A Traitors star has a secret social media account featuring his own backside in an array of poses.
Creative Director Matthew, 35, from Northern Ireland, made his debut on the BBC One show, which returned for a new series on New Year’s Day.
Viewers, who saw host Claudia Winkleman select a fourth Traitor in a red cloak, whose identity remains unknown to both the cast and fans at home, were also introduced to 22 new players.
But Matthew, a Faithful, has already received a warning from BBC executives following the discovery of his nude Instagram account, which features the Irishman performing headstands in rural and mountainous locations.
The Daily Mail understands the profile, which has over 16,000 followers and six posts, once contained more images of Matthew showing off his derrière, which he sometimes disguised with a peach emoji.
Ahead of his TV debut, he was instructed to remove some of the more explicit images, though he resisted closing the account entirely.
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Matthew was warned about his naked headstand account ahead of The Traitors’ new season.
‘While his posts are tastefully done, and he was even commissioned by the Royal Academy of Arts for one of them, it does create controversy, especially for the BBC.
‘Every BBC contestant, whether on The Apprentice or The Traitors, has their online footprint carefully reviewed before broadcast. Matthew was asked to remove several images from his secret side profile.
‘It’s all a bit of fun, but some viewers may find posts of his naked backside offensive.’
The bio on Matthew’s account reads: ‘Yes, they’re real. Instagram hates my’ followed by a peach emoji.
Two weeks ago, he shared a throwback post in which he concealed his naked bum with an emoji for the first time, prompting one new follower to comment: ‘Can you do the same on The Traitors?’
In another post from November 2024, Matthew is seen performing a headstand in the snow, his cold, pink derrière on display alongside the caption: ‘How it feels in Edinburgh today.’
On why he applied for The Traitors, Matthew said: ‘It’s an adventure and just seems fun. My New Year’s resolution was to have more adventures, and what I meant by that was more hiking, canoe trips, and camping, that sort of thing, but I’ve watched The Traitors and absolutely loved it, so I just thought why not give it a go.’
The Daily Mail has contacted a Traitor’s representative for comment.
Matthew believes he will be invaluable during the show’s missions, which often test contestants’ physical abilities, as he is used to endurance challenges and surviving in cold weather conditions.
He explained: ‘That’s one of my strategies as well – to be valuable. I’m not afraid of anything. I’m sporty and I cold swim all the time, so the physical missions will be fine. I do a lot of bouldering and climbing, so heights are also fine, and I think I would relish all of them.
‘The missions are what I’m really excited about, and I hope that’s a way to show you’re trying to win money for the team and maybe even secure a shield.’
The contestant, one of 22 new players on the show, which also includes a retired police officer, a barrister, a lawyer, and a nursery teacher, has revealed how he would spend the prize money if he won.
In an interview before heading into the castle, Matthew said he dreams of buying a cottage in the Highlands, where he would live with his partner, to whom he became engaged before COVID.
He also explained that he campaigned for equal marriage rights in Northern Ireland before same-sex marriage was legalised there in 2020, and joked that if he made it to the end of the series, he might finally walk down the aisle.
Matthew said: ‘There are many things I’ve imagined spending the money on. I really want to buy a little cottage in the Highlands somewhere. I go up there so much, and I just kind of imagine myself there, so that’s probably what I would do.
‘My partner and I got engaged during COVID, and I had campaigned for marriage equality in Northern Ireland – they had civil partnerships, but same-sex marriage wasn’t legal until 2020.
‘At the time I was campaigning, I didn’t think I wanted to get married, but now I feel like I do.
‘So having campaigned for marriage equality, I think that would make a better story at the last Round Table if I get there – it’s not cool to go against the gay contestant who wants to get married!
‘I’d probably say I’m going to get married back home in Northern Ireland on my family farm. And if I win, I might just have to do that.’
