What REALLY happened behind the scenes on The Celebrity Traitors… including why guards had to stop stars sneaking between bedrooms

Television’s sneakiest competition has been given a pinch of stardust. This week, the highly anticipated Famous Traitors finally hit our screens after months of speculation and excitement.

And the future King was among the 6.5 million viewers who tuned in to Wednesday’s opening episode, making it the most-watched Traitors film in the UK to date.

Prince William said he was a fan of the show’s boss, Stephen Lambert, when he awarded him an OBE at Windsor Castle earlier this week, describing the show as ‘a huge prize’.

But one thing is for sure: there will be no special treatment for VIP contestants. Their first task was to dig their own graves.

As we explain in this behind-the-scenes guide, they had to stay in the same cheap airport hotel as their non-celebrity counterparts during filming.

Only real stars need to apply

Show bosses were determined to cast familiar names on The Celebrity Traitors and they certainly succeeded, convincing the likes of Sir Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Clare Balding and Kate Garraway to join.

I’m told they ban ‘low rent’ reality television stars such as Love Island from sitting at the infamous round table.

An industry insider says: ‘The team behind The Traitors have never seen anything like this before.

From the moment the celebrity series was announced last year, the phones have been ringing non-stop from managers wanting to showcase their talents for the show.

‘But it’s been made loud and clear that they only want high-profile household names and not the usual fodder from the reality TV circuit.’

Stars of ‘low rent’ reality TV shows like Love Island banned from sitting at infamous round table

Winner ‘takes’ all

After three civilian series, most viewers learn the rules of the game, and the famous version is no different.

In Wednesday’s opening episode, 19 celebrities arrived at Ardross Castle in the Highlands and, while sitting blindfolded at a round table, host Claudia Winkleman selected the three Traitors – chat show host Jonathan Ross, comedian Alan Carr and singer Cat Burns – by tapping each on the shoulder.

It is now up to the Loyalists to root out this vile trio before they are ‘killed’ one by one.

Celebrity Loyalists who survive to the end have the chance to share in the £100,000 prize money; only in this version of the game the money will go to the charity of their choice.

If a Traitor is not detected, they take the stake (and give it to a good cause).

But the question is: can the traitorous Alan Carr maintain that claim? He has done nothing but sweat and squirm since donning his famous green cloak, admitting: ‘I feel sick. ‘This is the worst secret ever and it’s burning me up, I’m so nervous.’

Celebrity Traitors will soon surpass the 10 million viewership mark, becoming one of the BBC’s most successful reality shows in recent years.

Some friendships have already become strained. Alan Carr ‘killed’ his close friend Paloma Faith by applying poison lily to her face in the second episode

No VIP treatment

In May, when the series was filmed, none of the contestants could stay in the castle despite being famous.

Instead they were forced to settle in slums at the £80-a-night Courtyard by Marriott hotel, which was used for the non-celebrity version of The Traitors.

Just a stone’s throw from Inverness airport, the stars have been housed on one floor and a lockdown-style curfew has been imposed. Their mobile phones were confiscated and they were given ‘production phones’ for emergencies.

‘There would be no social media, just good old-fashioned phone calls,’ says my source.

While the rest of the hotel was still open to the public, celebrities were only allowed out at certain times for smoke breaks and short walks; security guards kept a watchful eye to make sure there were no conversations or sneaks between rooms.

A source says: ‘They must have been in shock, some of them had never been in such a shitty place before, they weren’t exactly healthy.’

While most celebrities travel to Scotland by plane, Celia Imrie arrived by luxury sleeper train.

‘He’s a legend,’ says my source. ‘We couldn’t expect anyone to act harshly from him.’

Famous Traitors was filmed over three weeks and the BBC, wanting to avoid any leaks, has stepped up the broadcast

A nice little win

There’s one big difference between The Traitors and its famous spinoff: VIP cast members were paid to participate.

In the civilian version, there is a small stipend to subsidize time away from work, which works out to around £100 a day.

But I can say that the celebrities are all paid the same flat fee of £40,000.

Famous Traitors was filmed over three weeks and the BBC accelerated its broadcast to prevent any leaks.

But the success of previous demonstrations has been dealt a major blow. Because I can reveal that Syeda Irtizaali, the BBC executive who oversaw the commissioning of The Traitors, has been poached by Netflix.

I was told that Alan Carr was the mastermind behind some of the casting decisions for the Celebrity version, in particular Alan Carr, whom she met when commissioning her show Chatty Man for Channel 4.

Winkleman’s outfits are the work of stylist Sinead McKeefry, who likes to pay homage to the show’s Highland setting.

Fashion war winner

As always, all eyes were on Claudia Winkleman’s wardrobe.

The presenter opened the series wearing her favorite £100 black Spanx tights and a £768 black wool cape from Luxury Family Affair, which reads ‘Celebrities’ on the back. She was also wearing a pair of Givenchy boots worth £1,800.

Winkleman’s outfits are the work of stylist Sinead McKeefry, who likes to pay homage to the show’s Highland setting.

In previous years, the Winkleman effect had caused pieces to sell out, including the chunky red sweater in season two and the dark green Brora knit in season three.

But this year’s celebrity contestants are already trying to give her a run for her money in the style competition.

Celia Imrie led the charge in a Catherine Walker tartan coat with silk velvet collar and cuffs worth £14,900.

Welsh singer Charlotte Church, 39, looked composed in a £260 embroidered maxi dress by Zaimara. And Clare Balding, 54, was wearing a £500 orange double-breasted jacket from British designer Holland Cooper, of which she is an ambassador.

Only Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, 58, opted for a more ‘relatable’ outfit in a £60 Boohoo tartan jacket.

I’m told Paloma Faith was left ‘angry’ because she couldn’t show off her designer wardrobe after becoming the first person killed by the Traitors.

‘I feel like I didn’t even have the opportunity to show off the million outfits I planned to wear to the match,’ he said.

Just Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway (pictured) opted for a more ‘relatable’ outfit in a £58.60 Boohoo tartan jacket

No love is lost anyway

Most of the contestants already know each other.

Jonathan Ross, for example, has known Charlotte Church since the age of 11, when she attended the Big, Big Talent Show she hosted. These long-standing relationships can help form beneficial alliances.

But some friendships have already become strained. In the second episode, Alan Carr ‘killed’ his close friend Paloma Faith by smearing poisonous lilies on her face.

On the podcast The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked on Thursday, host Ed Gamble defended Carr, saying it was a difficult decision.

Faith said she gave Carr a lot of leeway. ‘If the shoe had been on my other foot I wouldn’t have touched Alan’s face.

He categorically had a choice; “Maybe it was the easiest option, but it was the choice he made, and I don’t think it was very nice,” he retorted. Ah!