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INTERVIEW: The Traitors star visits Lancaster Castle on 1200km trek for brain injury survivors

Andrew Jenkins from The Traitors with Beyond Radio's Matilda Walden

A star of a hit reality TV game show said that visiting Lancaster Castle during a charity trek "was like being back on The Traitors"!

Andrew Jenkins, finalist in the award-winning BBC1 series earlier this year, came to Lancaster while on a 1200km charity trek between some of the UK's most famous castles.

Speaking to Beyond Radio's Matilda Walden for the 'Beyond Expectations' podcast, the Welshman said: "It's such an impressive castle, I didn't realise it was a jail as well, it felt like being in a dungeon again and being back on The Traitors. I had flashbacks! I've never been here before, it's a lovely place.

"It's immaculate, very clean, and very good coffee and cake!"

LISTEN to Andrew talking to Matilda - full interview coming soon to the 'Beyond Expectations' podcast

Andrew reached the final of The Traitors, after being recruited to be a 'traitor' after spending much of the show as a 'faithful'.

In the programme hosted by Claudia Winkleman, contestants have to detect who among the group is a traitor in a battle of skill, wits and endurance.

The traitors 'murder' one of their fellow competitors each night, but if they can successfully banish the traitors, the faithfuls win the prize money.

Andrew's fellow contestant Harry Clark, who spent the whole series undetected as a traitor, ended up scooping the £95,150 cash pot in a gripping finale watched by a peak of 6.9 million TV viewers.

"I was the only traitor to have the full experience, I did everything," said Andrew.

"It is a challenge and can be stressful but I kept my feet firmly on the ground. I was just myself. What's important to me is my family, they know the real me."

During his 42-day walk across the four home countries, visiting four castles in each, Andrew has already been back to Ardross Castle in Scotland, where he filmed 'The Traitors'. (Image below from the BBC).

"The walk is not so bad," he said.

"My body is conditioned now. My feet are a bit sore at the end of every day. I've got a team of people and every day I've got somebody walking with me. Every night they plot my route for me. 

"I want to earn as much money as I can for the Headway charity, for brain injury survivors.

"I'm lucky, I'm one of the survivors who has no real side effects but there are people I've met where it's life-changing, it breaks families apart."

Andrew was seriously injured in a car crash in 1999, spent four weeks in a coma, suffered severe brain damage and was told he would never walk again.

Having made a recovery, he now champions mental health as well as supporting Headway.

"I struggled with mental health for 20 years, I couldn't accept what happened to me, I hated myself, really," he said.

"I want to change the world and do my best to help as many people as possible. I want to give people a bit of hope out there."

You can donate via Andrew's online platforms.

Check out episodes of 'Beyond Expectations with Matilda Walden' including her interview with legendary poet Pam Ayres HERE.

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