Former senior Metropolitan Police detective Amanda Collier has spoken candidly about her dramatic elimination from The Traitors, admitting she “deserved to be banished” after a tense and emotional round table vote. Collier, 57, who lives in Brighton, became the seventh contestant to leave the castle in the fourth UK series of the hit BBC show. Her exit followed a deadlocked vote and a final, chance-based twist that ended her game in what she described as a “totally nerve-wracking” moment.
A High-Pressure Exit at the Round Table
The banishment unfolded after two inconclusive rounds of voting left Collier tied with fellow Faithful Reece Ward. With no clear majority, the decision came down to a box-choosing twist — and Collier failed to pick the shield that would have saved her.
“What a dramatic way to go,” she said in an interview with BBC Radio Sussex. “You can’t afford to make mistakes in this game.”
Collier admitted that suspicion against her built quickly. “There was a sneaky suspicion from a couple of people and then it snowballed — and you go,” she explained.
Trust, Betrayal and a Costly Reveal
Moments before the round table, Collier made a pivotal decision that would haunt her exit: she revealed her former policing career to her closest ally in the castle — Traitor Rachel Duffy.
“As soon as I found out she was a Traitor, my jaw hit the ground,” Collier said. “You form friendships and bonds in there. Unless people give you a reason not to trust them, you trust them.”
Despite her background in covert policing, Collier failed to correctly identify a single Traitor during her time on the show — a result she described with striking honesty.
“I was very adept at covert policing,” she said. “But this game is different. Personalities and emotions come into play in ways you can’t always control.”
Unprecedented Tensions Inside the Castle
Collier’s revelation that she was a former police officer also triggered an explosive and unusual confrontation between Traitors Rachel Duffy and Fiona Hughes — a moment that shocked viewers.
“That was just unbelievable,” Collier said. “They are team Traitors — but that’s the game. Once self-preservation kicks in, everything changes.”
The clash highlighted how fragile alliances can become in the show’s later stages, even among players supposedly working together.
Life Beyond the Castle
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, The Traitors splits contestants into Faithfuls and Traitors, with nightly “murders” and round-table banishments driving the suspense. Collier said the psychological intensity of the experience exceeded her expectations.
“Reece and I were quite close in the castle, which made it even harder,” she reflected. “You just try to keep it together.”
A gay woman who has lived in Brighton for around two decades, Collier also spoke about visibility and responsibility. “Being a gay woman in Brighton and being a police officer, you stick out a little bit,” she said. “People put you on a pedestal — and it’s important to use that platform for good.”
Gratitude After the Fall
Following her exit, Collier shared a gracious message on Instagram. “What a ride. I’ve loved every minute,” she wrote. “I’m coming out (again) full of gratitude, with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.” Her honest reflections underline why The Traitors continues to grip audiences: even the most experienced professionals can falter when trust, fear, and chance collide.
