The Traitors is back! But this time it’s a celebrity edition, and it’s attracting a bigger viewership than ever before.
With famous UK faces such as Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Jonathan Ross, Tom Daly, Charlotte Church and Alan Carr, the already addictive show is drawing the fan bases of not just the Traitors itself, but these much-loved celebrities too.
Yet despite the celebrity-infused deception, gossip, tension and murder, there’s one thing that’s really piquing our interest: the after show.
Each week, Ed Gamble hosts The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked. Debriefing the last two episodes, he brings together previous players and perished celebrities to analyse, comment and unravel the show’s events. But what’s especially interesting isn’t just what’s being discussed, but how it’s being presented.
The set has all the hallmarks of a TV studio: polished lighting, multiple camera angles, and a sleek backdrop. Yet, each guest sits behind a large Traitors-branded microphone, and the atmosphere feels entirely different, it’s intimate, conversational, almost spontaneous. The result blurs the line between formats, leaving you wondering - am I watching a television programme, or a podcast with cameras? The BBC leans into that question from the start, with Ed Gamble opening each episode by setting the tone: “Welcome to The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, a visualised podcast.”
Let’s look at why this ‘visualised podcast’ format is so effective.
Firstly, from a production and efficiency point of view, mixing TV and audio makes the most of both time and budget. It’s a way of doubling content output for the same effort. Why settle for an audio-only recording when you can capture a full visual experience at the same time? The BBC aren’t the only ones onto this, ITV’s Love Island: The Morning After follows a similar path, proving that this ‘blend’ is working well enough to get the go-ahead across big media.
Secondly, the advantages of podcasts haven’t changed - in fact, they’re more relevant than ever. A visualised podcast taps into the same qualities that made audio so powerful to begin with, while adding a new layer of connection for audiences:
When you whittle it down, podcasts are all about extending the story as much as possible and that’s exactly what content creators seek to do. Squeeze out the maximum value from a content source. The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked is a reminder to keep looking for ways to eke out the story - it relies solely on the initial in-person game and riffs off it to keep creating new pieces.
As a content creator, look at in-person gatherings and look at how your commentary or content creation could make this come alive again and again in different formats - could a podcast be one of them? Could you film it too?
There’s an opportunity to create even more return on investment from your event. You have a stage, you have mics, you have the people in the room - why not make a podcast at the same time? Why not record the panel discussion? Set it up as an onstage podcast or edit it into a new format or with a slightly different steer to maximise investment. Grab your keynote speaker and record an off-stage insight piece or informal discussion to extract maximum value, available on-demand.
Of course, planning a podcast takes time and energy to create the most effective final product, so it may be worth engaging an external expert to help. We offer both consultancy and production, so do reach out to explore ideas.
The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked stays ‘faithful’ to its podcast roots, but by adding a visual layer, it cleverly saves both time and production costs. The format also works harder for its audience, giving fans more ways to connect with the show and the freedom to choose how they engage, whether that’s watching, listening, or both.
Perhaps this piece will get your mind whirring next time you're watching the show - we'd love to hear what it makes you think! How are you harness the podcast format alongside your live event and marketing strategy?