Paul Chappells/Studio Lambert/BBC/PA WireSpoiler warning: This story contains details of the outcome of The Traitors UK
Traitors finalist Faraaz Noor has said his dream to take his family on a pilgrimage to Mecca is still alive.
Faraaz, 22 and from Middlesbrough, said he had no regrets from his time in the BBC show and this was not the end to his Hajj dream.
The youngest contestant in the series said he had enjoyed a positive reaction from people since the series ended, adding: “The love and support I’ve been getting is unbelievable.”
During one of the final episodes, he said if he won he would use some of the prize money to take his family to Mecca and, now it was over, said: “Inshallah, one day I’ll be able to hopefully take them to Hajj or even complete Umrah. I’m looking forward to that.”
Faraaz was the first finalist to be voted out during the endgame broadcast on Friday, with traitors Stephen Libby and Rachel Duffy eventually taking home the £95,750 prize.
Despite voicing suspicions about Rachel, Faraaz voted for Stephen which set himself up for banishment.
“Honestly, when I seen Rachel put my name on the slate I was absolutely seething, there was like steam coming out of my ears,” he told Radio Tees.
Rachel had lied and told Faraaz she was gunning for Stephen first.
“I thought ‘no, I’m done’, because I knew Stephen was going to put my name down and I was just kicking myself saying I knew I should have protected myself and voted Rachel,” he said.
“It was hard to accept that I was right but the execution was wrong.”
But Faraaz has no hard feelings about being so close to winning.
“As a huge fan of the game, it’s a once in a lifetime experience and I’m really glad to have shared it with such an amazing group,” he said.
“I really enjoyed it,” he said, adding he had formed “lifelong bonds”.
The final brought to an end an eventful series which has seen several twists, including the introduction of a “secret traitor” whose identity was initially unknown to both viewers and the other traitors.
It was revealed to be Fiona who quickly turned on fellow traitor Rachel in some explosive scenes in the castle.
But Rachel soon sent her packing, as she did when crime author Harriet launched a vocal attack on the eventual co-winner.
That drama, along with Stephen’s meme-friendly facial expressions and Faraaz’s insight, all contributed to the success of the fourth regular series of the show’s UK version which had been attracting more than 12 million viewers.
