Ed Campbell, who was Harry in the second series of The Traitors, recently recounted his four-week adventure inside the game. He could only experience it all from the safety of his office. This unconventional setup involved emotionally charged gameplay and a unique interaction with colleagues, who took on various roles inspired by the show.
Over this time, Campbell was deeply involved in psychological warfare, including the devious intimidation of a fellow staffer with a colostomy bag. This example illustrated just how much participants are ready to suffer in order to win the game. The Traitors need to win or they’ll be eliminated by the Faithfuls…stop them at all costs!
Claudia Winkleman, host of the original series, was just as integral to the narrative. She resurrected the first two Faithfuls herself in Campbell’s office during the game on Campbell’s home opener. One of my colleagues went so far as to pretend to be Winkleman, making for an even more theatrical environment. In an equally interesting turn of events, they introduced Jonathan Ross’s “big dog” theory. This nuance provided even greater richness to their conversational exploration of Joe Marler’s persona.
During the entire process, Campbell found himself questioning the true nature of the game. So he shot Winkleman a message, and the two began talking about the idea. He made clear that he is committed to understanding what exactly is at play.
Campbell furthered the fun atmosphere by posting a group photo that included some clever touches. As it turned out, it was a picture taken from his grandmother’s 90th birthday party! His sense of humor absolutely came through in this personal touch. Perhaps most importantly, it reminded all of us—the studio and you—the players—of the real-world connections that exist beyond the game itself.
For Campbell and his peers, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. They suffered through about 45 minutes of grilling, which probably resembled some of the pressure cooker atmosphere that contestants on the show experience. The Traitors’ goal was to remain undetected and win the game by avoiding being voted out by the Faithfuls. Particularly as alliances shifted and strategies evolved, this task proved easier said than done.
You probably thought they were going to be more than this, Campbell told The Guardian in an exclusive interview. He was reminiscing about the competitiveness of his office mates and their video game tactics.
The Traitors, for example, got a really juicy carrot. If they managed to remain undetected until end of play, they would be rewarded with one additional day of annual leave. And the honorary reward provided Campbell — and his fellow teammates — one of the most intoxicating shots of motivation ever. Suddenly, every single decision and interaction counted and would determine their fate.
Ed Campbell’s experience was more than a strategy issue. It was emotionally draining. He said his experience in the game was similar to what Richard Nixon went through. He was consumed by a suspicion and betrayal at all sides. The psychological pressure felt very real as he whirled through the office politics disguised as a reality television survival game.
Nicky, a breakout star of season one of the TV show The Traitors, turned heads on her season with her bionic hand. Her inclusion underscores the diversity and uniqueness of each player’s story that we’ll explore in the series.
In the end, Campbell’s office experiment with The Traitors netted out both the drama and absurdity that reality shows all produce. They encountered significant obstacles and emotional manipulation throughout their journey. It wasn’t until the development of a deceptively simple exploration of human interaction that it became possible to explore just how complex people are.