The Traitors' Diane Carson details 'intense' filming process and says the celebs 'had an easier time than them' - after famous stars were told to 'toughen up' over complaints

Diane Carson became an instant TV icon when she appeared on season two of The Traitors – and is now spilling all the juicy behind-the-scenes secrets from filming.

The 63-year-old retired teacher from Northern Ireland is probably best known for her theatrical, soap opera-esque delivery of the line 'Paul isn't my son… But Ross is', – when she revealed to the viewers her son was in fact on the show with her. 

And while it may have been more than three years since she shot the series in Scotland, she remembers clear as day how 'immersive' and 'caught up in the moment' she got during the full-on process. 

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Diane shared: 'the celebrities have an easier time than us!' – as she reminisced on the experience ahead of The Celebrity Traitors final on Friday. 

This year the Celebrity Traitors – which includes the likes of Maya Jama, James Acaster, Richard E Grant and Miranda Hart – have been told to 'toughen up' after complaints about the production team have emerged.

Comedian James Acaster recently compared the experience to 'living in East Germany under Soviet control' and an unnamed star said producers were 'like human traffickers'.

The stars have since been told to 'toughen up', with the likes of The Rest Is Entertainment host Marina Hyde saying the contestants need to 'push it down'.

It's a sentiment Diane – who was a Faithful on the show – reflected on as she spoke about her own experience on the show – which is filmed over three to four weeks at Ardross Castle in the Highlands. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail while promoting London Dungeon's new Halloween Show Curse Of The Mummy, she said: 'One celebrity that I have met recently, not going in with any names, he actually said he could not believe how immersive it was...'.

She added of her own time on the show: 'It was long and you know, you didn't get any time in your own, even in your hotel, you know, you're policed because they're worried. 

'It would spoil the game if we met up with each other so they have to be vigilant about it. I think you're just so caught up in the moment...'

On the Celebrity version of the show calls home are allowed while being strictly monitored, but on the civilian show players are completely cut off from the outside world. 

Diane added that she 'loved every moment of the show' but did note: 'I mean celebrities had an easier time than us because they get a phone call home every day!

'All we got was a pre-recorded video from our loved ones once a week.'

Asked who she would like to win during The Celebrity Traitors final on Friday, she said she'd want to see the Faithful be victorious. 

It's currently anyone's game after Thursday night's bombshell twist saw James Acaster crack under the pressure.

James and Maya Jama both came under fire, as the Faithfuls linked them to Ross Kemp's murder in plain sight.

Speaking to the group at the Round Table, James said: ‘I just want to explain my situation. I was made a Traitor without wanting to be.

‘I’ve had a unique experience on this that no one has had before, where I wanted to be a Faithful; that’s all I wanted to be. I couldn’t just go, “Guys, it’s me, vote for me.” But that’s all I can do, really.’

Filming was paused as James became ‘anxious’ and had to gather himself before making his speech.

James then received all of the votes, and before his exit told his fellow celebrities: ‘When I came into this experience, I told Claudia that all I wanted to be was a Faithful and all I wanted to do was go round this castle and help the Faithfuls as much as possible, catching Traitors. 

'I’m really proud to say that’s what I’ve been able to do under the circumstances. I am, reluctantly, a Traitor.'

Traitors Maya Jama and King Kenny and Faithfuls Sebastian Croft, James Blunt, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Michael Sheen, and Romesh Ranganathan will battle it out in Friday's final.

Diane attended the London Dungeon Halloween experience with her son Ross – who she appeared on The Traitors with. 

Speaking about the fun day out, she said: 'First and foremost, I love doing anything that I can with my kids. And obviously, Ross is on this particular journey with me. 

'It's just another way to make a memory. All of my family love any immersive activities, which of course is why we applied to go on Traitors because it's fully immersive.'

The Celebrity Traitors final airs at 8pm on BBC1 tonight