Cloaks at the ready - The Traitors is back!

After a seemingly-interminable wait, Claudia Winkleman has returned to her Scottish castle to welcome a new group of 22 strangers to play the ultimate game of deception. Who will become The Traitors and who are The Faithfuls?

Read on for a profile of contestant Zack....

Zack

Age: 27

From: London

Occupation: Parliamentary Affairs Advisor

Why did you apply for the show?
"I think I am very good at reading people, mostly because of my career and I want to see if that is the case. I think it also helps that I come from a small, very tightly-knit, Jewish community where socially everyone just knows each other's business. I suppose I applied for The Traitors to see if I'm as smart as I think I am! The money would be a huge bonus for my girlfriend and I who are trying to find a flat, and obviously in the cost of living crisis, it's not great. Fundamentally it's a bit of a selfish sort of reason, I think that I could win it if I'm a Faithful, I've already said that I do not want to be a Traitor at all because I'm never going to win. But I reckon I could win as a Faithful, essentially I'm just trying to see if I'm as delirious or as sane as I think I am!"

What is your game plan?
"My game plan, regardless of which team I'm in, is to strike up close friendships. I'd like to think I give quite a good first impression, I'm quite charismatic, and I do strike up quite intimate relationships quite quickly, so I'd like to lean into that a little bit. Try and get two, three, four people from different age groups and backgrounds and have their backs but kind of be secretly puppeteering from the background so they do the things I want them to do."

How would you feel to be chosen as a Traitor?
"I think I'll feel quite happy. You have the power in your hands, you're probably going to get through a few Round Tables and have a bit more fun being there for a bit longer. I just don't think I could win with it though. I know that I would give it away, I smile so much. If I'm at the Round Table and someone accuses me of being a Traitor I'm probably going to just smile and laugh at them, rather than passionately defend myself. I think I'd be better as a Faithful."

What would you spend the prize money on?
"It's going to be a boring answer, but a deposit on a flat. The real answer, that my girlfriend doesn't know, is I want to spend it on a Mazda MX-5, because I love cars and racing. It's going to sound like a really nerdy answer, but the Mazda MX-5 has perfect balance, so I want to take it round tracks around Europe – that's my dream. But the flat is my answer, and as far as my girlfriend is concerned that's what I'm saying. I have to say the flat, my girlfriend will break up with me if I didn't say it!"