ITV’s new The Traitors rival is just days away – meet the players

Best friends Jae and Cherish are both 30, from South London, and work in the arts: Jae is a singer-songwriter while Cherish is an artist.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Jae: To do something fun and write our own history, we wanted to explore and have a new adventure.

Cherish: The opportunity that presented itself seemed like a very interesting one at the time and it was throughout the whole process. I think it was also an opportunity for us to travel as best friends and compete for a life-changing amount of money in the Caribbean.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Cherish: Invest in ourselves, our families and into our dreams. We’d also travel and do things for ourselves and our families that we haven’t been able to do for the last 30 years.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Cherish: The entire experience in general and just meeting the other contestants, that was really fun and interesting.

Claire and Daniel

Commercial director Clarie, 43, and barrister Daniel, also 43, are from Gloucestershire.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Claire: We always embrace adventure and wanted to do something together. The opportunity to do something outside of your comfort zone is always a good thing.

Daniel: The weather was also a big factor and the opportunity for us to share an experience enticed us as parents because we don’t often get to spend time together just the two of us.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Daniel: We would want to spend it in different ways, the boring side of that would involve paying off our mortgage. We’d also like to donate to charity, in particular Birmingham Children’s Hospital. We’d also want to treat ourselves to a nice holiday with our children to compensate for leaving them for a few weeks
during the filming.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Claire: The first challenge we took part in was something I’ll never forget, the nervousness of not knowing what to expect, it ended up being so much fun.

Daniel: At one moment in the show our names were up in lights, I’ve never had my name up in lights so that was quite remarkable. I’d say all of the challenges too, it was a real bonding experience for everyone, the sun was shining, we were all buzzing and it gave us a chance to all really get to know each other.

There was also a funny moment when Claire and I fell out with each other as she wasn’t happy with how competitive I was, although I reminded her that the whole point of the show is to compete.

Gary and Lesley

Gary, 60, and Lesley, 55, are partners from Suffolk.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Lesley: Gary saw it being advertised online and asked me if we should apply and I agreed, it was as simple as that.

Gary: Having been off work I was getting cabin fever and wanted to do something different, we’re getting older so want to fit in as many experiences as possible and this just happened to be something that interested us.
Lesley: I just went along with it!

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Gary: To use the money to retire early, I’d also like to give some of the money to my son to help him get on the property ladder.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Lesley: For me it has to be standing at the bottom of the rapids, it was a total monsoon, I’ve never seen rain like it, we ended up soaked! Another memory I won’t forget was when I danced to the macarena with Jae and Cherish at the breakfast bar, it was hilarious.

Gary: I’ve got hundreds of amazing memories, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much my ribs hurt. Often reality TV shows are confrontational so I wanted to stay under the radar but as soon as I walked in everyone was trying to stitch me up in a fun way which meant I wasn’t able to blend into the background
as planned. It was all fun and games though.

Jen and Susan

Jen, 44, and Susan, 39, are best friends from Lanarkshire and work as an executive assistant and investigator respectively.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Susan: She made me do it.

Jen: When I came across the casting advert, I remember thinking, this show resembled White Lotus meets Glass Onion meets The Traitors and I thought Susan and I would be amazing at this! – coupled with the opportunity to get away with my best friend to sneak about at a luxury resort and steal money from people – We’re IN!

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Susan: Shoes, I’d treat myself to some expensive ones but I’d also be sensible and use it towards my mortgage as well as treating my family.

Jen: The ideal would be to be mortgage free before 50 as well as having the opportunity to take our kids on an incredible trip to Disney in Florida. I’d also treat Susan to a couple of pairs of nice shoes.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Jen: My funniest memory is one of the challenges which involved cocktails, I took a massive slurp and didn’t think of the consequences which was funny.

Jen: How resilient we both can be, we both had moments of frustration but we pulled ourselves back and got on with it. It really solidified our friendship with memories we can share and look back on forever.

Susan: It brought us even closer than I thought was possible, it strengthened our friendship, I feel lucky to have shared that experience together.

Scott and Tommy

Best friends Scott, 19, and Tommy, 19, are from North London. Scott is a bartender while Tommy is a hairstylist apprentice.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Scott: It was impossible to say no to a holiday in a five-star resort, we jumped at the chance.

Tommy: Two best friends bluffing our way to get £250K whilst being in the sun was a no brainer.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Tommy: I’d pay off my parents’ mortgage and invest the money so I could live as comfortably as possible.

Scott: I’d think about it wisely but would definitely want to invest it.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Scott: Every day was a different experience, we had some amazing moments in the challenges there were so many pinch me moments.

Tommy: We really had to dig our way out of certain situations so that was always an experience.

What was the most dramatic moment you encountered whilst staying at The Fortune Hotel?

Tommy: It would have to be any time spent in the Lady Luck Bar.

Scott: I agree, you could sense everyone’s nerves and no one knows who has what in terms of the money, the empty case or the Checkout card.

Abbie and Tracey

Mother and daughter duo Tracey, 51, a skincare consultant, and Abbie, 18, a skincare consultant/student are from Cardiff.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Tracey: I was desperate for a chance to get some sunshine and the opportunity to win £50K attracted me.

Abbie: When we got the opportunity for a free holiday I thought why not.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Tracey: I’d spend it on a VIP ticket to Tom Jones and to cover my children’s university fees and I’d want to spoil all my friends and family with presents.

Abbie: I’d want to use the money to go travelling as well as putting some money towards a mortgage.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Tracey: Just being on set for a TV show made me feel like a Hollywood star, I was lapping up every second.

Abbie: At one moment I had a bit of a rant on screen which was an experience I won’t forget as it was very dramatic.

Chloe and Louie

Both from Bolton, Chloe, 38, is an aesthetic practitioner and educator, while her business partner Louis, 22, is a skincare specialist.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Chloe: Louie asked me if I’d be up for it and I thought free holiday with my bestie
and business partner, why not. We also loved the chance to get dressed up every night for filming.

Louie: I was interested in the experience and the chance to win such a huge
amount of money.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Chloe: I’d spend it on holidays, jewellery and bags and of course my daughter.

Louie: We’d absolutely blow it on having a fabulous time.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Chloe: Living in the hotel, no holiday will ever compare, it was out of this world. Even during the filming, I just kept thinking to myself this is the life!

Louie: I’d say the same but even getting to explore the Caribbean and meeting all the locals was incredible. I also loved the challenges as they were unlike anything you do in day-to-day life.

Samm and Aysha

Samm and Aysha, both 30, are from London. They both work as content creators while Samm is also a construction worker.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Aysha: I’ve never experienced something so adventurous before, I felt very lucky and blessed to be given the chance.

Samm: We’ve never travelled together so it was almost like a honeymoon for us without the relaxation and chill.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Aysha: It would be life-changing in helping our parents and children.

Samm: I’d invest it into doing business back home in Kenya which is where Aysha and I are from.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Samm: I’d say every night was special when we were there. We loved being in the Lady Luck Bar.

Jo-Anne and Will

Jo-Anne, 55, and Will, 20, are a mother-and-son team from Sheffield. Will is a digital marketing executive and events organiser, while Jo-Anne is a technical instructor and mental health worker.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Will: The idea of the prize money sounded very appealing. It’s also a once in a lifetime opportunity that you don’t get to do with your mum everyday.

Jo-Anne: I didn’t have much choice, I was pegging the washing out and Will told me about the opportunity, the next thing I know I was on a plane to the Caribbean.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Will: I’d want to go travelling and I’d also invest in myself be it through education as well as trying to get on the property ladder. I wouldn’t mind a nice Rolex watch either.

Jo-Anne: I’d love to pay off my mortgage and I’d also like to buy the medical team that helped me with my cancer treatment some equipment. I had cancer and relied on the use of a lymphatic drainage machine so I’d love to buy my NHS team a machine for them to use on other patients. It helped me so much so if I can help others with lymphoedema that would be amazing.

What was the most memorable experience you had during the filming?

Will: My standout moment was one of the challenges that involved a lot of running, my mum was swearing like a trooper as I was telling her to hurry up, I think she forgot where she was but it was really funny.

Jo-Anne: Everything for me was special, I felt like I was living a different life. My illness has always held me back but winning a challenge made me feel so proud of myself and my son. It was unreal and amazing from start to finish.

Adam and Michael

Adam, 37, and Mike, 35, are best friends from Bognor Regis. Adam works as a bricklayer, while Mike is a landscaper.

Why have you chosen to visit The Fortune Hotel?

Adam: It’s a once in a lifetime experience to share with your best friend which isn’t something that comes around very often.

Michael: I couldn’t resist a free holiday in the Caribbean and also getting the chance to meet new people and have some fun.

How would you spend the £250K prize money if you won it?

Adam: I’d want to go on an amazing family holiday with my girlfriend and my little boy. I’d then want to book another holiday where I could relax, unwind and work out what else to do with the money.

Michael: The first thing I’d do would be to take my daughter to Disney and spoil her with whatever she wanted. We’d also like to put the money together and buy some property.