Stephen Fry wants to be a Faithful on The Celebrity Traitors – because actors are “terrible liars”

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So, Stephen — why have you decided to take part in The Celebrity Traitors?

Honestly, I went in completely unsure what to expect. It was a total surprise, because usually, after doing as many projects as I have, I feel like I’ve seen it all. But this? This was genuinely new territory for me. I figured it was worth a shot – a fresh experience. Everyone around me raved about how good the show was, and the premise definitely piqued my interest. And you know what? They were right. I have to admit, I really enjoyed it. It really was a very well-done production, and I’m glad I took the chance. I’d definitely recommend it to others looking for something different.

Do you like playing games? And are you competitive?

When I play a game, I like to put effort into doing well. It bothers me when others don’t take it seriously. Regarding competition, I’m perfectly fine with losing if I’m simply beaten by someone who played better than me. I don’t mind losing if I’ve been fairly outplayed.

Would you like to be a Traitor or a Faithful?

Oh, a Faithful! I really dislike the thought of scheming against others. It’s frustrating to tap into that darker side of yourself, because to succeed, you almost have to be unkind. You have to make the decision to eliminate people, you’re secretly working with others to do it, and you can’t even trust those allies. It just puts you under a lot more strain. As we saw in the last series, being a Traitor is genuinely very stressful.

Are you looking forward to the Missions?

It’s difficult to predict how it will go. For some, it might feel like being back in school, especially with required gym class. It will be interesting to see if we can collaborate effectively. There are definitely some players who are naturally athletic and will excel at physically demanding activities, while those of us who aren’t as strong or sporty will need to rely on our intelligence and strategy to contribute.

Have you done anything to prepare?

It’s tough to say what to do. Rewatching old episodes isn’t useful, since the contestants are different each time. This game really comes down to the people playing it.

Would you say you’re good at reading people? Will you be able to spot a liar?

No, definitely not. And no one else can either. The belief that you can accurately judge someone’s character is completely false, similar to astrology or other unscientific ideas. It’s simply not something people can do. Empirical evidence demonstrates this. Time and again, experts – like interrogators whose job is to uncover the truth – find it’s impossible. We are all easily persuaded, even when the evidence suggests otherwise. These ideas about, ‘I just *knew* based on how they held their glass or a certain eye movement’ – it’s all unfounded.

Do you have a good poker face?

Yes, but that doesn’t really tell us much. It’s common for people to *appear* dishonest even when they’re being truthful, and to seem honest while actually deceiving others. I believe the most reliable indicator is when someone makes an error – a slip of the tongue, for example – or when members of the group deliberately remove someone, and their decision turns out to be surprisingly accurate. The only logical explanation for wanting to remove that person is if they’re suspected of being untrustworthy. However, that’s pretty much all we can rely on. I’ll attempt to use logic and reasoning, as acting on instinct isn’t very helpful.

Do you think acting skills can play a part in how you play the game?

A common misconception is that actors are skilled liars, but actually, they’re often quite bad at it! An actor’s role isn’t about deception; it’s about telling the truth through their performance. Similarly, people in sports are known for being fiercely competitive. Success in athletics requires an exceptional level of drive – much more than the average person possesses. So, those are two interesting points to consider. I’m not sure what the organizers have planned for us, but they’ve clearly thought about these characteristics and will likely challenge us in entertaining – and probably difficult – ways over the coming weeks. We should probably just prepare ourselves for that!

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2025-09-30 04:02