The Traitors contestant Rev Lisa Coupland opens up about her time on the hit TV show and why it’s important viewers understand that priests are just people, too
Millions have been glued to BBC One’s hit show The Traitors, which comes to an end this week. Ahead of the show’s finale this Friday, Cornish priest Rev Lisa Coupland talks to us about her experience inside the castle.
You’ve said that every good murder mystery needs a vicar. But did you have to wrestle at all with going on The Traitors?
I was with my husband, watching The Traitors one evening and I thought: This looks like good fun. I love a murder mystery. But it’s very easy watching as an armchair detective. We get the full view of everything. When you actually go [on the show] it’s not exactly as you think it’s going to be.
You obviously had to get time off work. What did your bishop say?
Well, I’m a self-supporting minister, so my commitment is far less than that of a stipend priest. My bishop hadn’t actually seen the program, so I had to explain to him what it entailed, but he gave his blessing. He said: “Be careful. Don’t let them turn you into the Vicar of Dibley!”
And you had to pretend you were away on holiday for the weeks of filming?
Yes, I said I was going to Scotland, on a sort of retreat!
Did you feel that you were representing Christianity, or God on the show in some way?
I hoped to show that priests are human beings. We make mistakes like everybody else. But also, I wanted to show that priests are in touch with reality. We know what it’s like to live a real life. We understand what people have gone through in their lives. So, I don’t think it was necessarily representing Christianity or God as such, but just that priests are there and available for everybody, not just people who go to church.
For the first part of the show, you didn’t reveal you were a priest. So what did you tell people when they asked what you did for a living?
When I went to the castle, I was working as an operations manager for a theological course. So that’s what I said! It obviously didn’t sound particularly interesting because people any didn’t ask me any other questions…
You said to Claudia at the start of the show that you’d be happy to be a traitor, and lying would be OK because it was just a game. But then you told the contestants you couldn’t lie because of your faith. Looking back, how did you cope with the level of deception required?
When Claudia asked me the question, she said could I lie - she didn’t ask if I would be happy to. And, of course, anyone can. I have that ability. I’m a human being.
Obviously, you don’t see all of the conversation. I did say: “I don’t think I could carry off that persona for a long period of time.” When I said I couldn’t [lie], maybe ‘shouldn’t’ would have been a better word.
My bishop said: “Be careful. Don’t let them turn you into the vicar of Dibly!”
Within scripture we see lots of people deceive. Genesis 42 is the classic example. Joseph is second in command of one of the greatest nations on earth, but he deceives his brothers as to who he is and what he’s doing. The midwives in Exodus 1 lie to Pharaoh to save the babies from being slaughtered…
Were there times you had to check in with God and ask: “Is it OK if I do this?”
Every single night! Even before I went on the program, I would pray and say: “Is this the right thing?” The process of getting onto the program is long, and there were plenty of opportunities for it not to happen, but I’m glad I did it because I’ve had the opportunity to reach people that maybe I wouldn’t have reached and show priests are available to everyone - and meet some wonderful people and make new friends.
How do friendships work in the castle when you are competing with each other? Is it genuine?
Definitely, I’ve made genuine friends. We recorded this back in May, and I still speak to Alex and Linda several times a week. Linda and I went to Alex’s wedding. I’m very privileged that cast members will come to me and talk about things that are close to their heart. You become the sort of unofficial chaplain to the traitors!
How do you manage the intensity of the relationships and tensions on a day to day basis?
For me, it was prayer. I’d pray about the things that had happened, ask for God’s guidance, ask for the Spirit’s sustenance. It was very important to me to continue to pray the daily offices, morning prayer, evening prayer. I would pray in the castle when we were having lunch. I’m never alone with God. The Spirit is always with me, so that was a great comfort and joy.
Within scripture we see lots of people deceive
A couple of the games had a lot of dark, almost pagan imagery: cloaks, oaths to lie and deceive. Were there any bits that felt like they were promoting too much of that stuff?
I don’t think so. We have to take it in context. People are sensible enough to know it’s a game. I had to deceive in one game, but it was to save someone else.
What has it been like returning to parish life now the cat’s out of the bag? Have people been treating you differently?
Not at all. I came out and, the following day, I came home and I was at a PCC meeting!
Has it taught you anything that you have taken into your ministry?
Absolutely! It’s such an eclectic mix of people from different backgrounds, faiths, cultures, and we all joined together in this experience, and now we are all still friends. Even if we have slight differences, we can acknowledge them and just carry on with our lives while still being in communion with each other. If that could be taken out into the world, I think it would be a better place.
Rev Lisa Coupland was speaking to Esther Higham on Inspirational Breakfast on Premier Christian Radio. Hear the interview in full on premier.plus
No comments yet