A star of TV hit The Traitors says her exit was a "blessing in disguise" - as her beloved grandad died just a week later. Maddy Smedley, 30, made it through to the last rounds of the BBC reality show, set in a Scottish castle.
She was one of the 'faithfuls' on the programme, who were trying to out the 'traitors' to win a six-figure prize. But Maddy, an actress, was 'banished' before the final - which she now says she's grateful for. Dennis Smedley, 86, passed away not long after she left the set.
Maddy, from Swanley, Kent said: "My exit in the stage before the final was a blessing in disguise. My granddad passed away a week after I arrived back from filming.
"If I would have gone through to the end I wouldn’t have seen him before he died. And nothing would have been worth losing that time with him. Grandad was my hero and although he had dementia he was happy for me when I told him I was going to be on the TV."
Maddy has since returned to her part-time job as a receptionist at care home Birchwood Heights - where her grandad was living. She fits the work around her acting, which has seen her appear in EastEnders and Casualty.
The Traitors became essential viewing at the Swanley home during Maddy's stint on the show. And residents even held a premiere - featuring champagne - before the first series.
Maddy said: “I was totally overwhelmed at the support I had from the residents. My friend, who lives at the home, collected press cuttings of Claudia Winkleman in the weeks leading up to my departure to try and help me feel at ease when I met her.
"It was a really kind thing to do and I did actually feel like I knew her thanks to all the research. When I returned I felt like I’d won - everyone was so thrilled to see me and so proud of what I had done."
Resident Pat Warnham, 86, was a huge fan of the show and an even bigger fan of Maddy. She said: “Maddy is always happy and so kind. She’s a lovely person with a heart of gold. I’ve enjoyed watching her and the programme - she’s just as friendly on screen as she is here!”
Maddy tweeted 'Knew it' after fellow contestant Wilf Webster was outed as a 'traitor' in the final. She had suspected him all along - but was overruled by other contestants and eventually ousted. The remaining group of three 'faithfuls' won the jackpot after outing Wilf in the final.
The Traitors has been streamed more than 28million times on iPlayer as of last month, the BBC said.
