Mollie Pearce, star of The Traitors, has revealed the moment that caused her to break down in tears during the ultimate game of deception and treachery.
The 22-year-old made it all the way to the final of the BBC programme as a Faithful, but almost missed out on the £95,150 grand prize after erroneously identifying Jaz Singh as a Traitor.
While she did not eventually receive the large prize, the Bristol-based model left an indelible impact on viewers and became an inspiration to many for raising awareness about irritable bowel disorders and disabilities.
Mollie utilises a stoma bag after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 11 and after significant surgery. She was also born with a limb difference on her right hand.
Mollie stated that she was overwhelmed when The Traitors production crew presented her with her first tailor-made glove for her right hand for the missions.
She explained: ‘For my hand, I had gloves made and it was the cutest thing ever. I can actually cry about it now. They had the glove completely the shape of my hand.’
Mollie also said she was permitted to keep the leather gloves she was given for the now-iconic funeral scene in which homosexual icon Diane Carson led the procession to her own burial.
‘Now I just need to find an event to wear that at as feel like it won’t be acceptable to wear them down the supermarket,’ Mollie quipped.
When asked about any adaptations needed for her stoma, she replied: ‘Stoma wise, there’s not really anything I needed adapting.
‘There was always a toilet on site when we were doing the missions, and that was the main thing I needed.’
Unfortunately, since The Traitors aired, Mollie has received ‘vile’ jibes from trolls about her final decision-making process, as well as the ‘crazy’ notion that she fancies Harry.
For the record, Mollie has no feelings for the Traitor and is in a relationship with her ‘wonderful’ partner Max, and Harry is seeing CBBC presenter Anna Maynard.
Shutting down the speculation, she said: ‘It’s crazy that in this day and age, a boy and a girl can’t be friends. Harry and I were similar ages so we were always going to have a lot in common.
‘For me now having watched the show, it’s crazy that people would even think that because I don’t think any of us at any point were flirting with each other.
‘It’s so easy to pin it on the fact that maybe I’m a “stupid girl” and I had emotions for a boy but in reality, it was just a super strong friendship.’
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Mollie admitted to being good friends with other candidates, including Jasmine Boatswain and Miles Asteri, but was never accused of romantic feelings for them.
When it came to her ultimate decision, Mollie said it was simply because she trusted Harry more than Jaz at the time.
‘It was nothing to do with what Harry looks like,’ she continued. ‘Believe me, I wasn’t about to throw 47 grand away because there was an attractive boy in front of me. I have a lovely boyfriend at home.’
As for those trolls doubting her gameplay? Mollie responded: ‘No matter what my decision was that night I was going to get people that weren’t happy with it as Harry also had a lot of fans.
‘I understand where they’re coming from with the fact that Jaz wouldn’t vote again if he was a Traitor – but I thought they were both Faithfuls and that’s what people forget.
‘They also forget that I do have emotions: Harry was a really good friend of mine and I found it really hard to turn him.’
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She joked: ‘Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion but maybe they should apply for next year and see if they do any better.’
Mollie would also want to clear up the misconception that Harry promised her a vacation with the money.
Mollie has since stated that she was kidding when she made the comment on BBC Breakfast over the weekend, and that Harry owes her nothing.
‘It was so funny,’ she said when the comment hit the headlines. ‘It was just a little joke between me and Harry and he doesn’t owe me anything and it’s really important that people understand Harry won the money.
‘The decision I made meant that Harry won the money but whatever he does with that money is completely up to him, though. He does not owe me anything.
‘I’d definitely take a glass of wine from him. I could definitely do with that after all that emotional stuff. But other than that the money is his, he doesn’t owe me a holiday and it was just a little joke.’
Mollie is on excellent terms with Harry and was even invited to his huge pub event, where he reportedly spent £2,000 behind the bar for all of his family members.
While Mollie was unable to attend due to her hectic schedule with The Traitors promotion and the party’s location being a significant way from her house, she stated that the group would all meet up soon.
‘We’re all going to have a big reunion and a weekend away at some point, which will be really fun,’ she said.
‘We’re like a little family, honestly, I love them all so, so much.’
The Traitors is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.