Kyra
Age: 21
Job title: Apprentice Economist
Location: Kent

Why did you apply to be on The Traitors?

I applied to go on The Traitors because I watched the first season with my family, we watched it all together. Me and my sisters are really close. We then watched the American version and I went through a stage where I was like “I really want to be on a game show” but then I got scared and didn’t want to do it. Then I just plucked up the courage and decided to do it. The main motivation behind it is that my sister is getting married soon, we come from a lower-class background, and I’d love to win something to help towards her wedding – and hopefully honeymoon. I am also very physically active as well, so this can push me both mentally and physically. Why not try to play and have fun with it at the same time?

What did you think of the first series?

I really loved it, it’s like nothing that I’ve seen before. It was sort of like a game I used to play called Among Us. Because it was nothing I’d seen before it did kind of throw me, I was having a battle with myself about whether I’d want to be a Traitor or a Faithful – I think a Traitor. I really think that as long as you remember that it’s just a game, then it can be something that you enjoy.

Was there anyone’s game plan you admired?

Wilfred was really, really good but at what expense, right? I would sit and watch thinking “Wait, he’s so believable!” Looking back on it though, would I be impressed if I had the same approach? I think that he’s inspired me in the sense that you have to be very emotive but also very emotionally intelligent. I think I’d play a lot differently.

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

I’ll bring something that a lot of people won’t have seen before, which is someone very young who’s outspoken and not afraid to speak their mind or stand up for themselves. I also like to push my boundaries. I’m successful at my job and I have the ability to be articulate and socialise with other people, so I think I’ll be good in the game.

Do you have a game plan?

I do, but I think that in a game like this you also have to be adaptable because once someone latches onto your game plan or becomes suspicious you have to be able to react in order for it to be believable. In my workplace and my household, I’m always the little star, the little sister, a little baby, the innocent one that everyone always wants to look after. So, I’m going to try use that to my advantage at key moments, hopefully. It depends on what I am, to be honest, whether I’m a Traitor or whether I’m a Faithful. But if I am a Traitor, then that will be my approach and I think people will be caught off guard and wouldn’t suspect me, hopefully, because I seem so innocent.

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

I am physically active. I love games, I love puzzles, I love riddles, I love the mental aspect of them. There is one thing I’m not good at which is swimming. Anything swimming related I’m going to let them know from the outset and ifthere is, then fingers crossed they won’t choose me! I think everyone has their weaknesses and you’ve got to consider the group dynamic and other people’s weaknesses as well. I’m happy to fill in for other people if they’re okay to fill in for me, obviously. Anything else I’m willing to put my mind to and take on. I really do like being fit and being active, there’s nothing that I would shy away from. I think I’ll bring a can-do attitude and really push forward no matter what the mission is.

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

I think if I am a Traitor, I’ll feel a mix of emotions, there’s an element of power which is nice, but on the other hand, I really think that it’ll be a lot of pressure. There are so many emotions involved so I think it will be very psychological. I think being a Traitor plays more on your mind, because it’s like, “Oh, my God, I’m actually deceiving these people.” I imagine 90% of people will want to be a Traitor so I don’t know if I’ll be one.

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

Yes! I think that’s why you have to be adaptable. You have to have a good poker face and not let people in, but you also have to be open enough so that people trust you. I think it’s a tricky balance but one that you need. I’m good at meeting new people and I make friends really easily, but I’ll obviously try and keep my cards close to my chest. I need to remember my own game plan, remember why I’m here and keep myself grounded to that and I think I’ll be okay.

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

I think if you have a cutoff point, then you shouldn’t apply for The Traitors. I think the whole aim of the game is that you could be a Faithful or a Traitor and you’re meant to play whatever role that you’re given and remember it’s just a game. Taking that into consideration, I will be doing anything that I can do to win for the Traitors and shock people. I don’t think anyone can be mad at that, no one should take that personally. I don’t really have anything that I wouldn’t be willing to do, because it’s an element of the game. I don’t really see it as real life. I’m going in with my alter ego and will go full punch.

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

If I’m a Faithful, I feel like I’ll be really good at spotting liars and I’m a good judge of character. I think I’ll be able to spot people who are trying to influence and manipulate others, it’s also easy to identify when that’s being done to you. Being in a household full of women, and also my work, has allowed me to become a good judge of character. I like sussing people out, I like discovering things and I like being part of a team. I think I’ll get to know everyone, do the best I can and make sure that the Faithfuls win.

How good are you at spotting a liar?

I feel like I’m a good judge of character in general, but I don’t know if I’ll be good at that in the game. I think it’s quite hard to lie consistently, unless you’re a compulsive cheater! I think when you have similar traits to other people, you can pick up things a lot easier. I also think when someone is lying to you, you find out the truth eventually. I do know that I will be suspected as a Traitor at some point because everyone is going to get that – it’s The Traitors. Once I suspect someone is lying, I’ll keep looking for clues, I’ll keep digging and take it from there. It’s about trusting my gut.

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

Being likeable and being able to be vulnerable with people, having team spirit and also being relatable. I think that’s what’s going to get you far as a Faithful. A sense of empathy will get people to trust you. I think one thing that I’m going to try and bring this year is calling people out. I noticed last year that a lot of decisions were made based on people’s characters rather than facts. I think people are sometimes tricked by the fact that someone’s likeable, rather than the idea that this person could actually be a Traitor.

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

I’m really close with my sisters so I’d like to contribute some money to my sister’s wedding and maybe even her honeymoon. Secondly, it would be to help the rest of the family. I’d give some money to them so they’re financially stable as well, that’s the dream.

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.