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The latest contestant to be banished from The Traitors said she was probably voted off because of her personality, but insisted: “I am who I am.”
Defiant Nina Shelton – who was sent home by her fellow Faithfuls this week – said her “mouthy” style and wondered if she got the boot because she was unpopular.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Did they genuinely think I was a Traitor? Or do I think they didn’t like me enough? Probably.”
The businesswoman mother-of-four was banished on Tuesday night’s episode, after an intense grilling at the round table.
The heat turned on her after she had described well-liked contestant Michele as “unapproachable” at the round table the night before.
But Nina, 45, said she had no regrets over how she played the murder mystery game – set in Slane Castle – and was glad she was true to herself.
She added: “I am who I am. I’m exactly who I was in there. I like to be right and I really wanted to find a Traitor. You will always find people who like you and don’t like you.
“Somebody had to lead the discussion, someone had to kick it off and I am glad it was me. I was annoying to some people. That’s the game.
“I don’t live my life wanting to rub people up the wrong way. I’m not confrontational and I don’t seek arguments and fights but I am well able for it if it comes my way.
“I wouldn’t change anything; If you play too safe, you have risk of being banished because you’re wallpaper. If you’re effervescent, you’ll be gotten rid of as the Traitors want to cause chaos.
“We all only knew each other a short time and you’re picking up on tiny things that might be suspicious.
“When you’re in the castle, everything is amplified and if you say one thing wrong, it’s seen as a lie. I tripped myself up many times a day by getting people’s names wrong and all of a sudden: it’s a lie. But I just have a bad memory and I was mouthy.”
Talking about contestant Patrick, who challenged her heavily at the round table, she said: “There was a good mix of personalities in the castle – people who would gel and not gel. I think me and Patrick clashed as we just had such different personalities.”
She said there was no bad blood for those who voted her out, as she had done the same with banished Diane, and she had been wrong too.
She added: “I was convinced about Diane and I was wrong. It’s hard to get it right as you don’t know anybody.”
The Dubliner – who has settled in Wexford where she runs her clothing company – kept her appearance on the series a secret from everyone, even her whole family.
Her kids – aged six to 19 – only found out on Monday when they went to school.
She added: “I was so chuffed to be chosen, but I couldn’t share the excitement with anyone. I had to lie to my own mother. My kids found out I was on the television in school on Monday when they were asked, “Is your Mam on TV?'”
One of the big twists on leaving for Nina was finding out Paudie and Andrew are father and son. She said: “I was flummoxed. I’d be asking for a DNA test. Are you actually kidding me? It was a huge surprise.
“And Katelyn as a Traitor really surprised me. Paudie I can understand and Eamon had a moment. But I certainly didn’t suspect Katelyn and I would have taken her to the end.”
Meanwhile, “murdered” Niall McKeown, a teacher from Tyrone said he’s got a big head over being called the “good-looking gaeilgeoir”.
He said: “My head has got enormous from people saying Eamon got rid of me as I could bring down a few girls at the round table. The Tyrone accent is wile seductive.” Niall, 25, jokingly added he is still single.
He’s remembered best on the show for speaking Irish during the Ogham mission and making it a team success.
“It relied heavily on a young Irish speaker from the North. The language put me in the spotlight. I was ripped from the game. But I’m happy to go down for it.”
He wants to see Michele – who he was close to on the show – win it.
He added: “She had so many of the qualities of my own mother. She was ‘Mo mhaimi” in there. It’s a game and you have to trust someone. I was lucky I gravitated towards her.”
The Traitors Ireland continues tonight at 9.35pm on RTE One.
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