In a dramatic twist for the hit BBC reality series, recently banished contestant Amanda has directly responded to swirling fan theories about a hidden family link within the castle. The retired detective was sent home after a tense round table and a cruel twist of fate involving the 'chests of chance'.
The Emotional Bond Behind The Theory
Speculation has been rife since the show began that contestants might have undisclosed connections, following the reveal of mother-daughter duo Roxy and Judy and partners Ellie and Ross. Many viewers became convinced that Amanda and sweet shop assistant Reece were secretly related.
Addressing the rumours in an exclusive chat, Amanda set the record straight with a smile. 'Reece is going to be a friend for life. I absolutely adore Reece,' she revealed. The connection, however, was deeply personal rather than familial. 'He reminds me of my brother [who] passed away at the age of 32 in 2011. Reece is the spitting image.'
She described the difficulty of facing him in the banishment showdown. 'We got on so well, and it was very difficult for me to handle what happened with the chests of chance. [It] could have been anyone else, but it had to be Reece. Of course, it had to be Reece.' Concluding the theory, she added warmly, 'We are extremely close, and we will always be, but no, he’s not my son. I wish he was!'
Detective Reveal and Traitor Turmoil
Amanda's exit was preceded by another major moment where she chose to confide her secret identity as a professional detective to her closest ally in the game, who turned out to be Traitor Rachel. This confession inadvertently sparked major conflict within the Traitors' ranks.
When Rachel shared the information, fellow Traitor Fiona publicly accused her of betrayal, setting the stage for a major confrontation. Reflecting on her decision to trust Rachel, Amanda said, 'Maybe if I’d stayed a few more days, that trust would have gone. [But] she just seemed like a really level-headed person, and I confided in her, because I trusted her.'
She explained her tactical thinking, hoping to 'rally the troops' as a Faithful, but acknowledged the information 'could also use it for evil' in a Traitor's hands. On the explosive fallout between Fiona and Rachel, Amanda admitted, 'The fallout, wow. I don’t know what to say. I was like: "Oh, my gosh, Fiona, what are you doing? Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop."'
Post-Show Friendships and Regrets
Despite her investigative background, Amanda's five-episode crusade ultimately led her to mistakenly accuse the innocent Faithful, Jade. 'I had a lot of people on my list, and Jade was at my 12 o’clock. She just looked like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, and it was completely the opposite to me,' she recalled.
In a positive turn, the two women have forged a strong friendship since leaving the show. 'She was one of the first people, when filming was finished, that I called and said: "I am so so sorry" and she said: "It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s a game." She understands, she’s a gamer,' Amanda shared, expressing remorse for making the game so hard for her.
Amanda also reflected on her own desire in the game, revealing a surprising twist. 'I actually wanted to be a Traitor, and when I didn’t get the hand on my shoulder, I felt like I’d won the lottery. I felt so elated. That was the moment that I realised that I didn’t want to be a Traitor.'
Now, having experienced the full rollercoaster of the game, Amanda is ready to join the audience to watch the remaining episodes of The Traitors, which continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One.
