already wary of his long-time friend and screen partner.
Speaking about Beckett, Ranganathan said: "Well, it's weird, isn't it? Because Rob is one of my best friends, and we'worked together for a decade now, but I still won't be able to trust it."
Ranganathan highlighted Beckett's unpredictable nature, adding: "I mean, he's just as easily going to be on my side as he is going to twist the knife in my back given the opportunity. I mean, it's completely unpredictable."
The new series of Celebrity Traitors launches on Thursday on the BBC.
