In an exclusive revelation, Rachel Duffy, the triumphant winner of the BBC's gripping reality series The Traitors, has unveiled her ambitious plans to channel her £47,000 prize money into publishing a contemporary fantasy novel for young adults. The 42-year-old marketing communications head from Newry has dedicated a decade to crafting this literary project, which she now aims to bring to life following her dramatic victory on the show.
A Tense Finale and Shared Triumph
The climactic final moments of the series saw Rachel Duffy grappling with intense uncertainty as she wrote her name on the slate, unsure whether her fellow Traitor, Stephen Libby, 32, would honour their alliance or betray her. Recalling the nerve-wracking experience, Rachel shared, "All of me thought that because I had said we made eye contact before he put Faraaz's name down... and then for the next vote he wouldn't look at me. And I'm like, Steven, look up, and he wouldn't look at me and I thought you've done me dirty."
Relief finally washed over her when Stephen met her gaze, transforming her anxiety into elation. "I just saw you, little darling. It went from I'm gonna kill you to I love you. And it was two seconds, but it was so tense. I mean, just insane," she recounted. Their joint victory secured the coveted £45,000 prize during the final episode aired on Friday, January 23, though the journey was far from straightforward.
The Emotional Toll of Gameplay
Rachel admits that the strategic banishing of fellow contestants carried a significant human cost, particularly when it came to player Ellie. "Ellie broke my heart. I just thought, you know, I was trying to line that up for the day and set a little bit of a trap and see who would act differently. And then when she sat at the table, well, I was only doing that because I wanted to spend time with you. Like my face didn't show it, but I just... I'm going to burst out crying. I just thought, oh Ellie, don't cry, like it hurt me... that really hurt," she confessed.
Her remarkable composure throughout the series, which fans have hailed as "iconic," was no accident. Rachel attributes her poker-faced demeanour to years of experience in youth programmes and team icebreakers. "Playing poker... Not well, not really. I think because I worked in youth programmes for such a long time and we always would have done little icebreakers with the team... so yeah, I just knew that I had a straight face," she explained.
Strategic Mastery and Clever Misdirection
Rachel's gameplay was a blend of keen observation and resilience, honed through a fascination with human behaviour. "I think because I'm a fan of it, I'd watch them anyway... I'm just fascinated by the game," she noted. One of her most cunning moves involved citing training with a former FBI agent, though she later revealed the reality was more modest. "I did one of his training courses, but I did... I obviously lied. And so I had said it was a four-month online course... but it was more of like a one-day course on an e-book. But it did help because it gave me something in my back pocket," she admitted.
Beyond Reality TV: A Literary Dream
While the glare of reality TV fame is dazzling, Rachel has set her sights on more substantial creative pursuits. "No immediate plans to go for reality TV. I think I've done enough with that one. I think my focus now is on the kids and potentially bringing my book to life," she stated. Her decade-long project is a contemporary fantasy novel for young adults, centred on Irish redheads in a magical forest, exploring themes of murder and lies.
Rachel, who serves as Head of Marketing Communications at the community organisation Clanrye Group in Newry, has balanced her professional responsibilities with her writing passion since 2007. The victory has provided her with the financial means and motivation to finally pursue publication.
Family, Celebration, and Future Plans
The wrap party offered a chance to celebrate with newfound friends and unwind after the intense competition. "I couldn't wait just for my kids to know that it was OK because they were worried. So I couldn't settle. And once it was over and I called them and they knew that mommy had done well, I just felt like this. I was just relaxing. And yeah, it was just lovely," she reflected.
Family pride has been a profound element of her experience. Her husband, Sean, whom she has been with for 12 years, was the only one privy to her participation, though he had never watched the show. "My husband was the only one that knew, and he'd never watched the show. So when I told him... he said, 'that's great', and 'oh, good job'... My little kids watched last night with the family and they just couldn't get over it," she shared.
Rachel is a devoted mother to three children and often shares glimpses of her family life on Instagram. She comes from a large family, celebrating her Traitors debut with her three brothers and sister earlier this month. The show also provided a platform to discuss her mother Anne's battle with Parkinson's disease and dementia, adding emotional depth to her journey.
Embracing Life's Joys and Connections
Looking ahead, Rachel plans to use her winnings to create cherished moments with loved ones. "I think I'm going to sit down with the kids and the husband and mom and just think, what can we do to have fun together... I can't wait to just sit in front of her and say, 'Mummy, what do you want to do? What can we do that you would just love?' God only knows what she's going to say and just to give her a treat and do something really fun with her," she expressed.
Winning The Traitors has profoundly shifted Rachel's perspective, reminding her to savour life's joys and connections. "It's a reminder just to enjoy life... It's just to have fun, you know, life can be so serious, and obviously with Mom being so ill, you just kind of worry about so much that's not important... It's given me 21 new friends. I have lots of places to go and visit up and down the UK, and I love it," she concluded, embracing the newfound opportunities and friendships forged through the experience.
