Contestants on The Traitors are accustomed to psychological games, but a new revelation from celebrity finalist Nick Mohamed has exposed an extreme production rule that deprived stars of what one called a 'basic human right' – knowing the time of day.
The Temporal Shutdown
Speaking on Stuart Goldsmith's The Comedian's Comedian Podcast, the comedian detailed how producers on the celebrity edition implemented a comprehensive ban on timekeeping. According to Mohamed, who reached the final, every single member of the production crew was forbidden from revealing the time to contestants.
This rule extended beyond the usual confiscation of phones and laptops. If any celebrity asked for the time, the crew had a standard, unhelpful response: 'It's Traitors time.' The tactic was presumably designed to further immerse participants in the game's intense, isolated environment.
While Nick Mohamed admitted he personally found the idea 'clever', the same could not be said for all his fellow celebrities.
The Celebrity Rebellion
The temporal blackout did not last for the entire series. Mohamed revealed that one fellow contestant eventually 'kicked off', passionately arguing that knowing the time was a fundamental human right.
'Someone kicked off and said 'it's a basic human right'... it doesn't mean anything,' Mohamed joked during the podcast interview. Following this complaint, the ban was lifted, and the celebrities were finally allowed to know what hour it was.
Although Mohamed did not name the objector, fans on social media were quick to speculate. Many suggested the eloquent argument sounded like something Stephen Fry would say, while others pondered whether David Olusoga or Celia Imrie had been the one to protest. Another theory pointed to Alan Carr or one of the 'Joes' making a joke about the situation.
Clocks, Calls, and Future Series
Some observant viewers questioned how effective the ban could have been, noting the presence of clocks within the Scottish castle used for filming. 'Aren’t there clocks in there? There’s literally a shot of a grandfather clock every time they leave the castle after the round table,' one commenter wrote online.
This wasn't the only behind-the-scenes secret Mohamed shared. He also addressed rumours of total isolation, revealing that on the celebrity version, contestants were permitted one phone call per day, which he used to speak with his children.
The revelation comes as the BBC confirms the future of the hit show. Following Alan Carr's victory in the celebrity final, the corporation released a mysterious trailer announcing that the next public series of The Traitors will arrive on BBC One and iPlayer in 2026.
