The BBC‘s Traitors has been hailed as an ingenious TV show that follows drama, gossip, and all things revenge. This show is where gossip goes to flourish. What did they say? Who told them that? Why were they talking to you?
The drama and intrigue is palpable. When it’s on, it puts you in that sort of can’t-look-away trance in front of your telly.
So what is it about this popular show that has captured the fan-fare of the LGBTQ+ community? Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, attribute the phenomenon to the dramatic nature of the show.
Everything from Claudia Winkelman talking to an owl, to the spooky and Harry Potter-esque castle setting, to the sinister anticipation of the game’s banishing round table. Whatever the reason may be, the campy TV series is home to several icons.
The show contains plenty of queer contestants and plenty of allies (or should we call them Faithfuls?), but here is the Studio Insider highlights.
This pride month we are celebrating your favourite queer icons from The Traitors.
Theo Mayne
Placed 10th in series one, out of 22 contestants. The cheerleading coach from Leeds, dazzled Traitors fans with his charisma and bold decisions at 26-years-old. He was assigned Faithful at the start of the game.
It was actual Traitor Amanda Lovett who likely catalysed his demise, convincing her peers that Theo was suspicious and needed to be banished. He was successfully banished in the 9th episode.
Theo exited the show with grace, and fans commended his bravery for giving some emotional gratitude at one of the shows dinner parties. He said: “It’s never easy being gay. We’re in a modern world and it’s still really tough. A big thing knowing that you can (be) accepted no matter what. It just goes to show you can be yourself and a bunch of strangers will accept you.”
Andrea Addison
Placed 7th in series one, out of 22 contestants. Andrea was immediately embraced as a maternal figurehead of the season, seeing as she was 72-years-old when filming occurred. She was assigned as a Faithful.
She certainly won viewers’ hearts for being considered a very genuine faithful, there for adventure, and never counting herself out of a mission. Even with her asthma and ‘two false knees’.
She was charming, and considered herself as looking after her younger contestants, so fans found it a shock when she was murdered by Traitor Wilfred Webster in the 11th episode.
If all of that didn’t win fans over, then her opening up about her 26 year relationship with her former partner, put her in the front running as a legendary Traitors gay icon.
A firm believer in, “love who you like,” Andrea will certainly go down in history.
Miles Asteri
Placed 12th in series two, out of 22 contestants. The veterinary nurse from Birmingham 36-year-old Miles, was assigned Faithful at the beginning of his season. His innocence didn’t last for long however, and he was recruited by the Traitors early in the game.
The Traitors recruited him for seeming trustworthy, and having a cunning-wit about him. He fumbled a ‘Murder in Plain Sight’ scheme at the final hurdle though, when his fellow contestants and murder victim figured out he was the culprit. Talk about slow-acting poison!
A sensible man, Miles’s goal if he had won the Traitors prize money was to pay off him and his husband’s debts and move their family to the countryside.
Paid loans are truly the ultimate romantic grand gesture.
Leanne Quigley
Won series three, out of 22 contestants. This Welsh bombshell was a long-time soldier for 12 years, before retiring as a veteran before she turned 30. Leanne entered the game, conveniently forgetting about her veteran past, and telling her fellow contestants that her occupation was a nail technician.
Her decision was strategic, avoiding revealing how physically and mentally strong the military might’ve made her to her competitors.
She clawed her way through most of the game and finished the win, alongside fellow Faithful Jake Brown. The shocking finale revealed the final Traitor in the game, followed by two jaw-dropping surprise banishments, to leave Leanne and Jake to split a £100,000 jackpot.
Leanne’s impressive gameplay paid off, and she got to fulfil what her intention was for the prize money. She initially stated she wanted to use it to fund IVF (In vitro fertilisation) treatment for her and her fiancé Sophie. They already have two twin boys and are looking to make their family a little bigger.
Either way, she finished the season like a boss, and made queer folks everywhere very proud.
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