Life of BBC Traitors ‘icon’ Linda from opera career to Leicester Square billboard
Linda Rands, a former opera singer, captivates viewers on The Traitors with her quirky antics and unexpected charm
Linda Rands, The Traitors, Leicester Square, BBC, Hertfordshire, Rigoletto, Reality TV
London: The Traitors has made a big splash since its return on January 1. Viewers are hooked, thanks to some surprising exits and colorful contestants.
One standout is Linda Rands, a 70-year-old ex-opera singer from Hertfordshire. In just a few episodes, she’s become a fan favorite, with clips of her antics going viral on social media.
The show features 25 contestants vying for a prize of up to £120,000. Claudia Winkleman, the host, secretly selects the Traitors while the rest play as Faithfuls. As the Traitors eliminate players, the others try to figure out who’s behind the murders, often mistakenly sending home innocent players.
This season, three Traitors were chosen, but after a dramatic banishment, only two remain. Fans are having a laugh at one Traitor’s acting skills, calling it ‘GCSE drama’ level.
Linda made a hilarious blunder right after being named a Traitor. When Claudia called out “Traitors,” she looked up, giving away her role and raising suspicions from fellow contestant Jake. This moment made her an instant hit, with fans declaring her an icon.
Despite her cringe-worthy moments, Linda has managed to stay in the game. One memorable clip shows her dramatically questioning, “Oh my god, who the HELL is not going to come back?” after a Faithful was eliminated, even though she knew exactly who it was.
Her amateur acting hasn’t stopped her from surviving multiple rounds of banishment. The BBC even put up a billboard in Leicester Square featuring Linda with a fake award that reads, “The performance of a lifetime award.” Specsavers even chimed in on TikTok, joking that Faithfuls would still believe her.
Linda’s life outside the show is just as colorful. A clip from her opera days recently resurfaced, showing a young Linda in a 1982 production of Rigoletto. Fans were shocked at how different she looked back then.
One viewer shared that their tutor worked with her and described her as a lovely, eccentric theater type. Another fan joked about wanting her to release an album. It seems her charm is winning over hearts, even if her secret role is becoming harder to maintain.
As suspicions grow among the Faithfuls, Linda’s fate as a Traitor keeps fans on the edge of their seats. You can catch her on The Traitors every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 9 PM until the finale on January 24.
The Traitors continues tonight at 9 PM on BBC One and iPlayer