The Traitors winner Stephen Libby has opened up on his major show ‘mistakes’ that left him ‘shocked’ to take home the huge cash prize – that has allowed him to leave his job and ‘enjoy life’.
The TV star, who was announced as the winner of the BBC series alongside Rachel Duffy last Friday night by host Claudia Winkleman, took to This Morning in the wake of the big reveal.
Stephen, 32, Rachel, James Baker, Faraaz Noor, Jade Scott, and Jack Butler went head-to-head to be crowned the winner in the tense episode.
The group ultimately chose to banish Faraaz first, before voting to eliminate Jack in a dramatic second round of banishment – leaving Rachel and Stephen to take the money.
Traitors Rachel and Stephen were left overwhelmed with emotion as host Claudia Winkleman announced they had won the game, with each contestant taking home a whopping £47,875.
But it came as a surprise to Stephen, who admitted that looking back over the series, he felt he made some key ‘mistakes’ during his time as a Traitor.
The Traitors winner Stephen Libby has opened up on his major show ‘mistakes’ that left him ‘shocked’ to take home the huge cash prize – that has allowed him to leave his job
The win came as a surprise to Stephen, who admitted that looking back over the series, he felt he made some key ‘mistakes’ during his time as a Traitor
He told This Morning hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: ‘It’s very stressful in there, like at breakfast I knew who isn’t coming but you’ve got to act shocked.
‘I made so many mistakes in there, I was embroiled in so many dramas and theories… when Jessie pulled me up on the final five theory, it’s the first time I’d realised I’d made a catastrophic error as a Traitor.
‘It was only two days into my time as a Traitor, so I still had the training wheels on – and when she brought it up I thought, “How could I be so silly?”
‘I was making a lot of mistakes in the beginning, and I think I had so many moments where I thought I’m not cut out for it.
‘I don’t think I looked like a skilled liar, my face was perpetually shocked, I was always sweating, I was always red, the big eyes, but consistency is key.
‘I was consistently shocked and looking scared so I don’t think anyone thought there was anything weird about it.’
The final saw Stephen and Rachel banish Jack, sticking together in order to win the show as the Traitors – which Stephen joked made the pair ‘Faithful’.
He added: ‘We all get on so well, all of us – the [Faithful] were just so supportive and were so proud of me and Rachel.
Stephen opened up on the ‘mistakes’ he made during his time on the BBC One show
The TV star, who was announced as the winner of the BBC series alongside Rachel Duffy last Friday night by host Claudia Winkleman, took to This Morning in the wake of the big reveal
‘Because of the way it ended, the Faithful’s kind of felt like it was almost like a Faithful win because [Rachel and I] stuck together, it was amazing.
‘At the end of the day, I was only standing at the final fire pit because of Rachel. I didn’t deserve that money any more than she did, I was never going to take all the money for myself.
‘I wanted to be able to leave with my head held high, I had stuck to my promise.’
Asked what he planned to do with the huge prize money, Stephen admitted he wasn’t working and was hoping to ‘enjoy life’ with the impressive winnings.
He continued: ‘[The money] is not in [my account] yet, but I’m not checking because I want to get a nice surprise when it comes in.’
‘I’ve left my job so really it’s just allowing me to just survive for the next wee while as well,’ he added, as Ben chimed in: ‘Just enjoy life!’
The star, who became well known for his vintage fashion style during the series, also joked he would be heading out on a shopping trip with his winnings.
Opening up on the behind-the-scenes of the show, the Traitor joked he struggled to pack all the outfits he already owns to take to Ardross Castle.
The star revealed he struggled to pack his bag while preparing for Ardross Castle
Stephen, 32, Rachel, James Baker, Faraaz Noor, Jade Scott, and Jack Butler went head-to-head to be crowned the winner in the tense episode
Stephen admitted that the BBC cast have a ‘limit’ on how much they are allowed to take with them, which left him stuffing his bag to the brim.
He joked: ‘I do love clothes – these clothes are what I wear on a day-to-day basis, it’s not like I curated a wardrobe for The Traitors specifically and 90% of what I wore on the show I already owned.
‘I took two suitcases and a hope and a prayer, because I was shoving my foot into the case trying to sit on it and close it, there was a limit and I had to stick to that limit.
‘I went to the nth degree of the limit as well.’
It comes after it was revealed The Traitors is set to get a ‘bold and surprising’ new adaptation as the BBC have announced they are transforming the hit reality TV format – for the STAGE.
Production companies Studio Lambert and Neal Street Productions, which are behind the making of the popular series, announced a theatrical format of the show is currently in development to launch in London next year.
Written by Good Omens’ John Finnermore and directed by the Olivier award-winning Robert Hastie, the stage version follows on from the success of the TV series, which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman.
The new stage show’s creators have teased ‘a bold and surprising’ experience for fans of The Traitors – set in a ‘thrilling new hunting ground’.
Stephen won the series alongside Rachel Duffy
Stephen became known on the show for his eye-catching dress sense
CEO of Studio Lambert, Stephen Lambert, said: ‘Taking The Traitors from screen to stage is a hugely exciting next step for this much-loved brand.
‘Partnering with Neal Street Productions, a true theatrical powerhouse, allows us to reimagine the show as a bold and surprising theatrical performance.
‘Faithful fans should expect an intense, joyful night out as we reveal a thrilling new hunting ground for our Traitors.’
While Neal Street Production’s Caro Newling added that the show would be a ‘bold, structural twist to the format only a live medium can provide’.
Production details, including when fans can expect the show to make its debut, are yet to be announced.
The Traitors is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now
