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I went on The Traitors with my boyfriend – it was so stressful I was relieved when he was axed
Alex Gray reveals how the show took its toll on her both physically and mentally
THE Traitors' Alex Gray has a warning for anyone thinking of doing reality television with their partner: don't.
Though the actress and presenter is still in a happy relationship with boyfriend Tom Elderfield, concealing their connection on the show proved incredibly stressful.
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![Tom Elderfield [far left] shocked co-stars when he revealed the pair were an item](http://mcb777.fun/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/back-l-r-tom-elderfield-869559026.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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The pressure was so much, that when Tom was killed off by the Traitors, Alex, 28, felt a sense of relief.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, she says: "It was incredibly stressful. I would honestly suggest that no one ever goes on a reality show with their partner.
"It's stressful enough going on a reality show as yourself, going on with someone that you care about adds an unnecessary weight onto your shoulders.
"I was actually very relieved, despite the tears, when Tom left. So I was like, 'Now I can just think about me. I can just play the game and not worry about him'."
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In memorable scenes, Tom left the others players, and Alex, stunned when he eventually revealed they were a real life couple in a bid to prove their loyalty to the Faithful.
Not only did they have to contend with the opinions of their co-stars while filming, but when the show aired they were hit with criticism on social media, too, which led to some difficult moments.
Alex says: "Every person and a dog giving a public opinion on your relationship. It ultimately is going to have a strain. Even if you don't agree or consciously take in what people are saying, on a certain subconscious level, things do infiltrate, and they do kind of have an effect.
"We all saw what happened. Like everyone was very emotional on that show, and everyone reacted in heightened ways because it wasn't an everyday situation that we were in.
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"It was such a niche, very pressure cooker environment. And so people are gonna react strangely. And you know, Tom reacted in his way. And I reacted my way."
The emotions were too real, the stress was too heavy
Alex Gray
Despite the added challenge of living a double deception while facing the ultimate murder mystery in the stunning Scottish castle, Alex insists she wouldn't change anything about her time on the show.
She says: "It's funny to look back on, you know, like when I'm when I'm old and grey and I'm on my deathbed. I'm gonna look back and think, 'Oh, God, what a great, what a great memory!'"
Alex's time came to an end when she declined the chance to join the Traitors only to be brutally killed off as a result.
Viewers watched her in tears as she read the harsh letter informing her of their decision.
With hindsight, she says she would have probably accepted the offer, but at the time she was simply too exhausted to contemplate telling the lies the role required.
Reflecting on her exit, she says: "I was relieved. It had got to a point in the game where it no longer felt like a game anymore. For me it wasn't fun. The emotions were too real, the stress was too heavy.
It got to be where it was really, really, psychologically hard.
"I'd gone through a lot of combat up until that point, anyway, dealing with Tom and my relationship coming out."
And she was also struggling physically after a tough challenge that saw her spun on a wheel.
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"That left me with a really bad headache," she continues. "I had a really bad headache for the rest of filming after that point and that, combined with like not sleeping properly, and the stress and anxiety and paranoia, I just I was like, just get me out of here. I'm just done."
Fortunately she and Tom can now revel in the mystery from the comfort of the sofa at home.
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