The Traitors winner Meryl compares show to Love Island, urges producers to stick with regular contestants

Meryl Williams, the winner of The Traitors, a popular BBC series, has likened the show to Love Island and called on producers to continue featuring regular contestants. The 27-year-old Edinburgh-based star, who left her call centre job to pursue a career on social media after winning the show, believes that The Traitors offers aspiring stars a platform to build their profile and gain a following. Meryl is looking forward to seeing how the US version of the show, which includes both celebrities and regular people, compares to the UK version.

The rise to fame

The Traitors, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, saw 22 contestants compete against each other at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Meryl, along with estate agent Aaron Evans and comedienne Hannah Byczkowski, emerged as the winners after four weeks of challenges and strategy. The trio claimed their share of the cash prize, which propelled Meryl into a new career on social media. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to showcase her life experiences and learn about different jobs and aspects of life from other contestants.

A new opportunity

The new series of The Traitors features a diverse cast, including chess master Anthony, model Mollie, and clairvoyant Tracey. Meryl believes that the show provides an excellent opportunity for regular people to elevate their profiles and expand their following. While many contestants, like Aaron, have left their previous jobs after appearing on the show, Meryl acknowledges that her own life has changed significantly. She no longer works in a call centre and now focuses on building her social media presence with the help of an agency. Meryl appreciates the freedom and flexibility that her new career offers.

A transformative experience

Meryl's journey to success on The Traitors is not her first foray into television. She previously appeared on the game show Blankety Blank. Following her victory on The Traitors, Meryl underwent forehead surgery to address a long-standing insecurity. As someone with achondroplasia, a condition that affects the proportions of her limbs, Meryl decided to have the procedure to address her forehead, which had always been a source of self-consciousness.