The Traitors debuted last year with a bang, with viewers getting completely engrossed in the addicting reality TV series.
For those who have been living under a rock, the show featured a group of 22 participants who were charged with completing challenges in order to earn prize money totaling £120,000.
They had to labour together during the day, but at night, a chosen selection of Traitors were given the opportunity to murder a ‘Faithful,’ bringing them one step closer to the end.
They were also in danger, since the larger gang held exile rituals in which they attempted to select out anybody who stood in their way of the prize money.
There were several twists and turns throughout the series, with the end providing a jaw-dropping scene when Traitor Wilfred Webster was revealed just in time, stopping him from taking home all of the group’s money.
Instead, Faithful’s Aaron Evans, Meryl Williams, and Hannah Byczkowski won the competition and divided the £101,050 prize money.
While another series begins today, let’s take a look back at some of our previous favourites and what they’ve been up to in the past year.
Meryl, Adam and Hannah
Following their victory of £33,000, the three victors discussed their plans for the prize money at the finale.
Meryl, a contact centre representative, told host Claudia Winkleman that she was thinking about changing careers and travelling.
‘I’d like to try doing new things. I feel like the money gives me a bit of a safety blanket to take some time out and try new things.”
Meryl was also overjoyed since she claimed she was the ‘first person’ with dwarfism to win a reality programme.
‘Overall, I can’t believe it. I still genuinely can’t believe it. I feel very grateful. I feel ecstatic,’ she shared.
Since finding fame on the show, Meryl has attended many glitzy events, including the NTA’s and BAFTA Scotland Awards, as well as appearing on the recent The Weakest Link Christmas Special.
She has also travelled extensively as planned, and is presently on safari in South Africa.
Aaron, the property agent, stated from the beginning of the series that he intended to acquire his mother a house.
Aaron hasn’t posted much on social media since his appearance on Mastermind in July, but he did travel throughout Vietnam shortly after winning the programme.
However, eagle-eyed viewers saw him in the promo for the new season of First Dates.
Hannah has since become a stand-up comedian and hosts the Ghost Huns podcast after leaving her work in health and social care to feature on the show.
Wilf
Wilf initially considered a career in social media influencing after nearly losing out on taking all of the prize money from beneath the noses of his co-stars, but subsequently returned to becoming a social worker owing to financial insecurity.
‘It’s never guaranteed income all the time. That’s hard, especially with a family,’ he said.
Wilf married his partner Yiota, with whom he has two children, soon after the programme ended.
Despite leaving empty-handed, he did declare last week that he had no ill will towards those who had blocked his triumph, posting a photo with Hannah on Instagram and wrote, ‘For people wondering… YES! We’re still best friends.’
Kieran Tompsett
He may have turned traitor late in the game, but who can forget solutions expert Kieran’s classic ‘parting gift’ comment that alerted the other participants to the notion Wilf might not be on their side?
He now undertakes speaking engagements and’shares experiences of his battles with mental health and PTSD, providing guidance on overcoming trauma, men’s mental health, and suicide’ after leaving the programme.
In recent months, he’s also shown his support to other reality TV series, attending the Big Brother finale and a RuPaul’s Drag Race UK wrap party.
He also released videos of the cast gathering for a Traitors reunion catch-up a few months back.
Amanda Lovett
Welsh Dragon Amanda was named the ‘hun’ of The Traitors’ inaugural season, immediately gaining a devoted fan base.
While she was eventually exiled after being deceived by Wilf and exposed as a Traitor, fans couldn’t help but admire her game play and attitude.
She remarked about the ‘massive change’ in her life since appearing on TV in November.
‘I’ve just had the best year, I’ve met so many fabulous people, and I’ve done some TV work. I just spent all my summer at Pride events I was asked to go to, so it’s been fantastic. It’s absolutely been brilliant,’ she told Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones on BBC Morning Live.
The estate agent also hinted at her involvement on the upcoming season of Homes Under the Hammer, which premiered last month.
Amanda posted on social media last week saying she was ‘grateful and thankful’ for the experiences she’d had over the last year.
Maddy Smedley
Maddy, a care home worker, enraged viewers when she revealed she was actually an actress who had been on EastEnders and Casualty.
Although she was convinced there was something wrong with Wilf, no one appeared to believe her, and she was eventually fired before her suspicions could be confirmed correct.
Her investigative work, however, was praised by those watching, and the nickname Maddy Marple became popular as people hailed her detective work and hypotheses.
Maddy has had a busy year since her appearance on The Traitors, not only landing roles on Hollyoaks and Big Boys, but also becoming a mother.
In August, she made her debut as talent agent Faye Fuller, and a few weeks later, she gave birth to her first child, Shelby Rae.
Alyssa Chan
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Alyssa, a business student, was assigned the assignment of being a Traitor but was sent home after Wilf and Amanda decided to flip against her.
Although she admits to being ‘blindsided’ by his strategy, she was pleased it was finished after straining to maintain the proper façade.
‘I think going onto the show at the very beginning, the first two days I was like, “It’s a piece of cake, I’m fine, I’m so strong,” and then I just crumbled, and I was putting on a façade of being nervous and shy, and after a few days, I was like, “That’s not a facade, this is me,” and I was just relating to that a lot more,’ she said at the time.
She appears to have avoided additional public appearances since then, although she still regularly updates her 15,000 Instagram followers on her life and travels.
Tom Elderfield
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Despite entering the series alongside girlfriend Alex Grey, things rapidly went apart for the couple when Tom opted to abandon their plan to keep their relationship a secret from their other candidates.
Desperate to show they were both Faithful, they betrayed the confidence of the rest of the gang, who couldn’t believe what he was saying them, and they turned against them both.
A year later, the couple is still together, and the magician is still available for reservations through his official website.
Amos Ogunkoya
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Doctor Amos was brutally slain in the reality series, but he now has a job that has seen him suddenly return to people’s televisions.
He was photographed sitting on the Luton Town bench during their Premier League match against Arsenal last month.
It was then discovered that he became the club’s first team doctor when the club got promoted earlier in the year.
He has also made multiple appearances on Morning Live to talk during various health topics.
The Traitors returns tonight at 9pm on BBC One.