A contestant from the hit BBC show The Traitors has revealed the bizarre real-world consequence of her secretive role, which ended with an unexpected visit from the police.
The Secret Traitor's Unusual Task
Fiona Hughes, a 62-year-old local government officer from Swansea, was a recent casualty of the banishments in the popular psychological reality series. However, her most surprising moment came after filming had wrapped. During her time on the show, Hughes was given the pivotal role of the Secret Traitor by host Claudia Winkleman.
As part of the post-show protocol to maintain secrecy and manage potential online attention, she was advised to set up her social media profiles using a separate mobile phone. This seemingly simple piece of advice set off a chain of events that nobody could have predicted.
A Simple Request That Raised Eyebrows
Acting on the advice, Hughes visited a shop to acquire a new handset. In an attempt to be discreet and perhaps influenced by the clandestine language of the show, she asked the shop assistant for a 'burner phone'. The term, commonly associated with temporary, untraceable devices often used in crime dramas, immediately raised suspicions.
This single request was significant enough for the shop staff to alert the authorities. Shortly afterwards, Fiona Hughes found herself being confronted by police officers who were presumably investigating a report concerning the request for a suspicious device.
Studio Audience Left in Stitches
The retired civil servant recounted the entire hilarious incident during an appearance on Uncloaked, the official companion podcast for The Traitors hosted by comedian Ed Gamble. Her deadpan delivery and the sheer absurdity of the situation, where a game of deception on television spilled over into a misunderstanding with real police, had the studio audience roaring with laughter.
The event, which took place after the show concluded and was revealed on Friday 9 January 2026, highlights the strange collision between the constructed paranoia of reality TV and everyday life. Hughes's story serves as a uniquely funny postscript to her Traitors journey, proving that sometimes the game doesn't end when the cameras stop rolling.
