"I'm a huge fan of the show."
The game of deception, trust and behavioural scrutiny returned as the new series of The Traitors began on New Year’s Day.
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, 22 contestants entered the show vying to potentially win hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Hidden among the contestants are the Traitors whose job is to secretly murder their fellow players, without getting caught.
It’s up to the others, the Faithfuls, to try to detect who the traitors are and banish them from the game before they become their next victim.
For the lucky ones who survive to the end, they have the chance of winning that life-changing cash. But if a Traitor remains undetected, they’ll take it all.
Series three saw Jake Brown and Leanne Quigley win.
The new batch of contestants include a poker-playing gardener, a barrister and a cyber security consultant.
Among the series four contestants are Faraaz and Maz.
Let’s find out more about them.
Faraaz
Faraaz is a 22-year-old internal auditor from Middlesbrough and one of the youngest contestants in the game.
He said: “I applied to be on The Traitors because I’m a huge fan of the show. I’ve been watching it since series one, and I thought it would be something that I’d really love to take part in and just immerse myself in that experience.”
Faraaz believes emotional detachment could work in his favour during intense moments:
“You can see how it’s possible to get very invested and show emotions. However, I think I can detach from my emotions quite easily and therefore I’ll be able play with my head over my heart.”
He also sees his personality as a strength in building alliances.
When it comes to strategy, Faraaz highlighted the importance of restraint early on.
He said: “One thing is it’s important not to be too boisterous at the start, because you can’t win at the start. You can only lose.
“So, I think just keep some opinions and some cards close to your chest at the beginning and then observe everyone else.”
He describes himself as competitive but he is not obsessed with winning.
Physically, he feels prepared for the Missions.
He says: “Yes, I think the Missions are something that I’ll be good at. I’m a fairly fit young lad, so I think I’ll be alright.”
However, he admits heights could be an issue.
He says:
“What might be a challenge is maybe if there’s any height involved, sometimes my legs get a bit wobbly.”
The Traitors centres around deceit and Faraaz will not hesitate to “throw people under the bus” if he needs to.
If he wins the prize money, family comes first.
He says: “If I win the prize money, I’d love to be able to spend it on me and my family to make a religious pilgrimage.”
Maz
Maz is a 59-year-old civil servant from Preston who brings decades of life experience into the game.
He explained: “I love the programme, so that’s a good start. I love the whole essence of The Traitors, from the Missions, to the conversations, to the relationships you make and the game itself.”
Maz believes his varied background shapes how he approaches the competition.
He said: “I’m 59 and I’ve done various things in my life, so I feel as though I’ve got good life experience.
“I think I can bring some humour, some chilled out moments, some interesting thoughts, and I think I will be able to add to the jigsaw of the game.”
When it comes to strategy, Maz plans to stay authentic. However, his competitive nature is well known at home.
He said: “I think my family would say that I’m very competitive. I don’t like losing, especially if I think I’m good at something.”
Maz feels confident heading into the Missions, citing his fitness and team mentality.
He said: “I’m quite active and I think I’m quite fit for my age. I play football twice a week, so I think I’ll bring that energy and drive.
“I enjoy being part of a team, having fun, and trying to get the job done.”
On deception, Maz leaves judgment to others.
He said: “I’m told I’ve got a warm, friendly face, but my past occupation would say that I could be quite poker-faced.”
Maz is clear that he views the competition for what it is:
“It’s just a game at the end of the day, so you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
If he wins the prize money, Maz says it would go towards supporting his large family.
He added: “Listen, that money would be good.”
The first episode of The Traitors saw Stephen, Hugo and Rachel as the Traitors.
She also announced the existence of an unidentified Secret Traitor, unsettling the trio.
It will be up to the contestants to figure out who are the traitors as they spend time with each other at a castle in the Scottish Highlands.
The Traitors airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
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