The winners of the BBC series The Traitors have yet to receive their prize money, despite the show concluding with a dramatic finale. The latest victors, Leanne Quigley and Jake Brown, who shared a £120,000 prize pot, confirmed they have not received any funds.
Speaking about their win, Leanne and Jake said: "We haven't spent any of the prize money, none of it has gone yet." They also apologised to fellow finalists Frankie and Alexander for voting them out. Jake expressed a wish for Alexander to find a nice wife, adding that "everyone loves him."
This delay is not unusual. Previous winner Harry Clark, who won the second series, also waited months for his prize. He recalled: "I'd won, but then I had to go back to work and I couldn't tell anyone... I felt like I was lying even more." He added: "I haven't got the money yet, so that's probably why I can't believe it."
Winners from the first series, Aaron Evans, Hannah Byczkowski and Meryl Williams, also experienced delays. Aaron gave his share to his mother, Hannah bought a car for her stand-up comedy career, and Meryl used the money for forehead surgery. Harry Clark used his winnings to help his parents, buy his first house, and pay off debts.
The most recent winners have plans for their share: Jake took his wife on holiday and is raising awareness of cerebral palsy, while Leanne is supporting her family and planning her wedding. The prize money is typically paid out months after filming, as the show is recorded well in advance of broadcast.
