Celebrity Traitors: Perfect Prime TV for Auditors
The first season of Celebrity Traitors is nearing its finale on BBC One, and this celebrity spin-off has gripped audiences across the UK and beyond. In case you’re new to the premise, the show is set in a Highland castle, and follows a dwindling cast secretly divided into ‘Faithfuls’ and ‘Traitors’. As a group, they work together on challenges to build a prize pot, while the Traitors conspire to secretly ‘murder’ one of the faithfuls each night. At each round-table, the group debates and votes to banish those they suspect of being a Traitor. As the numbers fall, tensions rise and the question becomes: will the Traitors make it to the end and claim the winnings, or will the Faithfuls uncover them in time? In the celebrity edition, the prize goes to charity, so the real stakes lie in reputation — and perhaps a little pride.
The enormous attraction of the show is obvious: we’re fascinated by the human drama of virtuous and villainous characters pitted against one another; of the fragile alliances, whispered suspicions, bluffs and double-bluffs. Maybe you root instinctively for the Traitors, willing them to survive as they scheme, evade and protest their innocence. Or perhaps you’re a fan of the Faithfuls, sharing their dismay as they banish one of their own and as they discover, around the breakfast table, the no-show which marks another murder. Either way, it’s compelling television, heightened by the overtones of gothic horror sprinkled through the castle’s décor and the team challenges.
For auditors, the Faithfuls’ struggles to discern friend from foe and honesty from deceit presents an added layer of appeal. Our stakes are (thankfully!) different, but as auditors we’re similarly tasked with evaluating evidence, sifting through facts and opinions to arrive at the truth. We’re not expected to suspect everyone and everything – but we’re equally not permitted to accept what we’re told without question. We understand that the most competent staff can make mistakes, that systems and controls are seldom if ever foolproof and that in any business, incentives and opportunities for fraud can lurk.
When we carry out audit file reviews at Apex, we often see that professional scepticism — that hallmark of good auditing — doesn’t always shine through. Teams can be too willing to accept management’s explanations or too focused on ticking off procedures rather than demonstrating curiosity to properly understand the business and its owners. It’s no surprise: audit work is demanding, deadlines are tight, and client cooperation isn’t always forthcoming. Add in the pressure of documentation and compliance, and it’s easy to see how curiosity gets pushed aside.
It’s easy to see why auditors feel more like overworked bureaucrats than shrewd sleuths. But curiosity is what makes auditors truly effective. Like the Faithfuls, our job is to piece together the evidence, challenge assumptions, and stay alert to what doesn’t quite add up. So as we all sit back on our sofa’s and enjoy the Celebrity Traitors finale, let’s take a little inspiration: a reminder that professional scepticism isn’t about suspicion — it’s about staying curious, thoughtful, and quietly determined to uncover the truth.
