Inside The Traitors: Lawson Mahoney reveals drinking rules, phone bans and secret producers’ tactics – as he plots the next reality TV action

The Traitors star Lawson Mahoney has revealed what really happened behind the scenes of the hit reality series.

From drinking rules and telephone bans to clever production tricks designed to keep participants completely in the dark.

Speaking to Daily Mail after his dramatic banishment, the 24-year-old Made In Bondi star revealed the celebrity cast filmed the entire season over just two intense weeks.

And while the experience was grueling at times, Lawson admitted there was one unexpected side effect of being cut off from the outside world.

‘It was lonely. I actually got quite horny because there are obviously no phones. There are always beautiful people around,” he joked.

From day one, the participants’ phones were confiscated, leaving them with little more than each other and their own thoughts after filming for the day.

For Lawson, however, the digital detox was not entirely unwelcome.

‘I’m a big reader. I diary. So it was actually nice to escape the phone, which they do on the first day,” he said.

‘It was really nice to take that with you, and there you are just with your thoughts, which is not always easy.

‘Everyone has crazy thoughts. But overall it’s quite a healing process, I would say.”

Lawson also revealed that producers went to great lengths to ensure that contestants could not discover who had been secretly chosen as a traitor simply by looking at who was pulled from the group.

According to the reality star, everything from confessionals to car movements was deliberately randomized.

“They’ve done so many versions and had so many gigs with The Traitors, they’ve got it figured out,” he said.

‘It’s all confusing. It’s all hit and miss. All confessionals are done randomly, unplanned.

“The cars, it’s all random and done so that you don’t even have an idea of ​​who it could be the whole time.”

Lawson said the elaborate system meant participants had to rely on the game itself, rather than production cues.

“The only way the game works is if it’s on a level playing field, and they’re making sure of that,” he added.

Alcohol was another area tightly controlled by producers.

Lawson revealed that participants were allowed to have a few drinks after the tense Round Tables, but said the party was often stopped before anyone got too comfortable.

“After the round table you were allowed to have a drink,” he said.

“I think it was Joshy Boy (Josh Packham) who had a few too many on one of the first or second nights. So after that they called it a little faster.”

Lawson said the participants would eventually be sent upstairs to bed, with some trying to have one last drink along the way.

“They called you to bed, which is just upstairs,” he explained.

“And then you’d be like, ‘Oh, great,’ and get your beer or whatever, or quickly pour another one. But they would get you up pretty quickly.”

Not everyone appreciated the last drinks being called.

“I know Krissy Marsh wasn’t happy about them calling her early. She needs it, that lady needs her white wine. And who am I to argue with her?’ Lawson joked.

The aspiring TV personality said he initially stayed away from alcohol completely as he was determined to stay sharp.

“I didn’t drink the first few nights because I was thinking strategy, right?” he said.

‘I wanted to be sharp in terms of sleep. Even if you drink one or two alcoholic drinks, it does a lot for your REM sleep.’

But as the days passed, Lawson admitted that his discipline began to loosen.

‘Then you feel more comfortable in the show. You say, “This is also a kind of band.”‘

While viewers might assume The Traitors is purely about tracking down traitors, Lawson said surviving the social side of the game was just as important.

When asked if the participants were deliberately trying not to upset each other, he replied: ‘100%. That’s part of strategy.’

“There are two things you have to do: survive exile and survive murder.

‘Survive the banishment, be loved. Survive the kill, don’t be a threat, it’s too loud, too smart, yada, yada.’

According to Lawson, the smartest and loudest Faithfuls often had the biggest targets on their backs.

“I’ve seen enough Traitors to know that it’s usually bleaker, quieter and sillier towards the end,” he said.

“Usually it’s the Faithfuls who make it to the end, because the Traitors don’t want smart, loud people around.

“They are too dangerous, so they are suspended.”

Lawson also had high praise for Kirby Bentley’s gameplay after rewatching the series.

“Kirby is just queen,” he said.

‘Every decision is well thought out and intelligent. Every kill, every decision, every conversation, everything she throws into the ethos is thought out, and that’s more than I can say for anyone else.

“And her social game, she’s just great as a traitor.”

He was less flattering about the twins’ stubborn nature, naming them when asked who had the biggest ego in the cast.

‘The twins. I love them dearly, they are my boys. But in terms of ego: 100 percent,” he said.

‘They’re just stubborn, and that’s a wonderful trait when used properly in real life.

“It’s only in The Traitors if you have the wrong idea, it’s not that valuable.”

Lawson said he has long forgiven them for helping him pack.

“One dick shouldn’t define you, right?” he said.

Despite his elimination, Lawson said he was happy with the way he was portrayed in the series, especially after his less flattering experience with Made In Bondi.

“I couldn’t be happier with the edit,” he said.

He claimed that viewers had finally been able to see a version of him that was much closer to the real Lawson.

“I’ve been told I’m on a bit of a redemption arc. May it continue,” he said.

‘I like to think, and this is the feedback I get most often, is: ‘Wow, I thought you were an asshole after Made In Bondi.’

Lawson admitted the reaction was difficult to deal with at the time.

“Every time I connected with someone or someone saw one of my videos, they were like, ‘Wow, I thought this guy was a dick.’

‘That wasn’t great for a long time. Very bad actually.

“But it made me who I am today, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

And now that Australia has seen its softer side, Lawson is wasting no time in planning his next move.

When asked what he wanted from his career, the reality star said he had his sights set considerably higher than on any other local reality show.

“To be happy every moment of every day, and if I’m not, to remember to be happy every moment of every day, and to be the next Hugh Jackman,” he declared.

Lawson was quick to clarify that he was referring to Hugh’s status as a household name, rather than suggesting he planned to swap reality TV for claws and lycra overnight.

“Whether it’s reality TV for acting or staying in TV for presenting, it ties into all that social media aspect, which is one ball these days,” he said.

“That’s my specification, and I mean Hugh Jackman in terms of a household name. That’s what I see when I dream.

“And I’m going to make sure it happens.”

His next stop could be an international dating show.

Lawson revealed he would jump at the chance to appear on the UK or US version of Love Island.

‘Absolute. I’m not actually putting Hugh Jackman on air, but an international version of Love Island. British or American Love Island,” he said.

‘Ah, the token Australian, loud head shouting s**t.’

Lawson said he believed Australian competitors abroad had a natural advantage.

“I went to America last year and our representative there is, like the average Australian, funny, loud, charismatic and good looking,” he said.

“Being our representative in a completely different country, let alone the world’s superpower, is insanely useful, especially if you want to do this kind of thing.”

“So yeah, the international version of the British or American Love Island, call me.”

The Australian version may take some convincing.

‘I’ve seen three episodes and I’ll never say never. “I will never rule anything out,” he said.

“But I did see myself on it and I felt really sick, so look, time will tell.”

There’s one local reality juggernaut he’d sign up for without hesitation.

When asked if he would ever do Married At First Sight, Lawson replied: “Yes. Send me to MAFS. I would get married.’

And it is certainly available.

When asked about his current relationship status, Lawson gave perhaps the most Lawson answer possible.

“I’m single and horny,” he said.

He added that he planned to remain single for a while, unless the right woman suddenly appeared.

‘If my wife comes into the picture, what should I do?’

For now, Lawson seems content to continue his reality TV redemption arc while Australia gradually figures out what exactly makes him tick.

“Lawson is a 24-year-old Australian man finding his way in this big, scary world,” he said.

“The only thing I love is people, and people bring me joy, and I strive to be joyful every minute of every day.

“Look, I’m just a happy cat trying to find his way.”