How are The Traitors chosen? Claudia Winkleman shares behind-the-scenes insights from BBC's hit show

Claudia Winkleman has unveiled the process behind selecting The Traitors in the show's maiden episode. As contestants poised themselves for their fate within the castle's walls, to be either a Traitor or Faithful, the presenter disclosed her method involved in making these critical decisions.

Claudia, aged 52, anonymously picks the contestants during their initial gathering at the round table—Minah, Linda, and Armani emerged as this year's chosen three. To the viewing audience, the picks might seem spontaneous, but Claudia shared there's a thorough approach she adheres to.

At a Q&A session with journalists prior to the launch of the new series, Claudia provided an inside look into how they determine participants from the multitude of applicants hopeful to play as traitors. While Claudia plays a part in this selection, she modestly describes herself as a "small voice" amidst the deciding committee, reports the Mirror.

She stated: "I'm not a goddess and I don't choose them by myself."

She then divulged details of the tough selection routine, "We talk to all of them in that room and then we go into a room there's 5 of us, 6 of us. It is very stressful. And then you place it all. Everybody, I mean, I'm just the smallest voice in the room, but you, you decide, having had those chats, who it is going to be."

Reports have circulated suggesting that Claudia was brought to tears during a particularly poignant banishment in the closing stages of the show. Moreover, she hinted at an intensely moving finale that once again moved her to tears.

She hinted: "I always cry at the end. If I didn't, something would be off. That's all I can say."

One of the contestants ousted from the castle, Kas Ahmed, has since disclosed that his fellow participants were quick to offer apologies after learning he was a Faithful player, following episodes that some viewers labelled as 'bullying'. Speaking to Mirror, the reality star expressed that he holds no grudges, especially after receiving heartfelt apologies.

He shared: "As soon as I left, everybody texted me and said 'we feel so awful' and apologised, I didn't even know they had my number! But I completely understood and it was just the game, people were playing the way they thought was right and they had suspicions on me."

The current series is set to conclude on January 24.