The Celebrity Traitors series 2 Murdered and Banished contestants have their say as they leave the castle

Amol Rajan was the first Faithful murdered by the Traitors.

How has your time been on The Celebrity Traitors?

I think it's much bigger than I expected. It's just an absolutely unforgettable ride of a lifetime. And honestly, there's kind of an unhappy contrast right now, because I'm sort of grieving what might have been. In time I know that I'll come to look on this as honestly one of the greatest privileges of my life. In fact, I already do. What an amazing thing to do, and it was bigger, it was bolder, it was braver, it was brighter than it looks on TV. And to have been sort of in it when it's a show and a game I love so much is just a blessing, really.

To go back to the start, what did you make of your fellow players?

When the names were announced, there were a couple of names I knew less of. I thought I knew less about King Kenny, for instance, but then I realised that actually I've seen thousands of his videos because I spend a lot of time on YouTube and I'm really into boxing. In fact, I kind of felt with every single one of them, that whilst I may be aware of them, I really didn't know them at all, so I was really able to approach getting to know them in the moment. If you only know the surface level about someone, then you can make a bunch of assumptions that come with that.

It just happens to be the case that I'm the only journalist here, and journalists are meant to be people who ask all the good questions. I was a little self-conscious about whether I should try and play that up to my advantage or whether that might arouse suspicion. How you negotiate your reputation is one of the interesting challenges in the celebrity version of the show. In terms of the cast overall, I thought it was a wonderful, really clever mix of people.

How did it feel being sat there for the Traitors pick?

Even if you're someone who works in TV and is on TV, there is still something amazing about actually being in the place that you see on TV! You see it so many times, and the kind of theatrical energy and character of that Round Table itself. I know it's such an overused word, but it is iconic. To actually be there, taking in that this is a real place, and I'm actually here – well, it's spine tingling. Then the TV thoughts are put aside and very quickly it's game time.

Did you enjoy the Mission?

What an experience! When else are you going to do that? If my 21-year-old self was told that I was going to be stood in a wetsuit, with new walking boots, on a beach in front of a burning shipwreck, next to Jerry Hall, telling me she was about to wield a crowbar and that she was an expert in it, I’d have said your life has turned out pretty damn well! I loved it, unconditionally, like absolutely a 100% fantastic experience, thrilling, and I just wish I could do it again and lots of times.

Let’s talk about your face to face murder and the buildup in the chapel….

Last year I went to a pilgrimage in India for a BBC One documentary, travelling to the River Ganges. It’s called the Kumbh Mela, and it's just once every 12 years. It's the biggest religious gathering in the world, and it's about the alignment of Jupiter, the Moon, the Earth, and the Sun. Millions of people attend and there is chanting, smoke, rituals, people dressed in special garments, and it felt very heightened. I haven't felt that same intensity until last night in the chapel. Last night in the chapel, every sensation was turned up to the absolute max.

I'd been on this massive roller coaster of thinking that I was out, then thinking I was reprieved, then thinking, oh wait a second, this could get complicated. Walking into that beautiful chapel I saw one of the greatest comedians of his generation, in James Acaster, a legend, wonderful human being who has become my mate, and I'm thinking, what are you doing here, mate? Are you a Traitor? It suddenly dawned on me that there were a couple of open coffins, and he said, "I'm not a Traitor. And there are two coffins up there,” and I thought, okay, here we go.

Did you have any idea who the Traitors were?

No, I can’t say I did. Not with Maya anyway. I mean, it all makes sense in hindsight. And Richard straight up told us! I think the Faithful have got a real challenge now with Acaster in the mix. I think he is going to be brilliant.

If you could have addressed the others still in the game before leaving or left them with any advice, what would you have said?

I would have said, at this early stage of the game, we have to acknowledge it's a game of information, and the longer the game goes on, the more information you have. Right now, we don't have much information. We can all come up with our great grand theories of everything, but no one really knows. The one thing we do know is that Richard is either a Traitor, as he said, or a bad Faithful!

Richard E. Grant was the first Traitor banished at the round table.

You got your wish when you were selected as a Traitor. What was going through your mind when you felt that tap on your shoulder?

I was absolutely exhilarated, because it was only on the fourth round of Claudia walking around that I was finally rewarded. I'd heard such panic breathing from Miranda Hart on my right-hand side, coughing from Jerry Hall on my left. Between these two respiratory ladies, I nearly gave up hope.

It would have been an excellent cover for you. Nobody would have heard you gasping with joy. And then you discovered Maya was your colleague. How did you find that partnership?

I had no idea at all because I had no interaction with Maya other than an initial meeting at the beginning. She wasn't even on my radar as a possible fellow Traitor. But because I had botched the role so staggeringly by saying "I am a Traitor," and then had people believe me, I had to hand over all power to Maya, and I think she enjoyed that.

What was the thinking behind telling people? Was it meant to be a big double bluff?

Joe asked me. He said, "Are you a Traitor?” I suppose what I should have done in retrospect is go round everybody and say, "Are you a Traitor? Yeah. I am a Traitor, I am Spartacus. I am a Traitor” to try and make light of it, but that may have dug my grave even deeper. It was a completely catastrophically idiotic thing to do! I can only imagine the faces of the producers looking at each other and mouthing ‘he said WHAT?!’

It certainly is a different strategy…

The strategy of no strategy is the strategy, clearly. I'd watched every iteration that I possibly could have of this game and I was manifesting, willing myself to get invited to be a Traitor so receiving that…well, I lost all sense of self control.

Straight to business with your first murder and recruiting a third Traitor all at once. What a dramatic first act! Why Amol and James?

Amol had been asking me questions, and was absolutely vehement that I was definitely a Traitor. I knew that I was absolutely in his sights, and then James Acaster, I was told, was the most trustworthy player. So, if somebody was going to be able to calm the waters, deflect and defend my having said this stupid thing, he would be the one. In retrospect, I made a second calamitously ill-judged decision by choosing him because he didn't defend me at all. All he was thinking about was I’m now a Traitor and I must get rid of Richard as quickly as possible, which he did. Exactly what I would have done if I'd had the smarts that he does!

Did you expect the Round Table to go that way?

Yes, I did because when we were in the bar before going into the Round Table, Myha’la had made eye contact with me directly, but few others did. Miranda Hart was very friendly, and I thought, "Ah, she's doing this to try and ameliorate the fact that she's about to stab me” which is exactly what happened. I just felt it in the room before we headed into that Round Table.

It's one thing getting the votes from the Faithful, but what about James and Maya? Did that surprise you?

It didn't surprise me because they have to save themselves, and at the Round Table, James never uttered a word, other than when he was asked, "Who have you chosen and why?” He never said a word before, so he clearly listened to everything, and it was a tsunami of my name round the table. So, to have gone against that like Joanne did is risking your neck.

How did it then feel announcing to the room that you were a Traitor, and properly this time?!

I said, "it's been my dream manifested to be chosen as a Traitor. And sometimes in life, your dreams come true, and sometimes they don't.” And my face dropped, and all the people in front of me looked as if they had made the wrong decision. Oh my God, he is Faithful after all! And then I said, “I am an unfaithful Traitor,” to an instant unanimous standing ovation. It was a double-edged sword of the joy of being released and the humiliation of them being so glee-filled that they got one so early in the game. I gave it to them on a platter.

Do you want to see the Traitors go on and win?

I truly hope and believe that Maya and James Acaster are going to win.

What advice would you give to firstly the Traitors to go all the way, and secondly the Faithful? What should they be looking for?

They should take care not to engage with any 69-year-old actors!

And finally, if you could sum up the experience in three words, what would they be?

I’d say it’s been unforgettable, mischievous and lovely!

Myha’la was a Faithful and the second player banished at the round table.

What was the experience like for you?

It was so surprising because I went into this having seen people in past series get emotional on the show, and I kind of thought this is ridiculous, just lock into the game; it shouldn't be a problem. I had no problem cutting myself off from the outside world, I just wanted to be in the game and give it my all. But I think because I was so Traitor-minded, I had done all this planning and poring over in my mind for weeks on end about how I'd be as a Traitor that when I got chosen as a Faithful I felt so confused and lost. I had no plan and I’m a planner, that's how I function in this life. And so, the excitement that the game had begun, the fear of being a Faithful with no plan, and also then the complete and absolute loss of any sense of control. As a Faithful, you are completely a pawn, especially so early in the game. You can't really strategize that well because you can't trust anyone at all.

How did you go about adapting?

It took me one night, but by the second day, I had come to the conclusion that my strategy as a Faithful was that I just had to be 100% honest, 100% of the time. You can't be caught in a lie if you're never lying.

Who did you trust and get close to?

Well, I immediately got close to Richard, just because I feel like we’re twin flames. Really, I shouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him, which is ultimately, I think, my demise. Truly, I had a moment with everyone, which was so lovely. I felt quite close to Romesh. I felt close to Bella at points, although I knew right away that they were suspicious of me. That one was really heartbreaking. I also hit it off pretty quickly with Leigh-Anne and Maya, we just had fun together. Really, outside of the game, I’ve made some great new friendships. I can't wait to have a pen pal in Richard. I think Bella and I will stay connected as well. We're HBO siblings!

How did you find the missions?

Oh, they were so fun! I was shocked in the first mission at how difficult it was because whenever I watch the show I’m thinking, oh, these people aren't participating but in practice, I was like, oh hell no! I'm sorry, but a huge solid wood crate filled with water is like the heaviest thing. But then you get on in there with James Blunt, who has the strength of 1000 military men, and you fully commit to the job. Ross thrives in the missions too. I think they’re his happy place. I found that my role was often observing from a little bit of a distance because when there's so much energy up close, sometimes you can miss things. In yesterday's mission I did get a shield, that was short lived…if only, if only, if only….

What's been your proudest achievement?

I think I really defended myself well in that final Round Table. You always ruminate and think, "Oh, why didn't I say this? Why didn't I say that?” But generally, I thought I had something. I mean, I had the truth, but I also had a strong counter to every argument said against me and I did it with grace, I think.

Do you think you've learned anything about yourself?

I’m built to be a Traitor. If they want me back as a Traitor, I'm waiting. Yeah, I'd be back, but there are conditions! I'm not built to be a Faithful because I’m all about planning and having control and you just can't plan for the unknown. I'm annoyed that Richard couldn't stay in because I feel like he could have brought me to the turret and I would have let him win. I would have gladly led him to glory! There’s an alternate universe in which he and I get to the final.

But for the rest of this game, where you have been a Faithful, do you leave your heart with them and hope they get the win?

No! I want there to be carnage. Okay, I think I couldn't ever be a properly good Faithful because I always want to be a Traitor. I love the chaos. That's why we watch the game. It's fun to watch. It’s about the event, it’s just a game and we want to see wild twists that keep us glued to the fun. So, I hope for more chaos!