Jonny
Age: 31
Job title: Ex-Military
Location: Bedfordshire

Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?

It’s my cup of tea, I love that sort of thing. I did a lot of research on the show and also looked at the Dutch version too to try and figure it out a little bit. I’m definitely lacking in those sorts of adventures and that sort of mindset from being in the Army, there’s an excitement to it. It’s about getting myself out there, I’ve got two young kids, and it would be nice to make them proud as well.

What did you think of the first series?

I actually started with the Dutch version. Whilst the idea itself is amazing, it was much better to watch than I was expecting so that’s saying something. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through it, and it was interesting to see the people who were like “I’m really good at people reading, I’m amazing” and then they just ended up deflated. I enjoy people watching as well, so I found it really interesting in that respect.

Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?

I’m an observer. I like to sit back and take it all in. I’m very good at reading situations so I have sort of accumulated a few different approaches of what people did in other series. What stuck out to me the most was if I was to be a Traitor, I’d put myself in the mindset of not being a Traitor, and just completely ignore the fact I am one. I thought that was quite a strong approach, in that sense. Other than that, it’s the whole teamwork, muck in, work together. It’s as simple as that.

What do you think you’ll bring to the game?

I’m quite enthusiastic, I’m quite hyper and I’m quite clumsy. I’m a character, basically. Everyone my entire life has said “Jonny, your life is like a film mate. The things you end up in.” I like to light up a room. I’ve had a lot of darkness around me a lot of my life and I think I’ve learnt to use humour to combat it. You create your own stress, and you create your own environment. I like to create a nice environment and I’ve always tried to lift the morale.

Do you have a game plan?

No, I’ll make it up as I go along. I know that sounds unorganised but it’s a very organised way of thinking in my head. I think very differently and that’s the way I approach things. I’m fresh into it and if I was to be a game player, it would be on the spot based on the situation that was in front of me.

If you are a Traitor, how do you think you’ll feel?

I’d be quite excited, but I also wouldn’t underestimate it because you’re going to make friendships with people and there will be some hard decisions to be made. Because I am empathetic, I do care about people, as much as I love to wind people up, I do still care. I’d enjoy it because it is just a game, and everyone knows that, so that would make me feel a bit better about myself if I was Traitor and maybe it would allow me to be a bit more brutal.

Would you say you’ve got a good poker face?

Yes, I’d say I’ve got a good poker face. I learnt a lot in the military. So, I’ve very much got that mindset. I learnt “Bullshit baffles brains” – that’s my favourite saying. I have lived by that and it’s so true. I have done so many different jobs since I left the army and it’s always worked.

If you are a Traitor, how far are you prepared to go to win the game?

I’m very black and white in the way I think. I know what I’m signing up for, everyone else knows what they’re signing up for. It’s a game. Everyone knows they could potentially be backstabbed and it’s going to be messy. Because everyone is aware of that, it makes me feel more comfortable about the situation. I know that if I made friends with someone and they had to backstab me in the game, I wouldn’t fall out with them, because it’s just the game. If other people can’t see that, then they wouldn’t be the type of person I’d be friends with anyway.

If you’re a Faithful, what do you think your game plan would be?

It would be similar to the Traitor plan in the sense that, I’m an observer. I would try and figure people out. I’m intuitive as well, I kind of just have a knowing, I just have a feeling sometimes and nine times out of ten it’s right. Being a Faithful is a completely different ballgame. I think it’s more of a chilled-out environment, but at the same time you have to be continuously observing and also being careful about what you say to people as well.

Are you good at spotting a liar?

I’d say so, in some cases, but I don’t want to say for sure because it could go all wrong. I won’t actually know until I’m in the situation because it’s so hard to know what it will be like in there. Normally, I’m good at working out when someone’s not telling the truth, I just think “Hmmm, I don’t like them, and I don’t know why” and usually there’s a reason to be suspicious.

If you are a Faithful, what qualities do you think you’re going to need to make it through to the final?

I would say by remaining your true, entire self because if you’re not, people are going to start doubting you. For example, in the last series, Maddy was a Faithful but hid her acting experience, and when she revealed it, everyone started to doubt her. I’m mindful of that but I also did have a bang to my head so I can be a bit scatty sometimes and I’m worried that because I’ve done so much in my life, people are going to start hearing more and more as I spend more time with them and think I’m just talking rubbish. I’m worried because I know who I am, but no one else does.

Do you think you’ll be good at the missions and what strengths do you think you might bring to them?

100%, yes, I love a challenge, anything that involves a challenge I enjoy. Obviously, I’ve got disabilities, but I don’t see that as a disability, it’s other people who do. I’d crack on with anything physical, I’m happy to do it. I feel completely normal in the sense of what I can and can’t do. I also enjoy psychological things, I’m a problem solver, I like to figure things out. I’m a good leader but I also know when to step back when someone else has some good ideas, I can be a good team player as well. I know I’m just throwing out keywords here, but I mean it!

If you win the prize money, what do you think you’ll spend it on?

I’m going to start with myself because normally, people won’t. I’ve done a lot of travelling in the army and I’ve travelled around the world, but I realised that I haven’t actually travelled much of the UK and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’m very outdoorsy and I hate being indoors all day, so I’ve thought about getting a top-of-the-range camper van to go out and about in. Sounds like a typical midlife crisis. Single, divorced bloke… but I’ve genuinely always been like that. The other thing that is important to me is to be able to make a difference to my kids’ lives. I’d love to do as much as I possibly can for them and of course, money helps with that. That, for me, is my ultimate drive.

In this nail-biting psychological reality competition, Claudia Winkleman greets 22 strangers as they arrive at a beautiful castle in the Scottish Highlands to play the ultimate game of detection, backstabbing and trust, in the hope of winning up to £120,000.

But hidden amongst them are the Traitors whose job is to secretly murder a player every night, 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 steal all the money.

The Traitors returns on Wednesday 3 January from 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and episodes 2 and 3 will be available on iPlayer immediately after. The show will air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.