Following Alan Carr‘s unexpected win on the first Celebrity Traitors, a contestant on the first civilian season has opened up about about the controversial move that forced bosses to change the rules of the game forever.
Kieran Tompsett, a consultant from Hertfordshire, shocked viewers in 2022 when he was eliminated in the final episode after revealing the final traitor, Wilfred, with a look that some branded ‘cheating’.
He later explained that he felt a sense of loyalty to the Faithfuls and Aaron, in particular, who planned on using the prize money to help his mum buy her house.
Kieran’s controversial ‘parting gift’ came after Wilfred recruited him as a Traitor, then encouraged the Faithfuls to vote Kieran out.
He said at the roundtable: ‘I’ve done all I can, I’m so happy for you,’ before looking at Wilfred to let the others know who the final Traitor was.
The contestant, whose actions saw the Faithfuls walk away with £101,050 between them, insisted that his controversial action ‘wasn’t a rule at the time,’ although he said ‘it couldn’t be replicated now.’
Kieran Tompsett, a consultant from Hertfordshire, shocked viewers on the first season of The Traitors in 2022 when he was eliminated in the final episode after revealing the final traitor, Wilfred, with a look that some branded ‘cheating’
The contestant, whose actions saw the Faithfuls walk away with £101,050 between them, insisted that his controversial action ‘wasn’t a rule at the time’ although he said ‘it couldn’t be replicated now.’
Kieran, whose actions were supported by the BBC, said: ‘Adjustments have now been made on The Traitors to ensure that a similar stunt can’t be pulled off again.’
Speaking in partnership with Slingo, he admitted: ‘A show psychologists said it was one of the smartest moves that could have been made.
‘I was thinking I can change people’s lives. If I didn’t do what I’d done, the outcome was inevitable, we knew how it was gonna go, so I had a very simple choice to make.
‘I’d say it was like a 30/70 [who thought it was cheating as opposed to not]. It was a BAFTA TV moment of the year.
‘The BBC had to release a statement [to say] there was no cheating. It was not a rule at the time. Now they certainly can’t have that going forward, but I don’t think anyone would ever try and replicate the parting gifts because you can’t.
‘But at the time it wasn’t a rule. It can’t be a rule break if it isn’t a rule.’
Reflecting on his actions, Kieran said he had ‘no regrets about the way I played the game’ as ‘it’s still a talking point now’.
He said: ‘That moment made that show. Me and Will have had discussions about it. I think if Will had won, we [would have] all got loads of stick, but I think it saved him.’
Kieran, whose actions were supported by the BBC, said: ‘Adjustments’ have now been made on The Traitors to ensure that a similar stunt can’t be pulled off again’
Even though Kieran didn’t win the show, he described his participation as ‘one of the highlights of his life’
Even though Kieran didn’t win the show, he described his participation as ‘one of the highlights of his life.’
He said: ‘You’re never gonna be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s what’s brilliant about The Traitors because it gets people talking and debating and someone will like someone, someone will like another person, some will grate on you, and that’s why The Traitors is so successful.
‘Do I have any regrets? Absolutely not. It changed my life, won the show a BAFTA. It’s one of the highlights of my life because it’s such a talking point.
‘They have obviously made adjustments now going forward, but you still saw it with Freddie last year, with Charlotte, he made a little comment on his way out which put her in the frame.
‘Some things you can’t change – that’s going to be the dynamics of the game. Luckily, it’s set in stone that it won’t ever happen again.’
The contestant’s comments come after Celebrity Traitors has been renewed for a second season just days after the record-breaking first series saw more than 14 million viewers tune in to see Alan Carr win.
Celebrity Traitors has been renewed for a second season just days after the record-breaking first series saw more than 11 million viewers tune in to see Alan Carr win
The BBC One series, which is a spin-off of the regular format of The Traitors, launched in October with a star-studded line-up of famous faces
The BBC One series, which is a spin-off of the regular format of The Traitors, launched in October with a star-studded line-up of famous faces.
While rumours had been circulating that celebrity names were already being thrown into the hat for a second series, the broadcaster has now confirmed it’ll be back on screens in 2026.
Host Claudia Winkleman will once again be back as host as a new group of contestants take on the game of trust and treachery.
Brand new episodes of spin-off series Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked will also return to BBC Two and BBC Sounds.
The BBC’s head of entertainment, Kalpna Patel-Knight said: ‘In 2026 the doors of the castle will be opened again to welcome celebrity players to the game to see who can charm, who can scheme and ultimately who can survive in series two which promises to be just as unmissable as the first.
‘Plus with Uncloaked returning and today’s news of the positive contribution The Traitors brand has made to Scotland’s economy, there is plenty to celebrate.’
While the director of BBC Scotland added: ‘The Traitors is an immense TV success story and it’s fantastic to have multiple versions of it filmed in Scotland.
‘We welcome and celebrate it. This report highlights the many ways that Scotland is seeing a direct economic benefit from The Traitors filming here and, working together with our partners, we will use this success to promote sustainable growth within Scotland’s creative industry.’
The Traitors is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
