Incredible behind-the-scenes secrets of The Traitors revealed by TV insiders to GRANT TUCKER: Insane length round tables REALLY last, £54 place where contestants actually sleep... and when the murders

It has become the most addictive show on TV, with record numbers tuning in each week to watch The Traitors – a gripping game of backstabbing, treachery and psychological warfare – fronted by Claudia Winkleman. But behind the scenes even more cunning tactics are being deployed, including the use of armies of security guards and a carefully rationed drinks cabinet, to ensure the show's myriad secrets are kept safe… Keeping Schtum The aim of the game is simple: there are 22 players in a Scottish castle, who all take part in various trials, but hidden among the group are 'the Traitors' whose job is to secretly 'murder' their fellow players without getting caught. John McManus, 52, who was a Faithful in the first series, let slip that murders actually take place in broad daylight – minutes before everyone meets in the castle's breakfast room in the morning. While the audience get to see an edited debate segment lasting around 15 minutes, it's actually whittled down from a two or three-hour-long marathon slanging match – at the end of an exhausting, 15-hour day. According to Companies House, the chatelaine of the castle is an 90-year-old called Evie McTaggart, who divides her time between Scotland and Greece Casting checkmate Casting is the most important part of the show, and The Traitors producers are on the hunt for the perfect contestants all year round.