Sir Stephen Fry has disclosed that the Prince of Wales and his family became completely engrossed in The Celebrity Traitors.
The 68-year-old broadcaster and actor took part in the first celebrity edition of the popular reality game show.
Recounting a conversation at the Royal Variety Performance, Sir Stephen said: "The Prince of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance said to me, we were locked into it."
The celebrity spin-off proved a significant ratings success for the BBC, with the programme's appeal spanning across different age groups.
Prince William 'locked into' BBC Celebrity Traitors in candid admission to Sir Stephen Fry
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"We had no idea what impact it would have across the demographic. Extraordinary," Sir Stephen revealed during an appearance on Good Morning Britain..
Sir Stephen revealed he specifically requested not to be selected as a traitor, making his preference clear to host Claudia Winkleman during their pre-show conversation.
"The tension, I just don't think I would have been very good," he explained, citing his lack of cunning as the primary reason.
The broadcaster reflected on how intelligence manifests in different forms, noting that fellow contestant David Olusoga reached the final despite surprising many viewers.
Stephen Fry at the Royal Variety Performance
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Sir Stephen added: "One of the interesting things is people accuse you of being intelligent, and David (Olusoga) is obviously hugely intelligent, but there are different kinds of intelligence, one of them is cunning. And I don't have that."
Jonathan Ross, who earned praise for his skilful deception before becoming the first traitor banished from the series, admitted the role took an emotional toll.
He said: "I'll be honest with you, I didn't enjoy it. I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the faithfuls did."
The presenter explained that watching innocent contestants being eliminated while knowing he had played a part in their departure weighed heavily on him.
Stephen Fry and Prince George meeting in 2023
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Stephen Fry pictured with the other celebrities on the show
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"I wound up kind of hating it because they're all such lovely people and you're lying through your teeth," Mr Ross said, describing the experience as "quite unpleasant" despite the show's entertainment value.
Mr Ross nonetheless maintained the experience had been valuable, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all the celebrity participants.
"I'm thrilled I did it. I had a great time. It was a great experience, once in a lifetime experience for all of us," he said.
The comedian Alan Carr ultimately claimed victory in the celebrity edition, triumphing over faithfuls David Olusoga and actor Nick Mohammed in what proved to be a tense finale.
Viewers eager for more deception and drama will not have long to wait, as The Traitors returns for its fourth series on New Year's Day at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.