When Alan Carr signed up for Celebrity Traitors, he was hoping for nothing more than a bit of a giggle. But last night, the comedian was crowned the winner after beating much-loved former England rugby star Joe Marler and his fellow Traitor, Cat Burns.
One friend said the former Chatty Man host simply believed taking part would be ‘something to pass the time’ and that ‘the thought of being in a castle was fun to him.’
He also thought he would get ‘completely smashed’ by his fellow celebrities – and be on his way home within hours.
Before finding out he had won the series – along with £100,000 for his chosen charity – Carr said of his time on the show: ‘I’m clearly a better liar and a better Traitor than I thought I was.’
The result was spoiled for many after a Canadian streaming service uploaded the final episode in the early hours of yesterday morning, before removing it 90 minutes later. A spokesman for the BBC begged anyone who had seen the leak ‘to keep whatever they believe they know to themselves’.
A thorough investigation is expected to take place to establish how such a lapse could have occurred. Carr’s victory came after weeks of the BBC One programme leaving its 14 million viewers on tenterhooks as the celebrity cast went head-to-head.
The end result has been shrouded in secrecy since the series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, was filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands over the summer.
Carr got off to what viewers describe as a ‘terrible and dubious beginning’ as a Traitor. It wasn’t clear that he was able to keep a secret, with his fellow Traitor Jonathan Ross worrying that he might give himself away.
You can hardly blame Ross; even Carr’s friends blabbed to me a week ago that he had won.
One said: ‘Nobody thought Alan could be a Traitor: he was this incredibly hilarious and gregarious guy. He didn’t have any side to him whatsoever. He was so funny all the way through.
‘Alan flew under the radar. He wasn’t the first to put up a name [to accuse someone of being a Traitor, which could see them kicked off the show], but once the die had been cast, he would join in.’
During the series he betrayed his friend Paloma Faith, targeting the person he was closest to and ‘murdering’ her in plain sight.
Ms Faith, being a good pal of his outside of the castle, was stunned at his lack of loyalty.
It must have been addictive for Carr, who later became ‘most enthusiastic when it came to the murders’, according to one of his friends.
‘He found his groove,’ they said. ‘That ruthless, competitive streak came out.’
The final episode began with each of the finalists reflecting on their performance on the show.
Carr said: ‘I started this game as a bit of nervous wreck. I’ve thrown some really good friends under the bus, I’ve murdered national treasures in plain slight. I’m clearly a better liar and a better Traitor than I thought I was.’
Meanwhile, Marler commented: ‘Being in the Traitors final is way more stressful than playing for England.’
Carr was last night celebrating his win, with close friends Amanda Holden and singer Adele both said to be ‘cock-a-hoop’ that he had won. Carr was so sure he would lose he told his friends and family that he would ‘call them in a couple of days’ before he set off for Scotland.
After entering the castle in June, Alan found himself up against the likes of presenter Kate Garraway, singer Charlotte Church and historian David Olusoga. ‘You couldn’t help but love him,’ says one contestant. ‘But nobody thought he would get to the final.’
He joined four other finalists: Marler, Ms Burns, actor Nick Mohammed and Olusoga.
Carr, known for his high-pitched laugh and buck teeth, found fame in 2006 co-hosting the Channel 4 comedy variety show The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins.
He soon became a household name, appearing on comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. In 2019, he became a judge on the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. He also hosted the Radio 2 Saturday night show Going Out with Alan Carr between 2009 and 2012.
While he did not grow up in the showbusiness world, Carr did come from a well-known football family.
He is the son of manager Graham Carr, who played for Northampton Town in the 1960s and later became the club’s head coach.
For Carr, last night’s sensational win will make up for being snubbed for a potential role as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2023. He was left furious after being pipped at the post by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.
So what’s next for Carr, the first winner of Celebrity Traitors?
A source on the show tells me that ‘people just love Alan’. The BBC believes that viewers ‘loved him and [think] he has been the star of the Traitors,’ says one insider.
He is now among the contenders to become the next host of Strictly Come Dancing after Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly quit last month.
‘He has got to be up there with the BBC to get a huge new role,’ says my source. ‘Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, Strictly.’
There is even talk of a new chat show.
‘Alan has always been a star – but it’s amazing what a month in a Scottish castle can do to elevate your career,’ says the BBC source. ‘He’s ours now.’
