Welsh Traitor Reveals Drink Tactic in BBC Castle Betrayal
A Welsh grandmother has lifted the lid on her cunning tactics during her stint on the BBC's hit reality series The Traitors, revealing how she attempted to manipulate fellow contestants through alcohol whilst maintaining her own sobriety.
Fiona Hughes, a 62-year-old local government officer from Swansea, entered the Scottish castle earlier this month as one of the show's secret traitors. Her dramatic elimination following a spectacular betrayal of fellow traitor Rachel has become one of the series' most talked-about moments.
A Calculated Deception
The Welsh contestant revealed her shrewd strategy involved deliberately abstaining from alcohol whilst encouraging her fellow players to indulge. "I don't drink much anyway, so they had little bottles of wine and I think they may have had beer. So what I drink is wine squash. I wanted to completely have my wits about me all the time," Hughes explained.
Her calculated approach extended to sharing her diluted drinks with other contestants. "I was having a little bit out of a bottle with water and then giving it to Hugo. I wanted to get them drunk. Well, if they drink it they might wake up with a hangover and be a bit loose-lipped and I'd be able to manipulate them and I could glean some information from them."
Celtic Pride and Loyalty
Despite her elimination, Hughes remains fiercely loyal to her fellow Celtic traitors. "I'm still team traitor and I sincerely want Rachel and Stephen to go all the way, be the Celtic warriors, you know," she declared, demonstrating the kind of regional pride that resonates with traditional British values.
The grandmother's experience in the castle, which she described as "very Hogwarts and magical," captured the imagination of her extended family. Her revelation as a traitor came as a complete shock to her loved ones, including her husband and son, creating what she described as "uproar" during their family viewing party.
Strategic Miscalculation
Hughes acknowledged that her dramatic confrontation with Rachel was a calculated risk that ultimately backfired. "I fired a shot too early at Rachel, but I knew she's such a fantastic player and that it was my only opportunity," she admitted.
The Welsh contestant's decision to challenge Rachel publicly, asking if she was "fibbing" rather than using harsher language, reflected her more genteel approach to the game's brutal politics.
Her elimination serves as a reminder that even the most carefully laid plans can unravel in the high-stakes environment of reality television, where traditional British values of fair play often clash with the demands of strategic gameplay.
The series continues to captivate audiences with its blend of psychological warfare and quintessentially British castle setting, proving that homegrown television can still command attention in an increasingly globalised media landscape.