Veteran broadcaster Michael Buerk believes his long career at the BBC makes him an ideal candidate for The Traitors. The 77-year-old former newsreader said about the reality show known for its backstabbing: "If you survive 50 years at the BBC, you can stab people in the front."
He also revealed that he had declined several invitations to participate in Strictly Come Dancing. However, he expressed interest in joining a celebrity version of The Traitors, another reality series hosted by Claudia Winkleman. Michael, the host of Radio 4's The Moral Maze, stated: "I do think it will fit my skillset, being treacherous."
He said he was content to let his newsreader friends like Angela Rippon and John Sergeant, both 79, who have appeared on Strictly, take on the dancing. Michael admitted: "I am the only one who hasn't done it. I have been asked four, five times maybe. But I can't dance. There is an element of humiliation there but I can handle that." Want less ads? Download WalesOnline’s Premium app on Apple or Android
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The Mirror reports how Michael added: "The small problem is that there is a strategy about these things and I kind of think the only role I could play is the bumbling, knob-footed idiot. It has been done. John Sergeant did it. I don't feel there is a gap for me. I would be a gap you see, and not a star. I think I will save the public from the embarrassment. I believe it is intense. I did cast an eye over it in earlier years. And it did seem to be hard work."
"I thought the whole point of reality TV was that you just hung around, showed off, got humiliated, well paid and buggered off. But Strictly Come Dancing struck me as a bit more effort."
The Traitors is based on the Dutch show, De Verraders. The UK version, filmed at Ardross Castle in Scotland, is described as the "ultimate reality game of detection, backstabbing and trust". Contestants are split into Faithfuls and secretly-assigned Traitors. The Faithfuls must identify the Traitors to win, as any remaining Traitors take home the prize fund at the end.
The show started on BBC One in 2022 and its first series reportedly had an average viewership of 5.4m. The Traitors returned for a second series earlier this year, which ended last month. Executive producer Stephen Lambert hinted a few weeks ago that a celebrity version could be on the cards. He said: "I think it would be pretty entertaining ... We talk to the BBC about the future of all our shows and that's obviously a possibility."
The Traitors is available on BBC iPlayer. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
