Comedian Joe Wilkinson was furious after producers asked to search his bags for hidden recording devices or illegal substances before filming Celebrity Traitors.
The Celebrity Traitors star was reportedly left annoyed with the production team after being stopped and told he’d have to undergo a bag search before filming began in May. According to Joe, producers ordered the search to ensure no illegal substances or hidden recording devices were brought onto the set.
This marks the first celebrity edition of the hit series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. Joe, 50, takes on the role of a Faithful, while his fellow stars — including Jonathan Ross, singer Cat Burns, and Alan Carr — have been assigned as Traitors.
Speaking on the Chatabix podcast, Joe shared that he made it clear to the production team he wasn’t pleased about having his bags searched. Before entering Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the celebrity contestants were first taken to a nearby hotel. Recalling the incident, Joe said:
This man said, ‘I’m going to go through your bag’. I was like, ‘I don’t think you are, pal’. All the producers came. I was like, ‘You’re going to have to trust me,’ but they were like, ‘Well, you have signed up to this, you p***k’, and I was like, ‘OK, carry on’.
After the search was completed, Joe was allowed to continue with his day. He added: “They were polite, and it was fine in the end.”
Sharing his own experience, Scottish actor Mark Bonnar, best known for his role in Casualty, said:
There’s six people in your room as soon as you’ve checked in, and they’re going through every item of your luggage. Just to check you haven’t got any secret recording equipment or illegal drugs. We’re celebrities—we wouldn’t do drugs!
He continued
Following the premiere episode, social media buzzed with reactions to Alan Carr’s struggle to keep a straight face while playing a Traitor. Offering insight into the selection process, host Claudia Winkleman told Radio Times: “I do those chats with them, and they’re much longer than you see.”
Then I go into a room with the bosses from the BBC, the brilliant casting group, and we sort of work [it] out together. We don’t have long, but Alan said he wanted to be a Traitor, and they were compelling. So how could you not?
She added
This followed Alan’s revelation about why he wanted to take on the role of a Traitor before the series began. He explained: “Well, people have asked, ‘Would you like to be a Traitor?’ The answer is, I don’t know.
I’m fascinated to know how I would cope with it if I was. I’m not known for my poker face, but you’ve just got to adapt. I’m indecisive, and that’s the problem. But I think that’s probably good because I’d say it’s best to have an open mind.