Paul Gorton Offers Strategies for Celebrity 'Traitors' Contestants

Paul Gorton, a notable contestant from the second season of "The Traitors," has shared insights and strategies for the upcoming celebrity edition of the show. Gorton, who was a Traitor from day one and was banished in episode eight of the civilian series, suggests that the celebrity Faithfuls need to "flip the game on its head" to succeed.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Gorton emphasized the importance of paying close attention to contestants' behavior during the show's tasks. He noted that evidence used at the roundtable often stems from how individuals perform under stress during these challenges. Gorton recalled a moment in the civilian series where a Traitor's actions during a task were "glaringly obvious" but went unaddressed by other players.

"A lot of evidence that's used at the round table is how people behave in the tasks, and it's the most excruciating thing," Gorton explained. He believes the primary objective of "The Traitors" is not just to identify Traitors, but to survive until the end. His strategy for Faithfuls, therefore, is to befriend any identified Traitors and keep them close, only to betray them at the final stage.

Gorton, who admitted to reading "American Psycho" to prepare for his role as a Traitor, also commented on the potential for villainy among the celebrity contestants. He expressed a desire to see "a catastrophe" in the celebrity version but doubted that participants would be "proper villainous" due to a fear of public opinion. He contrasted this with his own experience, suggesting that contestants now realize the potential career benefits of playing a villainous role, a realization that wasn't as prevalent when he was on the show.

He also touched upon the unpredictability of the celebrity cast, noting that initial perceptions of contestants can be misleading. He referenced actor Mark Bonnar from the previous celebrity season, who was expected to perform well due to his acting background but ultimately became overly emotional. Gorton hopes this season's contestants will be less hesitant to fully engage in the game's strategic elements.

The celebrity edition of "The Traitors" is set to feature a cast including Jerry Hall, Maya Jama, Richard E. Grant, James Blunt, Ross Kemp, Michael Sheen, Rob Beckett, Sharon Rooney, Joanne McNally, Amol Rajan, King Kenny, Sebastian Croft, Miranda Hart, Romesh Ranganathan, James Acaster, Bella Ramsey, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Joe Lycett, Hannah Fry, Julie Hesmondhalgh, and Myha'la. The second season of "The Celebrity Traitors" is scheduled to premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Gorton, who has not watched his own season back, stated he would be willing to return for an "All Stars" version of the show, humorously referring to it as "national service."