Rachel Duffy, the winner of Series 2 of The Traitors UK, has opened up about her most challenging days since losing her beloved mother, Anne, who passed away in January after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. The 30-year-old former communications manager from Newry, Northern Ireland, made history as the first female Traitor to win the show alongside fellow Traitor Stephen Libby.
Life After The Traitors
Speaking at the Make-A-Wish Ball 'A Night of Wishes' in London, Duffy described her new life as surreal. "Oh, doing glitzy events like this is like a different world. I feel like I'm watching somebody else's life!" she said. Despite her newfound fame, she remains grounded, thanks to her community and family. "When I'm home, people keep your feet on the ground. I get a lot of, 'Have you got your winnings yet Rachel, can you lend me a fiver?!' But mum was always the first to say, grab every opportunity with both hands – so I'm trying to do that."
Coping with Grief
The timing of her mother's death was particularly difficult, coming just three days after the show's finale. "I felt like the whole world knew my business, and that was hard because at the same time I was trying to navigate one of the most difficult moments of my life. But the support was phenomenal," she shared. Duffy admitted that some days are harder than others, recalling a particularly emotional Monday when she visited her mother's grave. "I went for a run, then to her grave and just… cried my eyes out." However, she finds strength in remembering her mother's spirit. "Every time I get emotional, I remind myself how much she'd have loved all this."
Raising Awareness for Parkinson's
Duffy's mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 47, a fact that resonates deeply with Duffy, now 43. "It makes me realise how young she was," she said. To honour her mother's memory, Duffy is participating in the Great North Run in September, with hopes of involving her family and fellow Traitors cast members. "I used to run half marathons, so I'll give it a go!" she said.
Admiration for Claudia Winkleman
Duffy expressed her admiration for Claudia Winkleman, the host of The Traitors, who recently launched her own BBC chat show. Despite mixed reviews, Duffy is supportive. "Look at all the other chat shows out there – they're all hosted by men. I think it's purely because all the men are out there with their peacock feathers out. Give her time – she's doing a great job and has brilliant guests. People just aren't used to strong, female presenters."
Future Projects
Duffy is also working on a young adult fantasy trilogy, a project she has been developing for a decade. The series focuses on Irish redheads with magical powers, involving murder, lies, and deception. "It's a young adult fantasy trilogy about Irish redheads and their magical powers and involves murder, lies and deception," she revealed.
Family Life and Fame
Her children have reacted differently to her fame. Her middle son is tired of the attention, while her daughter loves it. "The middle boy's had enough – he says it takes us an hour to get round Tesco as everyone stops me. My wee girl loves it," Duffy said. A special outing to London Zoo with Stephen is planned for her daughter's wish.
Duffy also shared a lighthearted moment about her son dressing up as Claudia Winkleman for a celebration party. She sent a photo to Winkleman, who responded, "Wow, he's rocking it!"
