The Traitors star Lawson Mahoney has revealed what really went on behind the scenes of the hit reality series.
From booze rules and phone bans to the crafty production tricks designed to keep contestants completely in the dark.
Speaking to Daily Mail following his dramatic banishment, the Made In Bondi star, 24, revealed the celebrity cast filmed the entire season over just two intense weeks.
And while the experience was gruelling at times, Lawson admitted there was one unexpected side effect of being cut off from the outside world.
‘It was lonely. I got quite horny, actually, ’cause obviously there’s no phones. There’s beautiful people around consistently,’ he joked.
Contestants had their phones confiscated from day one, leaving them with little more than each other and their own thoughts once filming wrapped for the day.
From booze rules and phone bans to the crafty production tricks designed to keep contestants completely in the dark: The Traitors star Lawson Mahoney (pictured) has revealed what really went on behind the scenes of the hit reality series
Speaking to Daily Mail following his dramatic banishment, the Made In Bondi star, 24, revealed the celebrity cast filmed the entire season over just two intense weeks
For Lawson, however, the digital detox was not entirely unwelcome.
‘I’m a big reader. I journal. So it was actually nice to escape the phone, which they take day one,’ he said.
‘It was really nice to take that, and there, you’re just there with your thoughts, which isn’t always easy.
‘Everyone’s got some crazy thoughts. But overall it’s quite a healing process, I’d say.’
Lawson also revealed producers went to painstaking lengths to ensure contestants could not sniff out who had secretly been chosen as a Traitor simply by watching who was being pulled away from the group.
According to the reality star, everything from confessionals to car movements was deliberately randomised.
‘They’ve done so many versions and had so many runs at The Traitors, they’ve got it down pat,’ he said.
‘It’s all confusing. It’s all swappy-swappy. All the confessionals are done randomly, unscheduled.
And while the experience was gruelling at times, Lawson admitted there was one unexpected side effect of being cut off from the outside world. ‘It was lonely. I got quite horny, actually, ’cause obviously there’s no phones. There’s beautiful people around consistently,’ he joked
‘The cars, it’s all randomised and done so you don’t even have a sniff of who it could be the entire time.’
Lawson said the elaborate system meant contestants were forced to rely on the game itself, rather than production clues.
‘The only way the game works is if it’s on an even playing field, and they make sure of that,’ he added.
Alcohol was another area tightly controlled by producers.
Lawson revealed contestants were allowed a few drinks after the tense Round Tables, but said the party was often shut down before anyone became too comfortable.
‘After the round table they let you have a few drinks,’ he said.
‘I think it was Joshy boy (Josh Packham) who had a few too many on one of the first or second nights. So then after that, they, like, called it a bit quicker.’
Lawson said contestants would eventually be ordered upstairs to bed, with some trying to squeeze in one final drink on the way.
Lawson revealed contestants were allowed a few drinks after the tense Round Tables, but said the party was often shut down before anyone became too comfortable
‘They’d call you up to bed, which is just upstairs,’ he explained.
‘And then you’d kinda be like, “Oh, fine,” and bring your beer up or whatever, or pour a quick another one. But they’d make sure you get up pretty quick.’
Not everyone appreciated last drinks being called.
‘I know Krissy Marsh wasn’t happy that they’d call her early. She needs, that lady needs her white wine. And then who am I to argue with her?’ Lawson joked.
The aspiring TV personality said he initially stayed away from alcohol altogether because he was determined to remain sharp.
‘I didn’t drink the first few nights because I was strategy thinking, right?’ he said.
‘I wanted to be sharp in terms of sleep. Even if you have one or two alcoholic beverages, it does a lot for your REM sleep poorly.’
But as the days wore on, Lawson admitted his discipline began to loosen.
hile viewers may assume The Traitors is purely about hunting down traitors, Lawson said surviving the social side of the game was just as important
‘Then you get more comfortable in the show. You’re like, “This is kind of bonding too.”‘
While viewers may assume The Traitors is purely about hunting down traitors, Lawson said surviving the social side of the game was just as important.
Asked whether contestants deliberately tried not to upset one another, he replied: ‘100%. That’s part of strategy.’
‘There’s two things you need to do, which is survive banishment, survive murder.
‘Survive banishment, be well-liked. Survive murder, don’t be a threat, which is too loud, too smart, yada, yada.’
In Lawson’s view, the smartest and loudest Faithfuls often had the biggest targets on their backs.
‘I’ve watched enough Traitors to know that usually by the end, it’s the more sullen, silent, and the daft,’ he said.
‘That’s just usually the Faithfuls that make it through to the end because the Traitors don’t want smart, loud people around.
‘They are too dangerous, so they get axed.’
While viewers may assume The Traitors is purely about hunting down traitors, Lawson said surviving the social side of the game was just as important
Lawson also had high praise for Kirby Bentley’s gameplay after watching the series back.
‘Kirby’s just queen,’ he said.
‘Every decision is thought out and intelligent. Every murder, every decision, every conversation, everything she throws into the ethos is thought out, which is more than I can say for anyone else.
‘And her social game, she’s just stellar at being a Traitor.’
He was less flattering about the twins’ stubborn streak, naming them when asked who had the biggest ego in the cast.
‘The twins. I love them to bits, they’re my boys. But in terms of ego, 100 per cent,’ he said.
‘They’re just stubborn, and that is a wonderful trait if tailored well in real life.
‘It’s just in The Traitors when you have the wrong idea it’s not as valuable.’
While viewers may assume The Traitors is purely about hunting down traitors, Lawson said surviving the social side of the game was just as important
Lawson said he had long since forgiven them for helping to send him packing.
‘One cockup shouldn’t define you, right?’ he said.
Despite his elimination, Lawson said he was thrilled with how he had been portrayed on the series, particularly after his less flattering experience on Made In Bondi.
‘I couldn’t be happier with the edit,’ he said.
He claimed viewers had finally been able to see a version of him that felt far closer to the real Lawson.
‘I’ve been told I’m on a bit of a redemption arc. May it continue,’ he said.
‘I like to think, and this is the feedback I get most often, is that, ‘Wow, I thought you were an asshole after Made In Bondi.”
Lawson admitted that reaction had been difficult to deal with at the time.
‘Whenever I’d connect to someone or they’d see one of my videos, they’d be like, ‘Wow, I thought this guy was a prick.’
‘Which wasn’t great for a long time. Very bad actually.
‘But it made me who I am today, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.’
And now that Australia has seen his softer side, Lawson is wasting no time plotting his next move.
Asked what he wanted from his career, the reality star said he had his sights set considerably higher than another local reality show.
‘To be happy every moment of every day, and when I’m not, to remember to be happy every moment of every day, and to be the next Hugh Jackman,’ he declared.
Lawson quickly clarified he was referring to Hugh’s household-name status, rather than suggesting he planned to swap reality TV for claws and Lycra overnight.
‘Whether that’s reality TV into acting or stick with the TV into presenting, tied up with all that social media aspect, which is one ball in this day and age,’ he said.
‘That’s my spec, and I mean Hugh Jackman in terms of, like, a household name. That is what I see when I dream.
‘And I’m gonna make it happen.’
His next stop could be an international dating show.
Lawson revealed he would jump at the chance to appear on either the UK or US version of Love Island.
‘Absolutely. I’m putting into the ether, not very Hugh Jackman, but a Love Island international version. UK or US Love Island,’ he said.
‘Ah, the token Aussie, loud head shouting s**t.’
Lawson said he believed Australian contestants had a natural advantage overseas.
‘I went to America last year and our rep over there, like the average Aussie is funny, loud, charismatic and good-looking,’ he said.
‘For that to be our rep in an entire another country, let alone the powerhouse of the world, is insanely beneficial, especially if you want to do this s**t.
‘So, yeah, international version of UK or US Love Island, hit me up.’
The Australian version, however, may require some convincing.
‘I watched three eps, and I’ll never say never. I will never rule anything out,’ he said.
‘But I did picture myself on it and I felt actual nausea, so look, time will tell.’
There is one local reality juggernaut he would have no hesitation signing up for.
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Asked whether he would ever do Married At First Sight, Lawson replied: ‘Yeah. Get me on MAFS. I’d get married.’
And he is certainly available.
Asked about his current relationship status, Lawson gave perhaps the most Lawson answer possible.
‘I’m single and horny,’ he said.
He added that he had planned to stay single for a while, unless the right woman suddenly appeared.
‘If my wife comes into the picture, then what am I meant to do?’
For now, Lawson appears content to continue riding his reality TV redemption arc while Australia gradually works out exactly what makes him tick.
‘Lawson’s a 24-year-old Australian man who’s finding his way in this big, scary world,’ he said.
‘All I love is people, and people bring me joy, and I aim to be joyous every minute of every day.
‘Look, I’m just a happy-go-lucky cat who is finding his little way.’
