One contestant from the latest series of Celebrity Traitors admitted an issue with his strategy “dawned” on him “quite early on” as he lifted the lid on what it was like to appear on the show
Robin Cottle Assistant Editor Trendswatch
14:03, 16 Nov 2025
A Celebrity Traitors contestant noticed a problem with their strategy quite early on (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
A contestant on the inaugural series of Celebrity Traitors revealed an issue with his strategy “dawned” on him quite early on.
Actor and comedian Joe Wilkinson, 50, was one of the breakout stars of the BBC show before he was murdered by the traitors in episode six.
He has since starred in the Waitrose Christmas advert, where his character kisses two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley. The actress apparently spoke to Joe about her love of the show, but he figured out quite early on that he was out of his depth.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, he said: “I didn’t have a strategy. That dawned on me quite early on when people were going: ‘What’s your strategy.'”
Joe has become more recognisable in recent years with his role on hit Netflix show Sex Education, but his appearance on Celebrity Traitors has really raised his profile.
His bromance with former England rugby international Joe Marler was one of the storylines of the series while the contestants still keep in touch through a WhatsApp group.
Celebrity Traitors star Joe Wilkinson(Image: BBC)
Joe admitted he felt like he was in Madame Tussauds on the first day of filming as he was left starstruck by some of his fellow contestants.
Other famous faces who took part include eventual winner Alan Carr, Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, Celia Imrie, Clare Balding and Tom Davey.
He predicts the calibre of celebrity will be even higher for next year’s show, joking: “You’ll just be like, ‘What is Sylvester Stallone doing?'”
It comes after Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler revealed that he and his partner, Daisy, were rocked by the death of Daisy’s grandmother partway through filming the popular show.
Joe Wilkinson starred on Waitrose’s Christmas advert with Keira Knightley
The former sporting star, 35, was one of the star’s of the show, making it to the final episode before he was banished in the final episode.
But he told how the tragedy had encouraged him to quit the show before his wife persuaded to stick it out.
He also claimed the sad news helped spur him on, leading him to exhibit his infamous combative attitude on the show. “Daisy’s nan died halfway through filming,” he told The Times. “The producers already knew she was terminally ill, so I went to them and said, ‘That’s me done.’
“They were great — I was leaving. Then Daisy rang back and said, ‘Look, there’s not a lot you can do right now, so just stay up there until you get kicked out. That was the moment that I was like, right, I’ve had enough of this impostor syndrome. I’m gonna ramp it up, go hell for leather and if I get banished or murdered, it’s a win — I can go home.”
