"I did feel ostracised" The Traitors UK star Kasim Ahmed opens up about his experience on the show

Kasim Ahmed, a recently eliminated contestant from BBC One’s hit reality show The Traitors UK, opened up about the emotional toll of his time on the show, in a recent interview with indy100.

"It was tough, as I said when I was in there I did feel ostracised, I felt there was no grounding to the reason why. There were points where it felt a bit personal but it comes back to my background where I'm used to working in busy hospitals where everyone has their own agendas and running up and down," the NHS doctor shared.

The psychological thriller reality show, now in its third season, follows a group of contestants living together in a Scottish castle. Among them are "Traitors" who "murder" their fellow players in secret every night; to earn a financial award, the "Faithfuls" have to find and expel the Traitors.

One of the most grueling seasons yet, the current one has already witnessed some dramatic departures, such as the murder and exile of siblings.

Ahmed's elimination in episode 4 of The Traitors UK, which aired on January 9, came after mounting suspicions from his fellow contestants about his profession and perceived intelligence. The doctor found himself at the center of controversy when castmate Jake suggested his medical background made him a perfect Traitor – someone who could be "saving lives during the day then killing Faithfuls at night."

The Traitors UK’s Kasim Ahmed’s time on the show

In what became a pivotal moment of his journey, Ahmed made an unexpected reference to notorious serial killer Harold Shipman during a tense Round Table discussion. Reflecting on the incident, he explained,

"In my head I thought this is making me sound like Harold Shipman! And it turned out it came out my mouth and I said it."

The doctor revealed his surprise at his castmates' shocked reactions, only later realizing he had verbalized his internal monologue. "I was just having a sarcastic thought that came out," he admitted in the interview.

Ahmed's experience in The Traitors UK took a particularly difficult turn when he found himself eating alone before the episode 4 roundtable. The isolation reached its peak just before his eventual banishment, where he was revealed to be a Faithful rather than a Traitor.

However, the story took a heartening turn after filming wrapped.

"It was as I suspected, all lovely people and all excellent - it's just people deal with stress and new environments in different ways. It was obviously going to be stressful at times but overall, it was an amazingly positive experience and what a fun game to play. I was rubbish at it but what a fun game!" Ahmed shared.

He revealed that his fellow contestants "bombarded" him with apologetic messages after returning home, expressing regret for making him feel isolated during filming.

Kasim Ahmed’s reflections about The Traitors UK

Despite the challenges, Ahmed maintains a philosophical perspective on his experience. He believes that even if he had been chosen as a Traitor, events would have unfolded similarly, noting that much was beyond his control.

His elimination came during a particularly dramatic episode that also saw the exit of Jack through a coin task and Maia through murder, following her sister's earlier departure from the castle.

The doctor's revelations offer a rare glimpse into the psychological pressures contestants face in The Traitors UK, where trust is currency and suspicion can lead to isolation. His story highlights how the show's intense environment can affect even those used to high-pressure situations, while also demonstrating the human capacity for reconciliation once the games end.