Joe Marler Details "Traitors" Filming: Isolation, Binges, and Hotel Stays

Joe Marler, a finalist from the previous season of "The Celebrity Traitors," has offered a behind-the-scenes look at the filming process for the reality competition series. Marler described the experience as one of isolation, with contestants spending significant time alone in a hotel room near Inverness Airport.

Filming for "The Celebrity Traitors" is kept under strict secrecy, leading to contestants being sequestered. Marler recounted being flown to Inverness and needing to be vague about his destination when questioned by airport staff. "You are locked away," Marler told hosts Richard Osman and Marina Hyde on The Rest Is Entertainment Live. He explained that contestants are housed in a Marriott Hotel, which he described as "gorgeous" but lacking in social interaction. "You put a card under the door, your food gets brought to you, you can have as much as you like. There's no interaction with anyone, any other contestants and then you’re taken to the castle."

This solitary confinement provided ample opportunity for television viewing. Marler revealed that he spent time binge-watching the BBC drama "Line Of Duty," which he admitted led to some misplaced suspicions during the game. "Unfortunately, that also led me to then suspect him the next day," he said, referring to a fellow contestant whose use of the word "moot" reminded him of a villain in the show.

Marler also detailed the show's approach to timekeeping, noting that contestants were kept in the dark about the actual time, with production referring to it only as "Traitors time." He and fellow contestant Joe Wilkinson even attempted to determine the time using a sundial.

Regarding the show's signature breakfast scenes, Marler confessed that the lavish spreads could be a temptation. He noted that he gained eight kilograms during filming, attributing it to the availability of food. "Some people engage in a second breakfast, some people it would be their first breakfast. Some people it might be a third breakfast," he stated.

He contrasted the atmosphere of his season, which he described as "laugh-led," with the upcoming second series, which is expected to be more "fiery" and "emotional." The second season, set to premiere on October 1, features a star-studded cast including Richard E. Grant, Maya Jama, James Blunt, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Ross Kemp.

Filming for the new season has reportedly seen a significant increase in budget and a surprising twist where a larger number of contestants than usual have been designated as Traitors, leading to heightened levels of "backstabbing and betrayal."