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Spoiler warning: This article contains details of the new series of The Traitors.
Navigating the landscape of newfound fame after appearing on “The Traitors” can present unique challenges. One former contestant recently recounted an incident where her attempt to procure a burner phone for social media management led to police intervention.
Fiona Hughes, 62, from Swansea, explained that after the show’s premiere, she created an Instagram account with her son’s assistance. Subsequently, she received advice to acquire a burner phone for managing her online presence.
“I’m not particularly tech-savvy, but someone suggested I shouldn’t use my personal mobile and recommended a burner phone,” she stated.
“I initially associated burner phones with illicit activities, but I was assured it was necessary for social media management.”
“So, I went into town and inquired about purchasing a burner phone at a shop.”
“The shop assistant went to the back, and while I was browsing, two police officers approached me and asked if I had requested a burner phone.”
“I confirmed that I had, and the assistant was retrieving it. They then asked why I needed a burner phone.”
“I explained that it was for social media purposes,” she recounted on “Traitors Uncloaked” on Friday, following her dramatic exit from the show.
“They inquired why I specifically asked for a ‘burner phone’ instead of a pay-as-you-go device.”
Chuckling, Fiona remarked, “Do I really look the part?”
To which former traitor Amanda Lovett replied, “Well, you didn’t seem like a Traitor, Fiona.”
Despite her brief time in the castle, Fiona made a lasting impression with her public confrontation with fellow traitor, Rachel, accusing her of being a Traitor.
Friday’s episode commenced with a tense exchange between the pair in the turret, an encounter the local government officer said she did not foresee.
“I wasn’t anxious going into the turret. I wanted to joke with Rachel, but she was so intense,” Fiona said.
“The only thing I could do was to say ‘well, come on then, bring the game on’, because there was only ever going to be two outcomes – I was going to go, or she was going to go – and either way, it was going to happen.
“So it was out of my hands, and I was quite happy to go along with the flow,” she added.
Following the banishment of fellow Welsh contestant Hugo on Wednesday, the secret traitor – whose identity was previously unknown to everyone, including fellow traitors and even the viewers – was revealed as Fiona.
She joined the other two traitors, Stephen and Rachel, but admitted their existing alliance made her own position more vulnerable, and she didn’t trust Rachel.
Speaking to Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales, Fiona said she and Rachel didn’t have “mutual trust”.
“Or at least I didn’t. I had suspicions before and I didn’t quite trust Rachel because I knew she was such a good player,” she said.
“I just thought this is my opportunity, this is the only one I’m going to get that I can take control of, because I knew she would come after me at some point.
She said when there are two temperamental personalities together “there is going to be an explosion”.
“And my gosh did we have one,” she said, laughing.
However, Fiona’s plan to oust Rachel came back to haunt her: “Unfortunately I was the master of my own downfall, but I would prefer that than be someone else’s pawn.”
“My spectacular plan absolutely backfired,” she said, adding she thought she would be able to swing people towards her.
“That didn’t quite work.”
“I played it my way. I’ve just done a Fiona, which is not unusual of me to do silly things.”
“As much as it was a silly thing to do, I don’t regret it at all. My time was up.”
Fiona said she hopes her fellow traitors get to the final, but is also rooting for creative director Matthew and gardener James.
Reflecting on her time on the show, Fiona, who has watched every series with her husband and son since series one, described it as “joyous”.
“Just to have the opportunity to go on and represent Wales, and also my hometown city of Swansea, is phenomenal.
“I want to thank everybody in Wales for their brilliant support and apologise if I let them down. But I wanted to have fun, to be honest – and I had a ball.”
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