Celebrity Traitors' Joe Lycett called out for 'fake' move towards Julie Hesmondhalgh by Traitors winner Rachel Duffy
Rachel is convinced Joe was being insincereCelebrity Traitors star Joe Lycett has been accused of being ‘fake’ by former Traitors winner Rachel Duffy.
Rachel won this year’s series of The Traitors and is convinced Joe was playing a game from the second the cameras rolled.
Last night, this year’s 21 Celebrity Traitors stars arrived at Ardross Castle’s chapel in the Scottish Highlands.
And Rachel is already certain he made a false move before the game had properly got going.
Celebrity Traitors’ Joe Lycett accused of being ‘fake’
Rachel appeared on last night’s The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked alongside Stephen Libby. The pair romped to victory in the castle earlier this year, winning The Traitors 2026 together.
Given her own success on the BBC show, Rachel has already called out Joe for what she believes was an insincere move.
While still in the chapel, Claudia had told the celebrities she had a “task” for them.
“I would like you to decide right now who is the most trustworthy amongst you,” she said.
Quite quickly, the celebrities named former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh. But Joe interrupted them.
“But hang on, can I just? We don’t know what this means. Does this mean does Julie go in the coffin and do we want that?” he asked them all.
As they continued to say her name, he complained: “No, no, no, no.” Looking worried, Julie told him: “Thanks, Joe, for trying.”
As it happens, Claudia awarded Julie with two shields to protect against the first murder. She kept one for herself and was told she could give the second to someone else.
Julie declared: “I am going to give the shield to the person who very, very desperately did not want me to end up in the coffin. Joe Lycett.”
Rachel Duffy brands Joe ‘strategic’ for Julie gesture
Rachel said: “I think that was strategic by Joe. If someone is saying she’s the most trustworthy and it’s a consensus that this person is a really lovely person, you could go, ‘I’ll stick up for them here’. And he obviously benefited from that decision.
“I don’t know Joe, but I would be thinking that it’s the perfect time to cement, ‘Aw, we’ll look after her’.”
Not everyone agrees, however.
Fans on X were quick to discuss the brief exchange between the Joe and Julie and many thought it was genuine. Some are even predicting a close friendship between the pair.
One wrote: “Joe Lycett giving Queen o’ North Julie Hes the proper respect.” Another added: “Living for the Julie and Joe friendship already.”
And someone else said: “Julie and Joe are going to be an iconic friendship..”
A blossoming friendship or just a smart move? What do you think?
Read more: Traitors winner Stephen Libby accuses Richard E Grant and Maya Jama of making a ‘big mistake’
