WITH it’s grandiose setting in the Scottish Highlands, expensive production values and a national treasure as host - The Traitors is the classiest of reality television shows.
But series two’s jaw-dropping antics of murderous deception have been tainted by a shocking baby scandal involving one of its contestants and a celebrity influencer.
Charlotte Chilton, who was portrayed as a sexy siren on the show thanks to sizzling cut scenes, conceived after a fling with pop star Conor Maynard at the BBC show’s wrap party back in January.
Smooth Conor, who is the brother of series winner Harry Clark’s kids’ TV star girlfriend Anna Maynard, wooed Charlotte with gentlemanly behaviour and some glasses of fizz.
But that chivalrous facade soon fell away when confronted with the reality of becoming a first time dad.
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What’s followed has been domestic drama more befitting of Coronation Street, EastEnders or Hollyoaks than the straight-laced Beeb’s smash hit whodunnit.
The paternity fallout couldn’t have come at a worst time for the broadcaster either, given its in the midst of an eight-month long headache courtesy of a behind the scenes Strictly Come Dancing row.
The glitzy, family-friendly show has been rocked by accusations of ‘training room misconduct’ levelled at its former professional dancer Giovanni Pernice by Amanda Abbington and three other of his former celebrity partners.
An internal investigation is rumbling on, high-profile legal firms are involved and Gio is reportedly set to flee the country to take up a position of the Italian version of the dance show.
For arguably its second biggest entertainment show to be embroiled in a public mud-slinging match is, frankly, a nightmare.
And it’s only going to run on and on with Conor still to publicly respond to Charlotte’s claims that his dismissive behaviour left her fearing she’d miscarry.
Then there's the small matter of the birth and its aftermath to come which is sure to breathe new life into the fallout.
It also remains to be seen if Harry, who walked away with a £95,000 cash prize, will wade into the row.
Afterall, it was allegedly he who played matchmaker that fateful night and he even traded playful messages with the pair the following morning as they text from bed.
Charlotte claims he has blanked her ever since she publicly announced Conor is the father on social media and has removed himself from The Traitors cast WhatsApp group.
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The timing is far from ideal for him as he looks to establish his own celebrity career with a new podcast in the works and appearances on Celebrity SAS and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip in the offing.
Part of The Traitors’ charm is that the focus is always on the game and its players’ behaviour within that structure; their personal lives are neither here nor there.
The distinction separates it from the messy antics of Big Brother, Married at First Sight, Ex on the Beach, Towie, Geordie Shore, Love Island and any other reality show you’d care to mention.
But now, the script has been flipped and it’s personal strife that’s the focus - though fortunately not while the show is actually airing.
It begs the question: has The Traitors now moved beyond the innocence of his early series’ in the same way that Big Brother became less a social experiment than a breeding ground for ever more fame hungry wannabees desperate to kick-start a media career off the back of it?
That question will be answered when series three rolls around next year.
