As the gripping second series of The Traitors captivates audiences on the BBC, one burning question has emerged for fans: where do the contestants actually sleep when the cameras stop rolling? The answer reveals a crucial part of the game's intense psychological design.
The Secret Behind The Scenes Accommodation
While the dramatic action of The Traitors unfolds at the stunning Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the contestants do not bed down within its historic walls. Instead, as host Claudia Winkleman explained in the series two premiere, once the tense roundtable concludes, all players must depart immediately.
Each participant is placed into a separate vehicle and transported to their own individual lodging. This strict separation is a key rule of the game, designed to prevent any off-camera alliances or strategising. Contestants are forbidden from seeing or speaking to any other cast members or contacting the outside world, with mobile phones completely prohibited.
Location and Life in Isolation
Although the BBC does not publicly disclose the exact address, it is widely reported that the cast's secret accommodation is situated close to Inverness Airport. Here, the Faithfuls spend the night in solitary confinement, left to wonder if they will be the next victim of the murderous plot.
The Traitors, however, have a different nighttime ritual. After the main group disperses, they covertly gather to decide which Faithful to eliminate from the game, before they too return to their own isolated quarters. This separation ensures the 'murder' remains a secret until the dramatic breakfast reveal back at the castle.
The Heart of the Game: Ardross Castle
The magnificent 19th-century Ardross Castle, north of Inverness, remains the central stage for the competition. Contestants reconvene here every morning after their night in isolation, where they discover who has been 'murdered'. The castle hosts the day's missions, the communal meals, and the climactic roundtable discussions where players desperately try to identify and banish the hidden Traitors.
This clever structure—communal days at the castle and solitary nights in separate lodgings—intensifies the paranoia and deception that are the hallmarks of the show, as contestants vie for the ultimate prize of up to £120,000.
