Swansea’s Fiona Hughes, who made show history as the first ever Secret Traitor, left the BBC hit series after a confrontation with fellow Traitor Rachel triggered one of the most dramatic exits of the season.
Fiona said she was “absolutely ecstatic” to enter the castle and described the experience as “wonderful”, recalling the moment she first saw the iconic building and realised she was about to become part of the show.
Becoming the first Secret Traitor
Fiona was handed the red cloak in a twist never seen before on the programme.
Fiona Hughes said: “Finding out I had the red cloak was something else. It was so magical. It’s like waking up on Christmas morning and everything you’ve written on your Christmas list is there.”
She said the power of being a Secret Traitor was “intimidating”, especially as the other Traitors didn’t know who she was, but added that she wasn’t afraid to make decisions alone.
“I loved every single minute of it,” she said. “There wasn’t a moment in the castle where I wasn’t on cloud nine.”
The confrontation that sealed her fate
Fiona said she believed Rachel would eventually “throw her under the bus”, prompting her to confront her fellow Traitor before the endgame.
Fiona Hughes said: “Rachel is phenomenal, but she started playing this game the minute she was selected. She’s a lone wolf, and if she’s going to get rid of somebody from the turret, it will be me.”
She described the atmosphere in the turret as “intense”, saying Rachel’s expression made it clear that only one of them would survive the night.
“There were only ever going to be two outcomes,” she said. “Either I was going to go, or she was going to go.”
(Image: (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert)
‘I had an absolute ball’
Despite her banishment, Fiona said she wouldn’t change a thing about her time on the show.
“Yes, it would have been lovely to have won, but it wasn’t going to happen,” she said. “I wasn’t fetching money to the table.”
She said her standout moment was being chosen as the Secret Traitor, joking that she was so excited she “thought I need a TENA”.
Swansea fame and new friendships
Fiona said one of the best parts of the experience was forming close bonds with the other 21 contestants, who remain in contact through an active WhatsApp group.
Back home, she says the reaction has been “brilliant”, with fans recognising her at Swansea City matches.
Fiona Hughes said: “I’m now an official YJB, which is a very endearing term if you’re a football fan. It’s just lovely when you see children’s faces and they recognise you.”
She hopes fellow Traitors Stephen and Rachel make it to the final, but also praised other players including Matt and James as “formidable”.
Her family and friends suspected she was the Secret Traitor from the start, but she kept the twist tightly under wraps.
