Contestants on the hit BBC show The Traitors must adhere to a rigorous set of rules or risk being removed from the programme. The rules, which apply to both Traitors and Faithfuls, cover everything from timekeeping to communication and confidentiality.
One of the most notable rules is that contestants are not allowed to know the time. There are no clocks in Ardross Castle or in players' rooms, and they rely entirely on producers to tell them where to be and when. Mobile phones and laptops are also banned, with executive producer Mike Cotton explaining that players have no access to the internet or telephones and cannot communicate with each other or the outside world.
When not filming, contestants must return to their individual lodgings and are not permitted to interact. Security guards ensure they do not visit other rooms, and on the celebrity version, stars stay on one floor of a hotel under similar supervision. Contestants are also blindfolded when being transported to their accommodation to keep its location secret.
Traitors are bound by an oath not to reveal their own identity in order to expose another player. They can accuse other Traitors, but not by using their own role as leverage. All contestants sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent spoilers, with series two Faithful Jaz Singh warning that breaches could lead to lawsuits for hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages.
Other rules include staying only in areas where cameras are set up, undergoing a personality test before being cast, and not sleeping overnight at Ardross Castle. Contestants are taken to separate accommodation each night, ensuring they do not stay in the castle after filming ends.
